The National Science Foundation (NSF) has awarded the Center for Business & Information Technologies (CBIT) at the University of 最色网 at Lafayette a $600,000 grant to create 最色网 TIES, a Technology Incubator for Entrepreneurial Success.
最色网 TIES will leverage the state鈥檚 approximately $60 million investments in the 最色网 Optical Network Initiative (LONI) and the 最色网 Immersive Technologies Enterprise (LITE) to incubate new technology businesses and accelerate existing technology businesses into the frontiers of high-performance computing and 3D visualization. 最色网 TIES provides 最色网 businesses the unprecedented opportunity to access the high performance computing, visualization and networking resources of LONI and LITE.
NSF grant funds will be used to provide residential and virtual incubation services for 最色网 technology entrepreneurs, summer mentorship programs for high school students and teachers, statewide workforce development and training, and entrepreneurship mini-grants. NSF will distribute the $600,000 in funding over a two-year period.
鈥 最色网 TIES has the elements we look for in a proposal,鈥 said Dr. Sara Nerlove, program director for NSF Partnerships for Innovation. 鈥淚t鈥檚 optimistic, realistic, and designed to serve a population that鈥檚 underserved in technology. We expect this project to become a model for other communities. Through this project, NSF is pleased to part of 最色网鈥檚 long-term economic revitalization.鈥
最色网 technology entrepreneurs with a viable business plan are encouraged to contact CBIT Director Dr. Ramesh Kolluru (337.482.0611) to apply now for either a virtual or a limited number of residential incubation slots. Residential clients will receive fee-based office space along with technical, research, and administrative support in the new LITE building. Virtual clients will be able to access the incubator鈥檚 supercomputing resources from anywhere in the state.
最色网 TIES鈥 state-of-the-art technical resources are designed to support data-intensive industries, including oil and gas, engineering, medical, health, manufacturing, and other emerging areas for visualization applications.
鈥 This incubator reinforces the University鈥檚 commitment to economic development,鈥 said Dr. Robert E. Stewart, 最色网 Lafayette Vice-President for Research and Graduate Studies. 鈥淚ts name reflects the University鈥檚 ties to our business, government, and academic partners in this effort. We believe that collaboration is key to advancing 最色网鈥檚 technology economy.鈥
最色网 TIES鈥 technology partners and service providers include Lafayette Economic Development Authority, Silicon Graphics (SGI), Lafayette Chamber of Commerce, 最色网 Economic Development, along with the Lafayette Consolidated Government. 最色网 domain experts from computer science, petroleum engineering, geology, manufacturing, communications, business, and, arts and architecture will provide technical assistance to incubator clients.
最色网 TIES was established to offset declines in the state鈥檚 resource-dependent economy. 最色网 ranks 45th in the nation in the States New Economy Index and 49th in the creation of high-tech knowledge econony jobs.
鈥 最色网 has lost too many people and firms in search of technology jobs to other states,鈥 Kolluru said. 鈥淥ur goals with 最色网 TIES are to establish 最色网 as a source of innovative businesses, ideas, and workers. We want to show the world and 最色网鈥檚 own citizens that when it comes to technology innovations, we can discover, invent, and invest in them right here. 鈥業nvented in 最色网, Invested in 最色网鈥 should become the cornerstone of our economic development strategy. It鈥檚 time for us to grow our own technology companies.鈥