Wisconsin offers a supportive climate for high-tech/biotech companies to thrive—from leading research facilities to growing capital markets and a cluster of successful technology firms.

• UW-Madison will receive a $125 million federal grant to develop a center that will explore how to convert cornstalks, wood chips, grass and other plant material into fuel for cars and power plants.
• In 2006, high-tech companies received $5.5 billion in annual sales/revenues and/or government awards and provided more than 28,000 jobs in the Madison area.
• The $150 million Wisconsin Institute for Discovery/Morgridge Institute for Research initiative will facilitate collaboration among scientists of different disciplines and create a forum for public and private sectors to shape the future of biology and medicine.
• The Wisconsin Bio-Ag Gateway is a public-private campus planned in Madison that will offer cutting-edge technologies in agriculture, biotechnology and manufacturing to help produce and commercialize agriculture products and services.

Business assistance

• The MGE Center for Entrepreneurs provides business development assistance at the T.E.C. Center Inc. for tenants and other area firms.
• UW-Madison Small Business Development Center provides programs, counseling and education to help small business owners grow.
• University of Wisconsin Office of Corporate Relations helps businesses access university resources.
• Wisconsin Technology Council is a catalyst for creating and retaining science and technology businesses.
• State Science & Technology Institute (SSTI) is a national organization that works to improve government-industry programs and informs entrepreneurs about federal and state funding opportunities directed at helping technology-based businesses grow.

Commercialization/technology transfer

• Wisconsin Alumni Research Foundation patents the discoveries of UW-Madison researchers and licenses these technologies to companies in the state and worldwide.

Education, training and development

• The BioPharmaceutical Technology Center offers 20,000 square feet of space for educational, scientific and cultural purposes.
• Master of Science in Biotechnology [PDF - 4.9 MB] curriculum is unique in the world for its fully integrated approach to studying the science, the business and the law/ethics of biotechnology. Courses are targeted to experienced, actively practicing professionals working within or around the field of biotechnology.
• The Weinert Center at the UW School of Business is dedicated to teaching, research and service pertaining to entrepreneurial management and enterprise development.
• Wisconsin Women's Business Initiative Corp. provides business education and access to capital for entrepreneurs.

Facilities and support services

• University Research Park provides resources and a nurturing environment for companies to commercialize technology.

Financing

• The Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) program provides technology-based businesses with funding to help commercialize innovative ideas.
  • Wisconsin SBIR program
  • U.S. SBIR program
• Wisconsin Women's Business Initiative Corp. provides business education and access to capital for entrepreneurs.

License and patent assistance

• Wisconsin TechSearch is a fee-based information outreach program. Online literature, patent and trademark searches are available.
• WiSys Technology Foundation, Inc., manages intellectual property of the UW System. WiSys attracts innovative ideas, manages patents and licenses technologies to generate income to support research.

Life sciences

• University of Wisconsin Biotechnology Center (UWBC) is Wisconsin's catalyst to advance biotechnology research, education and industry for the benefit of society and the environment.

Technical research and assistance

• The Waisman Clinical BioManufacturing Facility (WCBF) is a state-of-the-art facility that is equipped with experienced staff and specialized equipment that are necessary for producing experimental human biotherapeutics in compliance with the FDA (cGMP) requirements. The WCBF is designed to manufacture clinical-grade biological pharmaceuticals for early-stage (Phase I and Phase II) human clinical trials.
• The Zeeh Pharmaceutical Experiment Station, UW-Madison School of Pharmacy, can serve a key role in the effective selection and early formulation development of new drug entities from any drug discovery lab. The Station can help move such candidates beyond the lab and into proof-of-principle clinical testing.

New Business Start-Up Initiative - (UW Office of Corporate Relations)