Many innovations we take for granted every day – from flat-screen TVs and webcams to life-saving medications and countless tools that simply make living better – started in university research labs.
For its part, UNLV has emerged as a player in the innovation game in recent years, with several promising projects in health, energy, and environmental technology starting to make their way into the marketplace. But the path to getting good ideas from the depths of a campus lab into your living room is complex and costly.
To help close the gap, UNLV now has the National Science Foundation (NSF) in its corner.
UNLV was among just eight universities in the nation to earn funding this year through one track of a competitive NSF program that helps those with strong research portfolios accelerate the pace in which they commercialize their innovations.
Over the next four years, the university’s Office of Economic Development will receive nearly $6 million through NSF’s new Accelerating Research Translation program to bolster its ecosystem for research translation through expanded programming, personnel support, and new funding opportunities for UNLV entrepreneurs.
“Promising discoveries occur every day on our campuses at UNLV, but they often require additional support to ensure they are patent-protected, tested, and ultimately advanced toward real-world applications,” said Zach Miles, UNLV interim vice president for economic development. “This project will expand our capacity to build the infrastructure needed to transform hi-tech ideas into impactful products and services and support our growing community of UNLV innovators and entrepreneurs.”
Expanding Capacity, Accelerating Opportunity
The UNLV Office of Economic Development, with support from a variety of regional partners, already offers a suite of services for university-based and community entrepreneurs. Resources include patent and licensing support, as well as a variety of catalyst programs funded by state, federal, and private entities that help inventors navigate the commercialization process, apply for seed funding, and connect with potential investors, collaborators, and the region’s economic development ecosystem.
According to the NSF program website, grant awardees in UNLV’s category (Track 2) were selected in part because they displayed “a high potential and desire to substantially elevate the overall level of research translation to unleash innovation and create significant opportunities for sustained economic and collective impacts.”
With the infusion of NSF funds, UNLV will now have the resources needed to scale existing systems, improve workflows, and more easily identify and guide promising projects through the commercialization process. Throughout the grant program cycle, UNLV will also have the opportunity to tap into Arizona State University’s powerful innovation ecosystem. As the designated mentor institution, ASU will offer insight on commercialization practices, project evaluation, and industry and community engagement.
Rebel Innovation on the Rise
The NSF award comes at an ideal time, as UNLV research spending reached record levels in 2025 and patent activity continues to rise. The university recently launched an Innovation Foundation with industry professionals and experts to support technology commercialization efforts on campus and at the UNLV Harry Reid Research & Technology Park.
The grant will support Innovation Foundation efforts by establishing an industry advisory council to monitor the progress of grant-related projects and to assist in connecting researchers with potential partners and investors. It will also supplement a successful entrepreneurship-in-residence program, which is supported by the Nevada Governor’s Office of Economic Development and embeds business leaders within the economic development team to help university researchers navigate the nuances of commercializing their work.
Together, these programs have contributed to a number of recent UNLV research-based startups, including Quantum Copper, a company leveraging an innovative fire-retardant polymer to improve safety in batteries and other materials; X-Regen, which harnesses the power of X-rays to extend the life of lithium-ion batteries; Heligenics, a pioneer in the field of personalized medicine; and WAVR Technologies, Inc., which is engineering a new and highly-effective process to capture water from the dry desert air.
These startups, and the burgeoning innovation ecosystem they’re a part of, highlight the important role that UNLV and universities like it play in strengthening and diversifying regional economies.
“We congratulate UNLV on this award, which will boost Nevada’s efforts to translate university research into companies and products while substantially strengthening our translational research ecosystem,” said Karsten Heise, senior director of strategic programs and innovation at the Nevada Governor’s Office of Economic Development (GOED). “Through GOED’s Knowledge Fund, we were able to build the foundation of an Entrepreneur in Residence Program at UNLV, which resulted in the creation of a number of spinout companies and supported the application for this grant. The award will enable UNLV to expand this important program and build capacity, enhancing our ability to move use-inspired research into real-world solutions for the benefit of Nevadans.”
Rebel Innovation Starts Here
UNLV’s Economic Development team connects the university’s high-impact researchers and resources with collaborators throughout the public and private sector. This includes attracting industry-sponsored research, developing intellectual property, and forging meaningful connections for university-based and local entrepreneurs. Visit the UNLV Office of Economic Development online to learn more and connect.
