Wake Forest University is a private university in Winston-Salem whose commercialization path runs through Wake Forest Innovations and the Innovation Quarter, a life-sciences district anchored by the Wake Forest University School of Medicine.
Wake Forest Innovations manages intellectual property for the Wake Forest health system, Wake Forest University, and the Advocate Health system. The office protects inventions, builds commercial partnerships, and helps form technology companies. Its stated mission is to turn research into products. It sits in the Innovation Quarter.
- Commercial Pathway Award
Milestone funding for projects in which the institution already holds a proprietary position. Awards are up to $40,000 in direct costs over one year, for proof of concept, go/no-go studies, and work aimed at a commercial value inflection. Eligible areas include therapeutics, diagnostics and medical devices, and digital health. - Innovation Quarter
A public-private district anchored by the School of Medicine and supported by Advocate Health. The district reports an estimated $2 billion in annual economic impact, more than 4,000 full-time employees, more than 4,500 workers, and 115 companies. Sparq coworking has more than 150 members. Sparq Labs, the wet-lab space, is about 90% occupied. A 28-acre Phase II expansion is planned for life sciences, regenerative medicine, and biomanufacturing, alongside the National Science Foundation Regenerative Medicine Engine.
Investors and founders can reach David Winwood, Ph.D., RTTP, vice president for technology transfer and commercialization, through Wake Forest Innovations. Kenneth Russell is director of technology innovation. Osama Zahid, Ph.D., is director of licensing.
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