Northwestern University has announced a $25 million gift from Kimberly K. Querrey ('22, '23P) in support of a technology accelerator to advance startup companies led by Northwestern faculty in health, life sciences, and related fields. In addition, the Illinois General Assembly has allocated $50 million as part of the state's capital budget to build the accelerator in Evanston.

The accelerator, which will be named in Querrey's honor, will include labs and collaborative workspace for startup companies as well as offices for program staff and startup advisors. Materials scientists John Rogers and Mark Hersam will be the first to occupy the new space and will be joined by four additional early-stage startups in the fields of synthetic biology, nanotechnology, and flexible materials. Rogers is piloting Rhaeos, a company that has developed technology for use in the monitoring of ventricular shunt function in patients with hydrocephalus; and Hersam is piloting Volexion, the developer of a graphene coating for lithium-ion batteries that dramatically increases their energy, cycle life, and safety.

"This effort will expand on Northwestern's rich tradition of innovation and entrepreneurship by providing researchers with a launching pad for new ventures. It takes the work out of the lab into a translational space to help university researchers get their discoveries out to the marketplace and to the patient's bedside," said Querrey, chair of the Northwestern board's Innovation and Entrepreneurship Committee. "This space will benefit the entire university community, the local community and beyond, and it is extremely exciting to see it take shape." 

"Northwestern has an outstanding track record for entrepreneurial technology innovation," said provost Kathleen Hagerty. "The scientific work of our researchers is nothing short of breathtaking, and the establishment of this exciting new accelerator further advances our faculty's remarkable capacity for addressing global and local challenges through our academic and entrepreneurial efforts."

(Photo credit: Stephanie Kulke)