The Innovation District is a comprehensive ecosystem of places, programs, and people all working
together to foster entrepreneurship through the commercialization of ideas.
At the University of Georgia, we bring together thinkers, dreamers, and doers to reach their full commercial potential through a vibrant, creative, and supportive ecosystem. The Innovation District connects you with people, places, and programs that help you take the next step towards commercializing your idea or invention. We take on challenges from multiple angles, shape discoveries into marketable solutions, provide customizable problem-solving, and educate tomorrow’s entrepreneurs to be skilled, experienced, and versatile. Through this, we drive economic development with novel solutions.
It’s about prosperity. It’s about collaboration. It’s about innovation that drives commercial success.
Where is it located?
The heart of the Innovation District is developing along the interface of UGA’s North Campus and downtown Athens where the district can grow alongside the Classic City’s vibrant art, music, and food scene.
The Innovation District includes:
Entrepreneurial mentorship and coaching
Accelerator programs for early-stage ideas
Training, tools, and resources for small businesses
Pitch decks, co-working and collision areas, and conference rooms
Offices for startup companies
Community building activities and social events
Studio 225
Studio 225 is the home of UGA’s booming Student Center for Entrepreneurship.
Opening in the spring of 2019 in a renovated warehouse on West Broad Street, Studio 225 connects students of all majors to entrepreneurship programs, spaces, funding, and mentors. Studio 225 includes:
Opening in January of 2021, the Hub provides a creative space at the heart of North Campus and downtown Athens, where faculty, students, community members, and industry partners can collaborate and innovate on commercial projects. The Delta Innovation Hub hosts a wide variety of programs and services for startups:
382 E. Broad Street is houses the Small Business Development Center (SBDC) which provides tools and training for the community’s small businesses and aspiring entrepreneurs.
The SBDC helps community entrepreneurs in the following areas:
Supported by The Delta Air Lines Foundation, the Student Industry Fellows Program (SIFP) cultivates innovation competencies among UGA graduate and undergraduate students and fosters mutually beneficial industry partnerships. A signature program within UGA’s Innovation District, the SIFP is part of a unique ecosystem of talent, creativity and infrastructure that brings students from a range of disciplines together to solve emergent and pressing challenges through unique, cross-disciplinary courses and experiences.
Institute for Integrative Precision Agriculture
Global agriculture must expand food production 70% by 2050 to meet the demands of an increasing population and a decreasing resource pool.
To address this global challenge, UGA is proposing an Institute for Integrative Precision Agriculture, as the next phase of capital development for Innovation District, to create technologies, tools, and resources that sustainably improve agricultural productivity through increased yield, fewer inputs, and reduced risk.
The Institute will leverage technology advancements in sensing, robotics, data analytics, and artificial intelligence with genetic and chemical advances to build a more sustainable global supply of food and fiber and position the University of Georgia and the State of Georgia as leaders on the world stage.
1 Press Place
1 Press Place houses the Office of Business Engagement, industry’s front door to UGA talent and resources.
Between our accomplished alumni, renowned faculty, groundbreaking research and high-caliber students, businesses have plenty of reasons to want to partner with UGA, and the Office of Business Engagement helps make that happen. OBE helps businesses to achieve their goals for research and development, talent recruitment, and philanthropic giving.
Black structures are concepts for future development.
Goals of the District
The Innovation District is to become a leading driver of economic development and community impact through innovation, entrepreneurship, and experiential learning.
Accelerating research commercialization
to enable our ideas and inventions to make the greatest impact on society.
Expanding university-industry collaboration
to leverage the strengths of academia and business for developing commercial ventures.
Elevating public and private investment
to provide our entrepreneurs with funding and mentorship to turn their ideas and inventions into successful ventures.
Connecting campus and community entrepreneurs and innovators
to strengthen the creative culture and technology-based economy of our community.
