Emma Dill

Pickle & Taps, Wilmington's first indoor pickleball venue, plans to open its doors later this year. (Photo courtesy of Pickle & Taps)

NCInnovation has announced plans to establish an innovation hub on the University of North Carolina Wilmington (UNCW) campus to support local researchers. The Durham-based nonprofit group aims to help researchers at North Carolina universities commercialize their research products. Along with UNCW, the organization also announced new hubs at Appalachian State University and Fayetteville State University, according to a news release issued by the UNC System late last month. The three new hubs join existing innovation centers at East Carolina University, the University of North Carolina at Charlotte, North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University and Western Carolina University. Nearly half of the UNC System’s 16 universities are now home to NCInnovation hubs.“It is an honor to have been selected as one of three institutions expanding the UNC System partnership with NCInnovation,” James Winebrake, UNCW’s provost and vice chancellor for academic affairs, stated in a UNCW news release. “Our engagement with NCI demonstrates commitment to economic development in our region and also reinforces our commitment to advancing the integration of entrepreneurship within more programs across campus.” Regional directors at each hub will provide local researchers with applied research support. The hubs also aim to connect NCInnovation grant recipients with industry and business services to advance their research towards commercialization, the news release stated.Justine Reel, UNCW’s interim associate provost for research and innovation, highlighted NCInnovation’s role in bridging the gap between research and commercialization. "The NCInnovation relationship has been invaluable to UNCW in helping innovators take their projects to the next level,” Reel stated in the release. “NCI has addressed the 'valley of death' funding issue while providing support, connections, and mentorship to UNCW researchers." Last year, the North Carolina Legislature granted a $500 million endowment to the nonprofit to help support commercializing research. In May, UNCW associate professor of chemistry Ying Wang received one of eight grants during NCInnovation’s $5.2 million pilot grant cycle. Wang is developing a vaccine platform that aims to produce a universal and longer-lasting flu vaccine. The next round of NCInnovation grants will be open to all applied researchers in the UNC System. The organization expects to announce the application period soon, according to the release.

Voters turned out Tuesday at polling locations across New Hanover County. (Photo courtesy of New Hanover County)

StepUp Wilmington announced on Friday the hiring of Teresa Wolf as the organization’s next CEO and executive director.

Corbin Penland (from left), CEO and co-founder of Synply, and Nick Strakhov, Synply’s business operations manager, stand inside their offices on the Live Oak Bank campus in midtown Wilmington. (Photo by Madeline Gray)

Will Parker (from left) and his wife, Kennedy Parker, own a company that manufactures powered carts for use on the beach and in industrial settings. (Photo by Madeline Gray)

Ahead of Friday's vote canvass, the New Hanover County Board of Elections dismissed a protest filed by a local candidate. (Photo courtesy of New Hanover County)

George Taylor Jr. A district court judge sentenced Wilmington entrepreneur George Taylor Jr. to a year and a day in prison on Wednesday for not paying more than $2 million in employment taxes and not filing employment tax returns related to his company National Speed.

Vantaca announced its acquisition of HOAi, a provider of AI technology for the HOA and community management industry, this week. (File photo)

The Port of Wilmington recently added a new Leica Microscope, which aims to make the inspection process for imported produce and agricultural products more efficient. (Photo courtesy of North Carolina Ports)