Science entrepreneurs have complex and diverse challenges ranging from the traditional entrepreneurial challenges of effective product-market fit to the more advanced with complex regulatory and manufacturing challenges. These challenges require both physical (e.g., state of art laboratories and equipment) as well as technical/business expertise with programs focused on the delivery of intensely focused mentoring, coaching, and training across the full spectrum of the science start-up lifecycle. The dual lack of physical lab space and expert business mentorship and training is an oft-cited hurdle to the ultimate success of budding entrepreneurs in the hard sciences. The Delaware Innovation Space provides science entrepreneurs with access to structured programs that will improve and enable their business concepts and plans such as our Spark Factory mentoring and pitch events, our six-month cohort-based Science Inc. Accelerator, and our First Fund investment program. This combined with the physical assets which includes a 130,000+ sq. ft. state of the art laboratory/office complex with the amenities of a 21st century physical and virtual collaboration ecosystem best equips scalable startups with the tools and expert insights that they need to transform the markets in which they operate. In 2017, the State of Delaware, DuPont and the University of Delaware possessed the vision to create a non-profit organization and world-class innovation ecosystem at the renown Experimental Station in Wilmington, Delaware that is now a preeminent home base for science entrepreneurs. The Innovation Space has specifically targeted sectors including healthcare/therapeutics, industrial and agricultural biotechnology, advanced materials, nutrition, renewables and renewable energy, and chemical ingredients. Areas that are well aligned with the regional talent pool. The mission of the Innovation Space is to foster high growth and scalable science startups through targeted support via facilities, equipment, personnel, and programs to rapidly enable their growth. During the first four years of operation, the Innovation Space has established early proof points for building scalable companies including capital investment raised by our startup community now totaling over $500 million. This talk will describe the journey of the Delaware Innovation Space as well as showcasing best practices in supporting early stage science startup companies and entrepreneurs.

Case study of Delaware Innovation Space: An organization formed via a collaboration between DuPont, University of Delaware, and State of Delaware to enable science entrepreneurs with critical tools and support to accelerate success and impact

ACS Fall 2021

The official archive and repository for all ACS Meetings & Expositions abstracts and select posters or presentations.