Chicago University has united its commercialisation arm and its innovation hub with the Polsky Center following a $35m donation from Michael Polsky.
The tech transfer office of Chicago University, previously known as UChicago Tech, will henceforth be operating as part of the Polsky Center, according to ChicagoInno.
The move brings together the commercialisation arm’s operations with the activities of the community-focused innovation hub Chicago Innovation Hub (now called Polsky Exchange) and the Polsky Center for Entrepeneurship and Innovation. The process required significant restructuring.
The decision was made in May 2016 following a $35m donation by Michael Polsky, chief executive of energy company Invenergy and an alumnus of the university. He has donated a total of $50m to date.
The new Polsky Center will be led by executive director Starr Marcello, while John Flavin has been appointed associate vice-president of entrepreneurship and innovation. It counts 45 employees, up from a staff of 10 ahead of the consolidation.
Flavin said: “Our campus is the entire city of Chicago, it is the state of Illinois, it is the region and it is the world. We believe there is no better way to improve Chicago than by helping people, entrepreneurs grow their companies.
“And we intend, here at the Polsky Center, to start and grow many more of them in the coming years.”
