INVITE

(*Programa para Integración del Desarrollo Regional del Noreste y su Vinculación con Texas)

GCG is engaged in the fourth phase of a program for the INVITE organization of the state of Nuevo Leon, Mexico. IC²’s work with INVITE began in 2004 and is expected to continue at least through 2008.

During Phase I, GCG provided training on how to screen technologies developed at universities or in research laboratories, guidance in the screening of dozens of technologies and selection of the most promising twelve technologies, and a two-month workshop for representatives of the twelve technologies, designed to assist the representatives in developing commercialization strategies and plans for their innovations.

Phase II began with the selection of six technologies for further development. An IC² business development team, including two INVITE interns, pursued international commercialization strategies for these six technologies. The technologies included a mixture of bioscience, 3D visualization, and chemistry projects, at various stages of development. The business development team worked with the technologists to create relationships with possible partners in the U.S. The program resulted in relationships with U.S. partners for each of the six, including licensing arrangements, partnerships to complete laboratory scale-up, and funding partners.

Another component of Phase II was the participation of five INVITE or Monterrey incubator representatives in the IC² master’s degree program—the Master of Science in Science and Technology Commercialization. This one-year UT master’s degree program provides executives with the knowledge and skills needed for the rapid transfer of research, knowledge, and technology from ideas to the marketplace—the entrepreneurial wealth creation process.

Additionally, two Monterrey incubator representatives were in residence at IC²’s Austin Technology Incubator to learn the best practices of technology business incubation.

Phase III, was initiated in the fall of 2006.  IC²'s GCG and the INVITE organization expanded the program to the other northeastern states of Mexico.  Innovations from four states will be screened and assessed, and the Institute will provide entrepreneurship training and international business development support for the most promising technologies and technology representatives.  

Additionally, representatives from four institutions have been trained, through first hands-on experience at the IC² Institute, to promulgate IC²'s technology assessment and business development methodologies throughout the region.  For more information, please click here.

Phase IV is currently underway, beginning with plans during the first quarter of 2008 for the screening and assessment of a new round of technologies. Technologies will be selected for in-depth market research and business development, continuing the tradition of technology commercialization for the region.