The OCTANe Foundation for Innovation (OFI) is focused on advancing biomedical and information technology innovation and entrepreneurship within Orange County.
OFI initiatives target:
the promotion, development and recognition of innovation
the education, skills development and mentoring of entrepreneurs
OFI cultivates the "people and ideas" to help innovators bring their ideas to market. Our programs are designed to ignite business formation and growth in the public and private sectors and to nurture the entrepreneur in leveraging core R&D to form the "next" Orange County success story.
OBJECTIVES
Recognize innovation and entrepreneurship in the biomedical & information technology sectors
Provide opportunities to educate and mentor "star" researchers and entrepreneurs
Develop the talent pipeline by engaging students and young professionals in biomedical and information technology careers and professional development activities
Foster collaboration and technology transfer between universities and private sector
Create awareness for the region as a vibrant center for talent, R&D, innovation and business formation
UCI Researcher Receives First OFI Innovation Award—$20,000
Marlon Mathews was recognized as OFI’s inaugural Innovation Award winner for the development of a cerebrovascular Optical Coherence Tomography (OCT) device used to detect strokes and other diseases. Mathews will receive a $20,000 prize, a year’s membership to OCTANe and business coaching and mentoring through OCTANe’s LaunchPad program.
Also recognized with a $5,000 "Social Impact" award was Intelligent Mobility International (IMI) whose mission is to empower poor, disable people in developing countries by designing and producing safe, low-cost, durable wheelchairs made from bicycles.
The OCTANe Foundation for Innovation is a 501(c)(3) public charity supporting OCTANe, Orange County's leading biomedical and IT organization dedicated to accelerating entrepreneurship and company growth. Learn more about OCTANe at www.octaneoc.org
