The Incubator at University Technology Park at IIT, funded by the State of Illinois, has been designed and built on best practices learned over 20 years of incubator development and management. Suites are constructed in loft style, with dramatic 20 ft. ceilings, natural lighting, and adjacent office spaces. The spaces are not completely built-out, allowing clients to customize for their individual needs. The spaces may also be modified to accommodate the complex needs of life science, engineering, and chemistry-based companies.

The Incubator focuses on those companies needing sophisticated laboratory facilities that can benefit from leveraging university resources. IIT will provide training, business services support, and opportunities for networking and interaction with other companies, IIT faculty, and students.

Developed with funding support from the State of Illinois to meet the rising demand for high-quality laboratory and office space and business services for start-up technology companies in the Chicago region, the Incubator—from the beginning—has been part of an integrated strategy to promote technology-based economic development.

The idea for the incubator grew out of a feasibility study in 2000 by U.S. Equities and Knight Architects Engineers. IIT sought out the most effective way to adapt existing, but under-utilized research buildings on its main campus, located on Chicago’s South Side. The study identified the chronic shortage of high-quality, affordable laboratory/office space as a key opportunity for the university.

The Incubator is co-located with the research laboratories of IIT’s biomedical engineering faculty, the IIT Research Institute Life Science Group, and Technology Building Center 1, which offers larger laboratory and office space to growth companies past the incubation stage.

> Apply for Incubator space online
> Download PDF application

1. Applications may be downloaded from this site. Submit application and requested documentation to Daniel F. Marselle
   Associate Director for Technology
   & Business Services
   University Technology Park at IIT
   10 West 35th Street, Suite 10F3 -1
   Chicago , IL 60616
   312-567-3900
   312-567-3911 fax
   marselle@utp.iit.edu
   
   
2. Applications will be reviewed by Incubator staff within 10 business days. Incubator staff will evaluate the application in three areas, which should be addressed by the applicant in the submitted business plan or supplemental materials
   
   1. Technical—Is there a technical or proprietary competitive advantage for the product or process? Has the product or process been proven to be feasible? How long until the delivery of the product to customers? What are the resource requirements to reach this stage?
   2. Business/Market—What is the life cycle stage of the industry, the company; what is the buyer concentration of the market—e.g. a few large customers or general consumers? What is the evidence for a clear market opportunity? What is the potential for the company to seize that opportunity? What are the five-year market projections? Are there sufficient financial resources, either in hand or projected, to reach the company’s potential? What are the job expectations—currently and two to three years out?
   3. Management—What is the status of the management team in key positions? What is the joint experience of the team in relation to the company’s business focus? Will the team listen to advice? What is the team’s experience in developing human capital?
      
      
3. Applicants will be invited to a preliminary interview with staff in the course of the review process to discuss their business plans and learn more about the services and potential fit with the incubator’s mission.
   
   
4. The UTP advisory board will review completed applications and the recommendations of staff prior to making the final decision on admission to the Incubator.
   
   
5. Successful applicants will be invited to negotiate a lease agreement. Leases are for one-year terms, renewable for two additional terms, subject to approval of the UTP Advisory Board.