A business incubator based in Rockford is going regional under its new owner.
EIGERlab opened a decade ago as a place budding entrepreneurs could get help launching their products from concept to customer. Now the mission is the same, but the reach is getting bigger through Northern Illinois University, which acquired EIGERlab from the Rockford Area Economic Development Council.
Rena Cotsones is NIU’s associate vice president for engagement and innovation partnerships. She says “we see a great opportunity to expand this, to connect our faculty expertise, and resources of the staff, and the energy and enthusiasm of our students to become involved with what’s happening with EIGERlab. We think it’s a terrific opportunity for both NIU and the wider region.”
EIGERlab will now be known as the NIU EIGERlab Innovation Network. Rockford Area Economic Development Council president Michael Nicholas says turning the business incubator over to NIU will allow his organization to focus on improving the area’s economy…and still take advantage of the innovations coming from the lab.
