The Integrated Venture Development team supports researchers at every stage of the research process, from early planning through funding and real-world impact. IVD provides unified services for researchers and external partners, ensuring foundational research is effectively funded, protected, and translated into economic and societal impact.
This is accomplished through distinct but interconnected and integrated offices. Each office plays a critical role in supporting faculty, staff, and students with the shared goal of translating research and scholarship into meaningful capture, solutions, and partnerships.
The Advancing Scholarly & Scientific Initiatives through Services and Training Office strengthens the research enterprise by serving as the front door for industry and national laboratory stakeholders that align UA expertise with external needs.
The Office for Technology Development manages UA’s intellectual property portfolio, including evaluation of disclosures, patenting and copyright processes and technology transfer through licensing and startup formation.
Framework
Each office within IVD applies an action-oriented ASSIST framework to implement its key focus areas.
Research ASSIST Office
Analyze
- Leverages historical award data and landscape scans to forecast emerging global funding trends and national priorities.
- Provides qualitative insights to inform high-level decision-making and early planning for future research opportunities
Seed
- Champions and facilitates university-wide programs to seed transformative research efforts.
- Oversees the administration and notification of internal grants, travel awards, and faculty fellowships.
Strategize
- Orchestrates internal competitions for limited submissions, including identifying deadlines, disseminating weekly opportunities, and managing committee reviews.
- Strengthens interdisciplinary collaborations to identify expertise gaps and build institutional capacity for large-scale, multi-PI funding.
Ideate
- Coordinates and documents planning sessions, workshops, and seminars tailored to align research teams with strategic objectives.
- Connects faculty with campus and external partners while facilitating high-impact research events.
Support
- Provides comprehensive project management and technical editing to ensure compliance and high-quality "peer-style" internal reviews.
- Offers dedicated support for drafting content, managing complex outlines, and coordinating with research administrators during the pre-award phase.
Train
- Delivers tailored workshops and one-on-one sessions focused on grant writing, navigating UA resources, and team science.
- Provides specialized guidance for early-career faculty to identify funding opportunities aligned with their specific research trajectories.
Technology Development
Advance
- Matures laboratory technologies toward market readiness through innovation readiness assessments and Technology Readiness Level (TRL) evaluations.
- Provides critical bridge funding for minimal viable product (MVP) development and matches researchers with experienced commercialization mentors.
Scout
- Identifies high-potential innovations by conducting regular reviews of funded research, publications, and lab activities.
- Partners with research centers to embed commercialization liaisons and hosts "tech showcases" to highlight promising translational work.
Safeguard
- Secures intellectual property by managing the full disclosure-to-patent lifecycle and reporting active license metrics.
- Delivers faculty training on IP basics while collaborating with ORTA to develop standardized legal templates for NDAs and MTAs to streamline external discussions.
Initiate
- Launches startup ventures and licensing pathways via incorporation assistance, business model development, and accelerator referrals.
- Facilitates connections to mentor and investor networks while supporting SBIR/STTR proposal development for founder teams.
Shape
- Refines the commercial value proposition by connecting faculty with elite market research tools.
- Offers one-on-one coaching and I-Corps–style workshops to ensure technologies are professionally prepared for resource alignment with state partners.
Transfer
- Propels university innovations into the hands of industry partners through a public-facing technology portal and active pitching to VC scouts.
- Negotiates flexible license models and research-based collaborations to ensure maximum real-world impact and economic development.