Colorado's Innovation Infrastructure

Colorado enjoys an astonishing range of innovation resources outside of the business community.  For our population, we have a powerful university system, the largest cluster of federal research facilities outside the Washington DC area, an active entrepreneurial community, and professional/business associations in over 100 disciplines of innovation.  Add to that our current and nascent industry clusters, and we present a powerful draw for individuals and businesses considering relocation.

Our infrastructure is primed to help Colorado businesses... but only if businesses and individuals can find partners and negotiate win-win relationships.  Thus InnoSearch provides lists of Colorado's innovation infrastructure.  Though not always incomplete, these listings provide a significant start.  Each listing includes category (as defined below), name, acronym (if any), and link to primary website. 

Infrastructure lists will evolve over time.  Please recommend priorities for attention and missing organizations.

Free Infrastructure Memberships:  At no charge ever, every infrastructure element may register with InnoSearch and maintain a full, searchable profile.  Searchers will then see...

Name, acronym, membership category, website link, city / county
Profile:  Keywords and business description 
Postings:  News relevant to the Innovation Community:  Job opportunities, requests for proposals, special events, and news releases.

Please encourage your favorite innovation organizations to accept free membership in InnoSearch.

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Associations:  Two primary types, typically non-profit.  About 12% of Colorado's associations support innovators, both clients and contractors in outsourcing relationships.

Professional associations: Organizations designed to further specific professions and to develop individuals maintain expertise and qualifications in those professions. 

Industry associations:  Organizations designed to stimulate specific industries and provide support for businesses in those industries.

Business / Technology Incubators:  Organizations, typically non-profit, that mentor, coach, and provide basic business resources for entrepreneurs in a geographic region or a specific industry.  Incubators specialize in unique and innovative businesses, and quite often facilitate funding for startups.  

Universities and Colleges:  Institutions of higher learning, including public and private, 4 year and 2, with or without graduate programs.  Special listings for Institutes of Innovation and Entrepreneurship, schools of business and engineering, and other departments or programs doing research and/or developing technologies that support innovation.  Sources of intellectual properties.  Sources of expertise through consulting professors.  In some cases (e.g., photonics, bioscience), sources of new industry clusters. 

Federal laboratories:  Sources of R&D with a specific scientific/engineering focus, cooperative research, technologies for license, and "work for others" programs that enable support of local businesses.  Colorado has the largest cluster of federal research organizations outside of the Washington DC area.  Labs represent departments of Agriculture, Commerce, Defense, Interior, and Transportation.  Most have mandates from Congress to both transfer technologies and to enhance local economies.  NOTE:  Some labs manage the legalities of tech transfer and cooperative R&D agreements through DC offices. 

Federal Business Support:  Federally funded support organizations for development and growth of new and existing businesses.  Includes:  Small Business Development Centers (SBDCs), NIST Manufacturing Extension Offices, and the Small Business Administration (SBA) with its consulting arm, SCORE.  

Small Business Development Centers (SBDCs):  Federally funded support organizations for development of viable new businesses.

NIST Manufacturing Extension Centers:  Federally funded resources for support of improved manufacturing and viability of American manufacturers.

The Small Business Administration (SBA):  Federally funded support system for small businesses.  Includes the SBA's consulting arm, SCORE.

Media:  Those reporting on innovation and engaging extended conversations about the impact of innovation on people, organizations, and economy of Colorado. 

Investors:  Sources of funding for innovation of companies, businesses, products, and markets.  Venture capitalists and angel investors supporting innovation.  (Banks are Providers.) 

Sources of Intellectual Property:  Technology transfer of universities, federal labs, and businesses who license patented intellectual property. 

State Government:  Elements that support innovation and/or innovators.    

Local Government:  County, city, and Economic Development Districts that foster innovation.

Chambers:  Local business networks with strong commitment to promote innovation in their geographic area and to work to further the interests of innovators and innovating businesses.  Perhaps 10% of Colorado's Chambers qualify for InnoSearch membership.