Carper, Carney, Coons, Blunt Rochester Announce a $3 Million Grant Award for Delaware Innovation Space

WILMINGTON – Today, Governor John Carney, U.S. Senators Tom Carper and Chris Coons, and Congresswoman Lisa Blunt Rochester (all D-Del.) announced a $3 million grant award from the U.S. Economic Development Administration (EDA). This federal grant will support capital investments in the Delaware Innovation Space, a new mission based public-private partnership between the State of Delaware, DuPont and the University of Delaware, formed to accelerate science entrepreneurship and build a new world-class innovation community focused on growth and incubation of new business.

“After losing thousands of jobs over the year to plant closures and layoffs, Delaware continues to find innovative ways to drive economic growth and opportunity – and the Innovation Space is a critical component to this recovery,” said Senator Carper. “The EDA has recognized that Delaware has a long history of scientific innovation, and this project will leverage their federal investment and use the resources of the University of Delaware and DuPont to attract, retain and grow new industry here. We must continue to find ways to grow our economy for the long-term, and this grant will help foster that innovation.”

“We’re about supporting innovation in Delaware, and working with business and higher education to prepare our workforce, create good-paying jobs, and drive economic growth,” said Governor Carney. “That’s exactly what is happening at the Delaware Innovation Space, and why we have redesigned how our state does economic development to build on this model. Our partnership with DuPont and the University of Delaware will provide supports for early-stage science-based companies, give Delaware innovators the tools they need to build a business, and connect young scientists with leaders in their field. This grant will build on that work, and I want to thank Senator Carper, Senator Coons, and Representative Blunt Rochester for their continued leadership on behalf of Delawareans across our state.”

“This money will allow Delaware to build on its strong chemical heritage for the future,” said Senator Coons. “With this EDA grant, we will help transform an impressive lab on the DuPont Experimental Station campus and make it more accessible for smaller companies to help fuel the future of our economy. This grant, combined with funding from the State, DuPont, and University of Delaware, will make Delaware home to one of the largest deep technology wet lab incubators in the country.”

“Small business incubators and accelerators are crucial to the future of Delaware’s economy,” said Congresswoman Lisa Blunt Rochester. “The Delaware Innovation Space will provide an environment for small businesses to grow through STEAM education and research, as well as create good paying jobs here at home. This grant from the Economic Development Administration is an important investment in the Delaware Innovation Space and in building a 21st century economy in the First State.”

“EDA’s investment in support of the Delaware Innovation Space will be used to advance and sophisticate our capabilities to better support the needs of the emerging and high growth businesses that we are attracting from across the United States and beyond,” said Delaware Innovation Space President and CEO Bill Provine.“Sharing the innovative strength of Delaware in key markets and sectors from advanced materials, biotechnology, and health care with science entrepreneurs will accelerate economic growth that will sustain for decades, if not for hundreds of years.”

The Delaware Innovation Space is a vital resource in the scientific startup ecosystem and is a non-profit, public-private partnership that offers multi-dimensional, resource-rich support for scientific entrepreneurs at the Experimental Station campus in Wilmington, Del. The Delaware Innovation Space offers a centric location and proximity to world-renowned research institutions, global multi-national corporations and a thriving scientific start-up community.

###