At its core, the mission of Northwestern University’s Innovation and New Ventures Office (INVO) is straightforward: to catalyze the translation of Northwestern innovations to benefit the public and promote economic growth.
But a straightforward mission does not mean simple execution. Achievement and ease, after all, rarely go hand in hand.
To push Northwestern-bred innovations into the marketplace where they can impact lives, transform society, and stimulate economic benefit, INVO has leaned heavily into one of Northwestern’s foremost strengths: a collaborative environment that prizes interdisciplinary connections and believes blending diverse knowledge and skill sets stimulates powerful results.
INVO’s story since its 2010 founding is one of building strength through collaboration, of listening and learning from others, of nurturing relationships and promoting unified effort toward a common goal. We see the fruits of this strategy through products in the marketplace powered by Northwestern’s problem-solving DNA and the robust network of companies launched from Northwestern research.
Every collaboration aims to increase the value and readiness of Northwestern innovations for the marketplace and empower our innovators and entrepreneurs to realize their ambitious goals.”
Lisa Dhar, Northwestern University Associate Vice President for Innovation
This year’s highlights include our growing collaborations with campus partners like the Kellogg School of Management, Northwestern Medicine, the Trienens Institute for Sustainability and Energy, and the Farley Center for Entrepreneurship and Innovation, among many others. These collaborations are inspiring new entrepreneurs and propelling the development of novel medical devices, sustainable technologies, and companies founded on discoveries from Northwestern labs. And with our Querrey InQbation Lab now fully operational, we are expanding our programming and resources to accelerate the development of compelling technologies and nurture the next generation of entrepreneurs.
Every collaboration aims to increase the value and readiness of Northwestern innovations for the marketplace and empower our innovators and entrepreneurs to realize their ambitious goals.
Whether it’s finding industry-specific advisors, diving into product-market fit, advancing prototypes, bolstering a marketing plan, or supporting our licensees, INVO embraces collaboration to maximize the impact of Northwestern innovation and entrepreneurship. A talented team at INVO works to ensure just that, backed by support and trust from the larger Northwestern community.
Collaboration has fueled INVO’s growth and enhanced our ability to pursue a mission as straightforward as it is daring. We cannot wait to see what the future holds.