Fuel the Future of Regional Innovation
FLIPspace is a groundbreaking initiative designed to empower university teams of faculty, researchers, student innovators, and industry experts to tackle regional challenges by providing exclusive access to federal intellectual property (IP) through a partnership with the Federal Laboratory Consortium for Technology Transfer (FLC). The FLIP in FLIPspace stands for Federal Lab Intellectual Property, emphasizing the program’s unique focus on leveraging the cutting-edge innovations developed within federal labs. Unlike traditional innovation programs, FLIPspace, working with FLC FLEX, supplies teams with cutting-edge IP from the national network of federal labs, enhancing participants’ entrepreneurship skill sets to help them develop impactful business solutions.
This unique approach allows regions to develop breakthrough technologies that solve challenges specific to their local economy, industries, and communities.
While the current pilot is focused on advanced mobility in Northwest Arkansas, the FLIPspace model is designed to be scalable and tailored to other regions of the U.S., allowing for the development and commercialization of innovative solutions across a wide range of sectors—from healthcare to energy to agriculture.
FLIPspace: Advanced Mobility in Northwest Arkansas
Northwest Arkansas, with its rich history as a transportation hub—spanning major highways, railways, and key waterways—is uniquely positioned to lead advancements in advanced mobility solutions. The FLIPspace: Advanced Mobility Northwest Arkansas pilot program is a seven-month initiative that focuses specifically on addressing the transportation challenges of the region, offering participants the opportunity to develop and commercialize new mobility technologies that will shape the future of transportation.
Teams will undergo comprehensive training in areas such as:
- Tech transfer
- Lean startup methodologies
- Design thinking
- Patent fundamentals
- Venture capital
Throughout the experience, teams will gain a deep understanding of tech transfer, with support from the FLC FLEX Program, to refine their market research skills and evaluate federal technologies in a competitive business landscape. Participants will collaborate with industry leaders and expert mentors to shape their ideas into market-ready solutions that address real-world challenges in transportation and mobility.
The program culminates in a high-stakes pitch event, where teams will present their business models to an Arkansas-based venture studio, Highway Ventures, for potential incubation and funding—offering a direct path to bring their innovations to market. With support from the Walton Family Foundation and partners like the Federal Laboratory Consortium for Technology Transfer and the Licensing Executives Society and collaborators like the Institute for Integrative & Innovative Research at the University of Arkansas, this program is poised to drive economic growth in the region while influencing the future of transportation on a national scale.
Why Apply?
- Ignite regional impact: Leverage federal IP to address region-specific challenges in sectors like advanced mobility, healthcare, and more.
- Receive comprehensive training: Engage in a rigorous program covering tech transfer, lean startup methodologies, design thinking, patent basics, and venture capital.
- Collaborate with industry experts: Work with mentors from leading organizations, including Highway Ventures, the Licensing Executives Society, and the Federal Laboratory Consortium for Technology Transfer, to bring your ideas to life.
- Pitch for incubation: Showcase your business model at the final pitch event, with the possibility of incubation within the venture studio—a dedicated space designed to support the growth of innovative startups by providing resources, mentorship, and opportunities to commercialize advanced mobility technologies.
- Pioneer future models: Help demonstrate how the FLIPspace model can be adapted for regions across the U.S., addressing local challenges with national significance.
Who Should Apply?
The FLIPspace: Advanced Mobility Northwest Arkansas program is open to university teams across the state of Arkansas. Teams should consist of three members who are passionate about innovation and entrepreneurship in advanced mobility. While there is flexibility in how teams are composed, at least one team member must be a student affiliated with a university.
Join a community of innovators dedicated to shaping the future of transportation.
Interested in bringing FLIPSpace to your region? We are open to exploring various emerging industries. Please contact Demetria Gallagher, vice president of Higher Education Innovation Ecosystems at VentureWell.
