The Fitzsimons Innovation Community is a co-working space on the CU Anschutz Medical Campus, where the Department of Bioengineering shares educational and research space with 80 local bio-tech companies and organizations. A January 29 article by Nature highlighted the advantages of these shared spaces for accelerating biotech start-up progress. April Giles, vice president of business development for the community, explained that co-located bioengineering researchers and bio-tech companies collaborate by sharing equipment, leveraging a pipeline of trained students for employment, and by connecting on mutually beneficial business opportunities.

“I’ve experienced the advantages of this co-working space in both industry and academia”

Chelsea Magin, PhD

Chelsea Magin, PhD, Assistant Professor in the Department of Bioengineering started her career as the Director of Product Development at Sharklet Technologies, Inc. in the Fitzsimons Innovation Community and is now leading a research laboratory and teaching classes in the same space. “I’ve experienced the advantages of this co-working space in both industry and academia,” says Magin. “Our bio-tech start-up company collaborated with research faculty in Bioengineering and frequently used CU core facilities. Now I connect my students with companies through tours of bio-tech manufacturing facilities and have seen many of our graduates employed here on campus.”

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