About the Innevation Center

The University of Nevada, Reno Innevation Center is designed to empower Nevada’s next generation of economic leaders by igniting the creative and entrepreneurial spirits in University of Nevada, Reno students, faculty, community creatives, makers, economic developers, and emerging global tech companies.

We are a synergistic, collaborative space designed to stimulate the creation and incubation of startups and accelerate the growth of the innovation-driven economy in our region.

Anyone in the community can become a member – entrepreneurs, startup companies and creatives – with privileges to the Makerspace, conference rooms, special events, co-working and networking opportunities.

We are open, free of charge, to all University students, faculty and staff.

Learn more about what's inside the Innevation Center

Innevation Center exterior

A little history

The Innevation Center celebrated its opening in fall 2015. The concept started when City of Reno officials approached the University about acquiring the 25,000-square-foot, city-owned building in downtown. The University recognized the opportunity and developed the business, entrepreneurship and innovation center. Switch, a global technology company and leader in the design and operation of advanced data centers, funded the interior build-out of the Innevation Center, a catalyst for regional enterprise named to take the "no" out of innovation. In addition to supporting the Innevation Center in Reno, Switch Founder and CEO Rob Roy donated Rob Roy’s Innevation Center to the Las Vegas community.

Expertise & infrastructure

The Innevation Center spurs ideation, commercialization and entrepreneurialism by providing resources necessary to develop startup companies. Members are also able to interface with the Nevada Center for Applied Research that provides access to talent, facilities and equipment on campus, including an innovative wet-lab space for entrepreneurs.

These entities work in partnership to serve as an entry point for industry and entrepreneurs desiring to work with the University, and they facilitate connection to the University’s wide array of business-related programs.

Economic development

The Innevation Center is home to several industry-forward initiatives that highlight the University’s commitment to regional economic development.

Close-up of a milling machine drilling metal with an automated lubricated spray hitting the metal

Manufacture Nevada

Go-to resource for Nevada manufacturers to access expertise and business solutions to advance as global leaders in their industry.

Visit Manufacture Nevada

Logo for the NCET Tech Awards

The InNEVator has been recognized in the NCET Tech Awards with the 2017 EDAWN Entrepreneurial Support Award for Program of the Year. The Innevation Center has also been recognized in the NCET Tech Awards with the 2017 EDAWN Award for Best Entrepreneurial Hub.

Location

Our dynamic hub of innovation and commercialization is centrally located at 450 Sinclair Street. We are approximately:

  • 1 mile from our sponsoring, world-class research institution, the University of Nevada, Reno
  • 3 miles from the Reno-Tahoe International airport
  • 2-hour drive from Sacramento
  • 4-hour drive from Silicon Valley
  • 1-hour flight to San Francisco or Silicon Valley by commercial jet

Our companies & partners

More than 60 organizations are involved with the Innevation Center, spanning growth tech companies and non-profits to individual entrepreneurs. We have been home to over a dozen technology startups, and Innevation Center companies have raised over $88 million in Nevada since the opening of the center in 2015.

Meet our companies | Learn about our partners

Enterprise & Innovation

The Innevation Center is a pillar of Enterprise & Innovation at the University of Nevada, Reno. Enterprise & Innovation works to create bridges between academia and industry to improve lives. The office is comprised of four pillars: