May 23, 2016 | University of California’s Office of the President Invites CNSI to Innovation Day at the State Capitol

CNSI Staff | May 23, 2016

The UCLA California NanoSystems Institute was invited by University of California Office of the President to participate in Innovation Day at the state Capitol on May 10, 2016. CNSI leadership joined eight other representatives from UC to advocate the state legislature to support AB 2664. This legislative proposal would promote entrepreneurship within the University of California by providing $2 million to every campus for three years. The funding would be used to maximize the transformative power of UC’s research engine and provide the building blocks of innovation such as incubator space, legal services, and entrepreneurship training. With 86 startups created around UC technology in 2014 alone, UC continues to serve as the primary launching platform for startup companies which stimulate economic and job growth in California.

Innovation Day included lunchtime remarks by California’s 44th District Assemblymember Jacqui Irwin, who is committed to continuing California’s longstanding tradition of being a national leader on innovation. Irwin, who also authored AB 2664, stated, “I’m happy to champion the UC right here in Sacramento because I know of the impact it has and the potential it offers for our young people and for our state. Simply put the goal of this initiative is to build out the ecosystem that fosters good ideas and brings these ideas to marketplace. In order to maximize that potential, we intend to serve audiences both inside and outside the university, serving students and communities around so that the entire state can benefit.”