Each year, the Comparative Medicine Institute hosts CATALYZE, a conference that features seminars on the wide array of resources available through NC State’s Office of Research Commercialization, as well as talks by faculty entrepreneurs and successful entrepreneurs in the biomedical field from around the Triangle and the country. 

CATALYZE is a commercialization conference to spark ideas and team formation for commercialization at the earliest stage. Commercialization begins with good ideas and a small team that dreams big. CMI is committed to provide the resources and networking to launch such teams towards success. Here are some additional details about the conference:

• CATALYZE will include an entrepreneurial competition where teams pitch their ideas for new startup formation. 
• Teams will be composed of students and postdocs with science and business expertise. 
• Teams can be up to five people and should include at least two trainees (i.e., students/ postdocs).
• Teams will pitch the ideas at the conference and the winning teams will receive significant awards to further explore their ideas.
• Beginners Guide to SBIR/STTR: This new introductory workshop will focus on how to secure funding for your startup.