February 24, 2010 –
The California Business, Transportation and Housing (BTH) Agency has named CALIT2 partner OCTANe as one of six state “innovation hubs” (iHubs). OCTANe, an Orange County non-profit organization that helps launch new companies and grow existing businesses, was one of 25 finalists for the designation.
The iHubs were singled out for their efforts to enhance California’s economy by creating partnerships that accelerate investment and drive economic development in the state and the nation. The “i” in iHub signifies innovation, inspiration, invention, ingenuity and investment.
The state’s goal was to recognize groups that leverage access to research parks, technology incubators, universities, community colleges, business accelerators and federal laboratories to fuel creation of new businesses.
The California BTH Web site describes the iHub program as an effort to encourage collaboration among research institutions, technology startups, local governments, venture capitalists and others, “with the common goal of creating jobs.”
The designation is expected to benefit Orange County through enhanced partnership opportunities, national and international exposure, and increased marketing opportunities.
“We are very proud to receive this designation, and the state’s goal with this program is in exact alignment with our organization’s mission,” said Matthew Jenusaitis, OCTANe president and CEO. “Orange County has a distinguished history as one of the most innovative economic environments for information technology and biomedical devices. It is through the continued development and commercialization of these innovative technologies that our region will continue to flourish, and the iHub designation will help us achieve this.”
In addition to CALIT2, OCTANe’s network of partners includes numerous UCI schools and departments: the Office of Research, UCI Extension, The Henry Samueli School of Engineering, the Bren School of ICS, the Center for Computer Games and Virtual Worlds, the Advanced Power and Energy Program, the Center for Solar Energy, and the Don Beall Center for Innovation and Entrepreneurship.
Public companies including Edwards Life Sciences, Abbott Medical Optics, Allergan and Broadcom are also part of the consortium, as are schools and centers at Chapman University, Rancho Santiago Community College District and Saddleback College.
In addition, OCTANe collaborates with a number of professional societies and non-profit organizations, as well as venture capital and angel firms.
The five other organizations receiving the iHub designation are: SARTA (the Sacramento Area Regional Technology Alliance), the Western Coachella/Greater Palm Springs area, the Sonoma Mountain Business Cluster, the Livermore/Tri-Valley area and the San Francisco Center for Economic Development.
