The BioBusiness Accelerator
An initiative of the Zeeland, MI-based Lakeshore Advantage organization, the Accelerator helps promising young companies lower the barriers to successful commercialization of their innovative products and technologies by providing:
- Access to the small business incubation program administered by staff of Lakeshore Advantage at the Michigan State University Bioeconomy Institute in Holland, MI
- Assistance in navigating the broad range of resources available through MSU, and promoting collaborative research and technology transfer between small business and the University
- Business assistance services, such as business planning, technology assessment, & market development
- Various educational, networking, and mentoring programs
- Connections to local talent, qualified service providers, and potential sources of financing
You belong in the BioBusiness Accelerator if you:
- Are an early-stage business with a distinct bioeconomy focus
- Have a written business plan, well-qualified principals and are financially stable
- Can participate in and abide by the operating guidelines established by MSU and the BioBusiness Accelerator
- Offer technologies or services that will help to advance Michigan’s growing bioeconomy
The BioBusiness Accelerator operates within the MSU Bioeconomy Institute, an exceptional 140,000 sq. ft. facility donated to the university by the Pfizer Corporation following the closing of its 46-acre campus in Holland. The former pharmaceutical R&D and pilot plant features modern laboratories with extensive capabilities for chemical synthesis, formulation and analysis, with approximately 65,000 sq. ft. of wet lab space. The facility includes a 35,000 sq. ft. pilot plant equipped with chemical reactor vessels totaling 37,000 liters in capacity, and specialized systems and expert operators to provide capabilities suitable for biofuels, bio-plastics and specialty chemical development and scale-up.
In addition to housing the BioBusiness Accelerator the Institute will host leading MSU faculty and staff whose research activities will focus on areas including:
- The economical production of usable biomass
- Biofuel development and refining
- Utilization of biomass feedstocks for the production of commodity and specialty chemical and bio-based materials
- Development of bioeconomy compliance, quality, safety and environmental standards and practices
- Formulation of responsible strategies and policies related to the emerging bioeconomy
New and growing companies that become incubator tenants in connection with BioBusiness Accelerator will be immersed in a dynamic environment supported by MSU biomass scientists; embedded corporate research partners; advanced education activities; bioeconomy development; technology transfer; and community outreach experts.
With the support of MSU, local business and community members, and strong interest in new technologies and economic opportunities from area’s large agricultural community, the BioBusiness Accelerator initiative will help create a culture of innovation, collaboration, commerce and opportunity. Taking advantage of the State’s abundant renewable natural resources and entrepreneurial spirit, these efforts will create
“Good Chemistry” to help fuel Michigan’s emerging bioeconomy.