The mission of the Center for Biomedical & Bioengineering Innovation is to empower application-agnostic innovation at the intersection of bio-devices, bio-systems, and bio-computation technologies.
Scientific discovery has always followed in the wake of prior advances in enabling technologies. New experimental devices, systems, and computational tools unlock new domains of scientific understanding. Magnifying the impact of technology innovation is the realization that new technologies can often be used for multiple applications. Therefore, expanding the adoption of existing technologies will also drive discovery.
Our vision for the center is to become the UConn nexus for bio-based technology innovation empowering socially impactful convergence research; driving economic and workforce development for the citizens of Connecticut; and attracting international recognition to UConn.
The goals are to:
- Advance the invention, development, and broad adoption of bio-based enabling technologies through transdisciplinary collaborative research networks and facilitating research translation.
- Drive economic development in Connecticut through development of new bio-based technology products, services, and businesses.
- Train the workforce for high-growth, future-proof biotech jobs by integrating engineering students into research, technology innovation, and entrepreneurship activities at UConn.
- Attract international recognition to UConn as a world leader for bio-based technology innovation.
We conclude that our mission is distinct from or synergistic with all existing UConn centers and institutes. The center aims to fill the gap within UConn Research to serve as the nexus for bio-based technology innovation for convergence research at UConn and beyond. The center advances application-agnostic technology through multi-department collaboration, engagement, and student training. No other UConn center or institute has a similar technology-centric mission in the biomedical and bioengineering space. The other centers or institutes with particular application-specific missions are synergistic with the center in the intersecting domain in which the center’s unique contributions to bio-based technology innovation may enhance discovery elsewhere by unlocking new domains for scientific understanding.