MADISON — Nine biotechnology and information technology companies have opened or relocated headquarters in University Research Park facilities, including the park’s new Metro Innovation Center, during the past month, the park announced Wednesday. These new or expanding technology-related businesses are the latest indication that the state’s technology sector continues to be a bright spot in an otherwise bleak economy.
“We’re pleased to welcome each of these exciting companies to either the MGE Innovation Center at University Research Park or our new Metro Innovation Center on Madison’s near east side,” said Mark D. Bugher, director of University Research Park. “The tenants we’re welcoming to the Metro Innovation Center are its first and include two finalists in this year’s Governor’s Business Plan Contest. The growth of these companies into our facilities and the relocation of several of them from out of state is a strong sign that Wisconsin’s technology industry continues to expand in spite of a very difficult economic climate. Tech sector executives are optimistic about the future of their industry and their companies, and we expect this growth to continue.”
Forty-five percent of technology industry executives who responded to a recent WisBusiness.com Tech Leaders Survey, which is sponsored by the Wisconsin Technology Council, believe the state’s economy will improve during the next 12 months; half of the survey respondents believe the condition of their industry will get better during the same period. Nearly three-quarters of those executives who responded to the survey rated the overall prospects for their own companies as good or excellent. More than 70 percent expect those prospects to get better in the next year.
The new University Research Park tenants include:
• BioInfoRx Inc., a life sciences data-management solutions company.
• Exact Sciences Corp., a molecular diagnostics company focused on colorectal cancer screening that is relocating from the Boston area.
• Integrated Genomics Inc., the developer and provider of the ERGO web-based genome analysis platform that is relocating from the Chicago area.
• OptaMetra LLC, a producer of instruments that play an important role in increasing the fiber-optic cable capacity.
• Procyon Pharmaceuticals Inc., a veterinary pharmaceutical company that is relocating from Pendleton, Ind., approximately 40 miles northeast of Indianapolis.
• Semba Biosciences Inc., a manufacturer and seller of a broad range of protein-related instrument and reagents run by former EMD/Novagen executives.
• Hevva LLC, the first Metro Innovation Center tenant and the provider of localdirt.com, a web site enabling Madison businesses and consumers to buy and sell local food.
• mendotasoft LLC, a new Metro Innovation Center tenant, 2009 Governor’s Business Plan Contest finalist and developer of a Microsoft Office add-on software tool that enables users to track breaking news and RSS feeds regarding their contacts.
• PosiPair.com, a new Metro Innovation Center tenant, 2009 Governor’s Business Plan Contest finalist, and a new online retail and networking platform that connects green businesses and shoppers.
About University Research Park
University Research Park, established in 1984 and located three miles west of the University of Wisconsin-Madison campus, is home to more than 100 companies that employ over 4,000 people. It contributes more than $680 million each year to the state’s economy. The non-profit, internationally-recognized research and technology park has 35 buildings with more than 1.5 million square feet of office and laboratory space used by a broad range of start-up companies, many of which are focused on biotechnology. University Research Park earlier this year opened the Metro Innovation Center, a new technology incubator in the historic former Marquip Building on E. Washington Ave. The center, comprised of a series of 10 suites and two conference rooms, provides information technology, engineering, computer and life science and other computer-intensive start-ups with the latest technology and other resources to help them grow and succeed.
URP’s groundbreaking approach and innovative tenant solutions encourage the development and commercialization of new, cutting-edge ideas. Its efforts enhance the state and local economies, while benefiting research and educational programs at the UW-Madison. The park is a partner of UW-Madison, where the world-renowned research faculty holds more scientific patents than at any other public university in the country. The partnership generates great jobs in the community while affording tremendous access and support for URP companies at the university.
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