A grand opening was held in late September for BioInspire, a new incubator in Peoria that will be home to start-up companies developing medical devices.
The city of Peoria, which committed about $5 million to the effort, is working with BioAccel, a nonprofit organization that helps turn bioscience technologies into businesses, and the Plaza Companies, a Peoria-based company that specializes in developing bioscience and medical office properties.
The first five medical device companies to join BioInspire are:
- Arizona Medical Systems: Develops medical devices to cure heart and blood vessels diseases.
- Hildeez Recovery Garments: Developing specialized post-surgical recovery garments.
- Kulira Technologies: Developing solutions for surgical oncology through the use and development of advanced biomaterials.
- Nasseo: Providing longer-lasting dental and orthopedic implants.
- Yolia Health: Developing personalized gas-permeable contacts and specially formulated eye drop to reshape the cornea and improve far-sighted vision.
BioInspire is located in a 6,800-square-foot building near Loop 101 and Thunderbird Road. The hope is to lease space to additional companies by early 2013. Each of the companies will have access to initial funding, mentoring, free office space and laboratories. In addition, a non-profit business counseling organization and a medical-device consulting firm are renting space.
For more information:
“BioInspire’s 5 tenants expressing optimism”, Arizona Republic, 10/1/2012
”Peoria starts incubator to attract makers of medical devices”, Tucson Sentinel (Cronkite News Service), 10/1/2012