Accelerating Innovations to Market (AIM)

Accelerating Innovations to Market (AIM) is a commercialisation programme run by the Office of Innovation and Commercialization at UC San Diego. It aims to move university technologies into the market and to support new start-ups in the regional ecosystem. A newer track, AIM for National Security, targets technologies with both civilian and defence uses.

What AIM does

• Funding calls: an annual application round; teams that meet the criteria receive support and funding.
• Mentorship and networks: tools, guidance and connections for entrepreneurs, researchers and founders.
• National security track: welcomes work on resilient infrastructure, defence and aerospace systems, life sciences and human performance, and space technologies.
• Review panels: proposals go through internal review and industry panels before awards are announced.

Who it serves

UC San Diego researchers, inventors and start-up founders. The programme says it deliberately recruits from historically marginalised communities. Earlier rounds covered life science areas such as medical devices and therapeutics, plus ocean devices, energy and software.

Key facts

• Run by: Office of Innovation and Commercialization, UC San Diego
• Applications: submitted through the university's Infoready platform
• Supported by: Mintz, with Innovation Partnership members