CoMotion has closed its VR and AR-focused incubator and scrapped access for non-UW innovators to its MakerSpace fabrication and hardware hub.
University of Washington tech transfer and innovation centre CoMotion has scaled back its operations and removed public access to its fabrication-focused MakerSpace services.
Formed in 2015, MakerSpace provides tools such as 3D printers and laser cutters to assist innovators in prototyping hardware and heavy products.
The initiative will be consolidated but remains open to UW faculty, students and staff under the supervision of the university’s College of Engineering and Washington Nanofabrication Facility.
UW also announced the closure of virtual and augmented reality-focused incubator CoMotion Labs @ HQ, reassigning clients to other working spaces in its portfolio.
CoMotion was reportedly forced to cut 15% of its employees in 2017, however director François Baneyx insisted there was no services retrenchment, pointing to the launch of three new MakerSpace-modelled programs that will target UW students, according to GeekWire.
