Berkeley’s new Neurotech Collider Lab to harness interdisciplinary synergy for breakthrough innovations

BERKELEY, CA, April 17, 2023 — Berkeley’s Bakar BioEnginuity Hub (BBH) and Sutardja Center for Entrepreneurship & Technology (SCET) at Berkeley Engineering are partnering to create something new: the Neurotech Collider Lab, a new campus space for innovators to collaborate to create applied breakthroughs fueled by interdisciplinary discourse between scientists, technologists, and entrepreneurs.

The lab will welcome researchers, entrepreneurs and practitioners from neuroscience, data science, artificial intelligence, behavioral science, engineering and other fields. Innovators will work together on next-generation neurotech solutions for a broad range of problems impacting society. These include neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer’s and dementia, factors relating to mental health and wellness, and the human relationship with technology and its effect on our well-being.

“We are living in an unprecedented time right now, where technology and science have the power to make profound and impactful changes on our lives,” says Gail Gannon, founding director of the Neurotech Collider Lab. “The mission of our new applied lab is to create a new innovation space at Berkeley for interdisciplinary leaders to better understand the brain and work on novel technology solutions. By partnering with SCET and BBH to establish the new lab, we will be creating an incredibly valuable resource that will lead to impactful neurotech projects and new ventures for the benefit of society.”

The Neurotech Collider Lab will offer many programs that support innovators in the creation of novel solutions. Some activities will include neurotech innovation classes for UC Berkeley students, interdisciplinary research activities, industry and agency programs, roundtable discussions, acceleration for promising venture teams, and events and media to help build community and invite public participation. The first kickoff event will be held online on Thursday, April 27. Registration Link: https://berkeley.zoom.us/meeting/register/tJEsc-yqrj4sE9LCowS-Q5ctz3ss8Vu4ZmaG

The Collider Lab is an applied interdisciplinary innovation lab that has been an essential part of SCET’s programming since 2017 and has been instrumental in helping SCET facilitate serendipitous connections to support the launch of startup venture teams. The interdisciplinary style of the Collider Lab breaks down academic silos to bring Berkeley’s deep technologists together with students and industry leaders to create unique, impact-focused projects and new ventures.

“One of Berkeley’s key differentiating factors is that STEM researchers and students here are extremely technically adept making Berkeley one of the most elite research institutions in the world. Research is extremely important – but it’s not always clear how discoveries can be brought to market to make an impact on society,” says Ken Singer, SCET Managing Director. “The Collider Lab model is built on the premise that technology commercialization requires a collaboration between experts and amateurs, researchers and practitioners, inventors and innovators. In a Collider Lab, these various groups bring different perspectives, experiences and skills to explore consequential questions. Once they collide, they can ignite insights that lead to breakthrough ideas and new businesses. We are excited to work with BBH to create the Neurotech Collider Lab, and to create a new campus program where brain and health innovators can thrive.”

SCET and BBH will each bring important elements to the lab. SCET will bring its award-winning pedagogy, the Berkeley Method of Entrepreneurship, to provide entrepreneurial training to Berkeley students and others joining the lab, as well as its worldwide network of entrepreneurs, industry experts, and academic leaders. 

BBH will bring its extensive network of entrepreneurs and researchers, and its 100,000 square foot innovation space at Woo Hon Fai Hall. Since BBH opened its doors in May 2022, it has attracted a diverse range of innovators from the Bay Area and beyond. From industry experts building their second or third company to undergraduates gaining work experience at the intersection of science and business, BBH is designed to be a collaborative hub for all. The Neurotech Collider Lab is an example of exactly that.

“This building has a strong history and an even stronger future,” says Susan Jenkins, managing director of the Bakar BioEnginuity Hub. “Although originally an art museum, the architecture and layout work perfectly to foster collaboration, as we have seen with the interactive community of tenants at the startup incubator, Bakar Labs. In this environment, Neurotech Collider Lab participants will connect with each other and become integrated in the BBH community. This program will strengthen the interdisciplinary connections between the neuroscience community, BBH and SCET innovators and entrepreneurs, and colleagues in social sciences, law, policy, business and more.”

This collaboration between SCET and BBH is just the beginning of what the world’s top public university for entrepreneurship has to offer. Sign up for the Neurotech Collider Lab mailing list and follow the social media accounts linked below to stay tuned. 

About Bakar BioEnginuity Hub

The Bakar BioEnginuity Hub is a home for entrepreneurship that connects Bay Area innovators with UC Berkeley’s unique entrepreneurial ecosystem. The Bakar BioEnginuity Hub is the home of Bakar Labs, a startup incubator with state of the art facilities, and the BBH campus programs which inspire ambitious entrepreneurs in our community to solve hard problems together. 

About Sutardja Center for Entrepreneurship & Technology

The Sutardja Center for Entrepreneurship & Technology (SCET) is a global innovation hub headquartered at UC Berkeley’s College of Engineering, where aspiring entrepreneurs take deep dives into the world of technology entrepreneurship and embark on the path to developing exciting new ventures. The center offers a suite of courses and programs for students, executives and global innovators.

Instagram: @neurotechcollider

Twitter: @neuralxlab

LinkedIn: Neurotech Collider Lab