[img_inline align=”right” src=”http://padnws01.mcmaster.ca/images/MIP09.jpg” caption=”McMaster Innovation Park, home to preINC, a program that gives business advice and support to McMaster faculty and students interested in starting a company. File photo.”]McMaster University is launching an initiative that will encourage the creation of start-up companies based on inventions and research discoveries made at the University, as well as at Hamilton Health Sciences and St. Joseph's Healthcare Hamilton.

Dubbed preINC, the program is aimed at the pre-incubation phase of business creation. It will give business advice and support to McMaster faculty and students interested in starting a company to commercialize their discoveries and inventions.

“The ultimate goal of preINC is to create and sustain a culture of innovation and commercialization at McMaster,” says Mo Elbestawi, McMaster's vice-president research and international affairs. “In difficult economic times, inventions and research discoveries can be a catalyst for job creation. McMaster provided start-up expertise to companies such as Natrix Separations and Prosensus, both of which have already created dozens of jobs in our region.”

Occupying 1,000 square feet in the newly renovated Atrium at McMaster Innovation Park, preINC provides entrepreneurial researchers with on-site access to legal, commercial and marketing expertise, including intellectual property and business development professionals.

preINC opens with four participants: ProFitHR, Digital Dash, Liquid Fiber Displays and Adiga Life Sciences.