Commercialization

Translating innovative technologies from the lab to the market and to patients takes time and resources. It is an arduous and complex but necessary journey. INVO (Innovations and New Ventures Offices) and Northwestern University at large support the commercialization of technologies throughout the earlier ideation and proof of concept stages as well as the initial phases of new company formation and will partner with the Kidney Center.

Innovations and New Ventures Office (INVO)

The Innovations and New Ventures Office (INVO) at Northwestern serves as the University's central hub for innovation, entrepreneurship, and technology commercialization. INVO helps faculty, students, and researchers transform groundbreaking discoveries into real-world solutions by guiding them through invention disclosure, intellectual property protection, licensing, and startup formation.

Through its Innovation Commercialization team, the Querrey InQbation Lab, and The Garage, INVO provides a comprehensive ecosystem of resources that supports innovators at every stage of the commercialization journey. Services include intellectual property and licensing expertise, startup mentorship, funding connections, legal and business resources, entrepreneurial programming, and access to specialized workspaces. By connecting discovery with entrepreneurship, INVO accelerates the translation of Northwestern research into products, companies, and technologies that benefit society while driving economic growth and strengthening the University's culture of innovation.

Chicago Biomedical Consortium (CBC)

As a member of the Chicago Biomedical Consortium, a Searle Fund-supported collaboration among Chicago’s preeminent medical institutions, Northwestern teams may apply for funding in pursuit of innovative discoveries aimed at transforming biomedical research and improving human health.