UofM Joins NSF’s Mid-South I-Corps Hub, Stretching Tennessee’s Innovation Corridor Westward 10 Institutions Now Make Up Mid-South Regional Ecosystem

Dec. 2, 2024& — The University of Memphis recently became the newest — and westernmost — addition to Tennessee’s innovation corridor, joining the National Science Foundation’s Mid-South Innovation Corps (I-Corps) Hub, one of 13 such hubs spanning the country that combines STEM ideas with a startup mentality to shift products out of the laboratory and into the marketplace. The I-Corps designation opens doors for the UofM to collaborate with other academic institutions, creating an environment ripe for researchers and ready for entrepreneurs.  The Mid-South I-Corps Hub, which is led by Vanderbilt University and housed at its Innovation Center, the Wond’ry, is a partnership of 10 institutions across four states with a goal of fostering innovation and driving economic development to position the Mid-South as an ecosystem that transforms groundbreaking university research into impactful commercialized ventures. “A research-driven entrepreneurial ecosystem is a hallmark of cities that lead through innovation,” said Cody Behles, executive director of research and innovation development at the University of Memphis. “Partnering with the universities in the Mid-South I-Corps hub will unlock a collaborative network that will advance both the research of the UofM and our ability to translate the value of research for industry.” By joining the...