NCInnovation Names Wilmington’s Hub Director
Scott Davis, an entrepreneur and double UNCW grad, to lead NCInnovation’s work in the Wilmington region
Wilmington, NC – Scott Davis has been named NCInnovation’s hub director for Wilmington and the southeastern North Carolina region. NCInnovation recently expanded its regional locations from four UNC System institutions to seven, including UNC Wilmington. Davis will be based in UNCW’s Center for Innovation and Commercialization.
Davis, an entrepreneur and advisor to startup companies, previously served a key role with UNC Wilmington’s Office of Innovation and Commercialization as the Coordinator of Technology Transfer. He has deep roots and relationships in the greater Wilmington area and brings years of experience navigating (and helping others navigate) the research commercialization process.
UNC System President Peter Hans said, “Research is a pillar of the UNC System’s mission and a critical part of our service to North Carolinians. Already, NCInnovation has funded projects for institutional researchers who are developing cancer treatments, vaccines, and clean drinking water solutions, among other important innovations.”
Michelle Bolas, NCInnovation’s chief innovation officer and executive vice president, said, “Researchers at UNC Wilmington are working on groundbreaking discoveries to solve real-life problems here in North Carolina. Scott will work daily with researchers, university administrators, and industry to support applied university research that has commercial promise. This university-to-industry pipeline has been the backbone of American technological might for decades.”
Justine Reel, UNCW’s interim associate provost for Research and Innovation, said, “We are delighted to welcome Scott Davis back to UNCW. With his vast expertise in venture capital space and entrepreneurship he will help propel, enhance and transform innovation and commercialization efforts on campus in collaboration with UNCW’s Office of Innovation and Commercialization and the Center for Innovation and Entrepreneurship.”
UNCW Provost James J. Winebrake said, “The establishment of the NCInnovation hub and director appointment at UNCW underscores our university’s commitment to fostering economic growth and driving impactful research that addresses real-world challenges within our region and across the state. I look forward to the positive impact that Scott Davis’ leadership will have on the new hub, our campus and the broader North Carolina research and innovation community.”
Davis said, “UNC Wilmington researchers are working right now on projects that can have real-world impact. As a UNC Wilmington grad, I’m thrilled to help accelerate that work through the university research and development sequence, to the point it can attract private sector interest.”
Davis earned a bachelor’s and master’s degree in business administration (’17, ’18M) from UNC Wilmington. In addition to his prior role with the university’s Office of Innovation and Commercialization, Davis has also advised startups and venture capital funds on the east coast and the Wilmington area.
NCInnovation is a nonprofit organization that unlocks the real-world research potential of North Carolina’s world-class public universities. The organization provides grant funding and other support to university researchers working on discoveries that have practical application and commercial promise. NCInnovation last year approved its first slate of research grants, including a project at UNC Wilmington to develop a universal and longer-lasting flu vaccine.
Regional directors at NCInnovation hubs serve researchers on their respective campuses and at nearby universities. They connect NCInnovation research grant recipients with industry and business services to advance their research towards commercialization.
NCInnovation, Inc. is a Research Triangle Park, NC-based 501(c)(3) public-private partnership designed to accelerate commercialized innovation from North Carolina’s research universities. Backed by more than $25 million in private philanthropic commitments, NCInnovation uses the interest and income from a $500 million State-funded endowment to provide non-dilutive grant funding, mentors, and support services so that North Carolina university proofs-of-concept return value to the regional communities that created them. Learn more at NCInnovation.org.
