UVSC launches Orem incubator

Grace Leong

Helping entrepreneurs get plugged into the latest intellectual property developments at Utah's top research universities is one reason why Steve Roy of USTAR is considering expanding to a new business incubator started by Utah Valley State College in Orem.

The incubator will provide mentoring, support services, loan and grant assistance, office and conference space to seven small or startup businesses.

Its goal -- to take startups from infancy to commercialization in two years, and eventually spin off companies that can provide high-paying jobs.

USTAR or the Utah Science Technology and Research initiative, a new state agency designed to leverage technologies developed at Utah's research universities into commercial ventures, is considering moving to a larger space at Canyon Park from its current location at UVSC's campus on 800 W. University Parkway.

Steve Roy, director of USTAR's Technology Outreach and Innovation program, said the Canyon Park location is ideal because of its proximity to numerous entrepreneurs and successful startups including Omniture, Convergys and Symantec, which have corporate headquarters or offices at the 100-acre technology park.

"Now we'll be able to provide more insight to these technology companies and other regional universities about intellectual property generated by the two research universities, University of Utah and Utah State University," Roy said.

He also welcomed the additional space. "We'll have a functional office to meet with companies and help entrepreneurs statewide, and we'll be complying with state legislation, which requires us to stay on buildings owned or leased by UVU," he said.

Already, one Lehi business has made the Canyon Park incubator home. This week, Precision Exams and Surveys Inc., an online assessment and certification service for businesses, schools and government groups, is moving its six-worker operations to Canyon Park.

Founded in 2005, Precision Exams and Surveys wanted more office and conference room space at a cost-effective basis, said Edson Barton, the company's founder. The company is occupying a 600-square-foot space.

"The program also seemed aggressive on helping our business grow with resources like marketing, student interns, and opportunities to collaborate with other businesses moving into the incubator space," Barton said. He was a former business development director with Certiport Inc., an American Fork corporate training company.

Built primarily by WordPerfect in the '80s, Canyon Park now has more than 85 companies and 4,600 employees. Other tenants include Verio, Peoplewise/Lexis-Nexis, Flowserve, Sento, Agilix, 10xMarketing and @Task.

Roy believes there's a need for more business incubators because of the entrepreneurialism and technology innovation in Utah Valley. Other existing incubators include: the Provo Labs Academy, Novell Open Source Technology Center and the Commission for Economic Development in Orem.

The UVSC Foundation paid $2 million toward the cost of the Canyon Park building in 2006. Canyon Park donated $2.7 million to help cover the remainder of the property's cost. The building is also home to UVSC's Small Business Development Center and the culinary arts program.