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“One of the great things about working here is to watch an idea that is simply spoken from someone’s mouth grow into a real company or a real product,” Pottebaum said. Since then the company has grown into its own offices in the Ped Mall. Pottebaum cited the social media management shop Sculpt, which, in 2012, was housed in one of ICAD’s shared workspaces. ICAD hosts various events such as “Networking Using Social Media” and “Creating a Social Brand” to connect people and businesses in the community and help business thrive in an increasingly technological world. “We can connect them with finances, mentors or with people who have already been through the process and can explain the better way to do it.” “It’s all their ideas, we are simply the connectors,” Pottebaum said. Since 2013 they have watched more than 20 startups grow into independently functioning businesses. Carolyn Rosenquist, an advertising and corporate relations manager at the Iowa Alumni Association, called the grand opening an “unprecedented event” that celebrated a collaboration between the university, city and local businesses and organizations.Įrin Pottebaum, ICAD’s director of communications, said a group of six dedicated ICAD employees are available to help businesses with anything from consultation, workforce development, business development and business expansion and retention.
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He said it’s too early to see how the collaboration will work out, but he is excited for all the possibilities this partnership will bring, such as internship opportunities for students to work with faculty on the 3D printing and design of new technologies.Īpproximately 200 people who attended the open house on June 15, including a number of businesses affiliated with ICAD. “I am a very happy customer.”įred Skiff, chair of the University of Iowa Physics and Astronomy Department, approved the collaboration between the department in Van Allen Hall and protostudios. “It is a tremendous game changer in terms of economic impact ,” Howard said. Another company previously took three months to create an ill-adapted prototype of the tube, he said. With the help of protostudios, which uses 3D printing to help lower costs and shorten the time it takes to make adjustments, Howard was able to develop this Minimally Invasive Surgery (MIS) tube in only three weeks.
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He had in his hand an intricate silver tube he uses for surgeries. Matthew Howard, a University of Iowa professor and Department of Neurosurgery chair, spoke at the open house after performing four surgeries that day.
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Stephen Pradarelli, the strategic communications director of the University of Iowa’s Office of Research and Economic Development said someone who might say, “I’ve got an idea and I don’t know if it’ll fly,” can come to these groups to try and figure out how to accomplish their goals and see their ideas come to life. All three work in collaboration to support early incubation of businesses. MERGE hosted an open house for its Ped Mall space June 15, which coincided with the launch of protostudios, a rapid prototyping facility, and the Translational Research Incubator, a wet lab that lets people test out their intellectual property and develop proofs of concept. ICAD’s new MERGE space (136 S Dubuque St) in the Ped Mall offers co-working spaces for startups and individuals at a reduced rent rate, as well as mentorship and networking opportunities to help those smaller businesses make meaningful connections and grow in the Iowa City area. ICAD, a nonprofit organization, is funded by investors and partners in the community, including existing businesses like Proctor and Gamble. In a mutually beneficial relationship, those companies would bring new jobs to the area. As a result, the Iowa City Council and chamber of commerce decided to create a new organization specifically to welcome and aid the economic development of businesses dealing with interstate commerce - businesses that could decide to move anywhere. The organization got its start in 1984 when a Saturn auto plant, which had considered an Iowa City location, decided against moving to the area, meaning local residents missed out on those new jobs. The organization celebrated its latest expansion with the opening of a new co-working space, MERGE, on the Iowa City Ped Mall earlier this month. The Iowa City Area Development Group (ICAD) has come a long way since its inception over 30 years ago. The new MERGE space in downtown Iowa City.