Exterior building signage is now installed on the University of Nevada, Reno Innovation Center, marking a milestone toward establishing a tangible University presence in downtown Reno.

The University of Nevada, Reno Innovation Center will be a launch-pad for research and development. It will be a space for students, faculty and businesses to innovate and collaborate with business entrepreneurs, investors and commercialization experts. Located at 450 Sinclair Street at the edge of Reno's Midtown District and three blocks from Reno's City Hall, the Innovation Center is slated to open in June 2015.

"We envision an opportunity to create a convenient, easy-to-access hub for community and business outreach programs at this location," University President Marc Johnson said. "This facility will bring the knowledge and resources of the University into downtown Reno and underscore our firm commitment to engage with our community."

Mridul Gautam, vice president for research and innovation, describes the project as creating a dynamic hub of development and commercialization. "The Innovation Center is a critical component of the vibrant innovation ecosystem that is taking a foothold in Northern Nevada," he said.

The third floor of the Innovation Center will be home-base for two industry-focused initiatives that highlight the University's commitment to regional economic development: the Nevada Advanced Autonomous Systems Innovation Center and Nevada Industry Excellence.

As recently announced, NAASIC ("nay-sic") is supported by a $3 million grant from the Governor's Office of Economic Development Knowledge Fund, with the goal of creating industry-university partnerships to commercialize technologies in autonomous systems. This includes land-based, aerial and stationary robotic systems such as industrial robots, advanced manufacturing systems, driverless road vehicles and underwater robots. Warren Rapp, previously with the Nevada Institute of Autonomous Systems, was recently named NAASIC business director and a technical director to coordinate research projects will be identified.

Nevada Industry Excellence is a statewide Manufacturing Extension Partnership that works directly with Nevada companies to strengthen their competitiveness by providing information, decision support and assistance in adopting new, more advanced technologies, techniques and best practices.

A Welcome Center will be located on the ground floor. Plans for this community-oriented area call for to offer enrollment information hosted by the Office Prospective Students, a Wolf Shop satellite location and a ticket office. The ground floor will also have a large multi-purpose meeting space. A maker space is being planned for the facility's basement and the second floor is envisioned as providing space for business start-ups.

Gautam and Heidi Gansert, executive director for external relations, are directing development of the Innovation Center, and John Sagebiel, assistant director of environmental health and safety, is guiding the operational planning for the Innovation Center.

"We anticipate public-private partnerships that include students, faculty and the private sector, and will add to the ever increasing vibrancy of this great Reno area," Gansert said. "With the (Terry Lee Wells Nevada) Discovery Museum across the street, we look forward to new outreach opportunities for K-12 students as well."

The University acquired the 25,000-square-foot office building from the City of Reno through a lease-to-purchase agreement in early 2014. The city previously had relocated its Community Development Department to the City Hall, leaving the building vacant.

"Re-purposing an existing and vacant building with a focus on business and community services is a win for our entire community," Reno City Manager Andrew Clinger said.

"The City of Reno continues to focus on the key priority of promoting a sustainable and vibrant economy," Clinger said. "Having the University grow and expand from up on the hill to the heart of Reno further enhances the 'University Town' initiative that falls under that priority."