Columbia University has formed a partnership with Alexandria Real Estate Equities to launch a new accelerator for early-stage life science companies.
Alexandria LaunchLabs @ Columbia will focus on supporting life science start-ups based on innovations developed at Columbia and peer institutions. The accelerator will feature 14,000 square feet of co-working space, including laboratories and offices, and will provide founders with mentorship and access to seed-stage funding through Alexandria.
“Columbia University is committed to supporting and promoting a culture of innovation and entrepreneurship, and over the recent years we have witnessed an unprecedented growth in the number of start-ups based on technologies developed in Columbia’s research labs,” says Orin Herskowitz, executive director of the university’s commercialization arm Columbia Technology Ventures. “We look forward to this partnership with Alexandria that will pave the way for Columbia and our peers to launch more and stronger start-ups, faster than ever.”
For more than a decade now, Alexandria has led the development of New York City’s life science start-up ecosystem through its unique expertise and resources. Jenna Foger, senior vice president of science and technology at Alexandria, comments, “We are honored to strategically partner with Columbia, which is known for its great track record of life science company formation.
“Alexandria LaunchLabs @ Columbia will be an idea complement to our innovative offerings at the Alexandria Center for Life Science,” says Foger, “and our continued efforts to cultivate the next generation of industry leaders to ensure the future growth and success of the NYC life science cluster.”
Source: Columbia News
