NCInnovation Pipeline Program Launches At UNC Asheville
This week, NCInnovation announced that the NCInnovation Pipeline Program is officially underway at UNC Asheville, making it the first institution in the UNC System to launch and issue Pipeline awards to faculty.
The Pipeline Program is designed to help university faculty in the early state of translating research and creative activity into innovations with commercial potential by providing structured support, entrepreneurial education, and seed funding. UNC Asheville’s launch marks an important milestone in NCInnovation’s statewide rollout, showcasing how institutions of varying size and mission can activate the program.
“UNC Asheville is proud to be the first university in North Carolina to successfully launch the NCI Pipeline program for faculty. This achievement highlights the strength of our applied research and the dedication of our faculty to advancing innovation that serves the public good. The NCI Pipeline provides vital support to help move promising discoveries from the laboratory to the marketplace—driving job creation and economic growth across North Carolina. We are pleased to share this mission with NC Innovation and to help position our state as a leader in research commercialization,” said Kimberly van Noort, Chancellor, UNC Asheville
UNC Asheville’s swift implementation of the program provides a streamlined, collaborative approach that engages academic leadership, deans, and faculty early in the process. The university developed an application model that emphasizes intellectual property education, entrepreneurial skill-building, and practical milestones—ensuring faculty are prepared not only to explore commercialization, but to advance confidently toward future funding opportunities.
“This is exactly how the Pipeline Program was designed to work,” said Michelle Bolas, Acting President and CEO. “UNC Asheville moved quickly, engaged faculty across disciplines, and built a clear, faculty-centered process that shows how accessible this program can be when institutions lean in.”
Faulty who complete the Pipeline Program are position to advance into NCInnovation’s open Request for Proposals (RFP) process, where they may pursue larger-scale funding to further develop and commercialize their innovation. This creates a clear, end-to-end pathway—from early exploration to market readiness—within North Carolina’s public university system.
"The NCI pipeline program is a unique opportunity for our campus and I am excited that our faculty will be able to work on their pipeline projects in the coming months. UNC Asheville faculty are known for our focus on students and mentoring undergraduate students in research -- where students put their classroom knowledge to use solving cutting-edge problems and build critical skills for their careers after graduation like communication, teamwork, project management, leadership and decision making. What is unique about the NCI pipeline program is that it enables our faculty to take their research accomplishments to the next level and develop intellectual property. And the program supports innovation across a wide variety of fields,” said Sally Wasileski, Dean of Natural and Human Sciences, UNC Asheville.
Backed by more than $25 million in private philanthropic commitments, NCInnovation uses interest and income from a $500 million State-funded endowment to provide non-dilutive grant funding, mentors, and support services so that North Carolina’s proofs-of-concept return value to the regional communities that create them.
Tim’s Take: The Research Triangle is one of the main economic drivers for North Carolina, because of the commercialization of research coming out of UNC-Chapel Hill, NC State, and Duke University. NCInnovation provides support to UNC system schools throughout the Tar Heel state to drive economic activity across the state. This aligns perfectly with President Trump’s America First vision that centers on economic growth and innovation in America, instead of letting competitors lead the way.
