Collaboration with industry is essential to realizing the full commercial potential of scientific innovation at the University of Arizona. Given the close proximity of the university to the Mexican border, it seems logical that fostering collaborations with industry in Mexico would be a successful strategy.
Recently, Joaquin Ruiz, College of Science dean and UA vice president of innovation and strategy, invited Luis Fernandez, CEO of Novamex, for a visit. Novamex is a leading importer and marketer of Hispanic food products and non-alcoholic beverages in the United States.
Of interest is how this visit came about and how internal collaboration helps foster public-private partnerships. Several months ago, Gerardo Chavez, the CEO of GFC Business Development, contacted Tech Launch Arizona seeking technologies for licensing personal health care that were aligned with the needs of Mexialoe Laboratorios, S.A. de C.V., which was acquired recently by Novamex. Mexialoe Laboratorios is the leading company in Mexico and Latin America that produces and processes organic certified raw aloe vera.
Founded in 1989 and located in southeast Mexico, the company supplies raw aloe vera to the top companies and laboratories in the cosmetic, food, pharmaceutical and personal-care industries worldwide. After a review of the available licensing technologies, Mexialoe Laboratorios has agreed to evaluate the commercial potential of a new sunscreen developed by professor Douglas Loy in the department of chemistry and biochemistry in the College of Science.
This exciting technology may overcome sunscreen’s photochemical instability to ultraviolet light. More importantly, the relationships and trust that have developed as a result of these negotiations with our Mexico partner on this technology begged the question — what more could we do together? Perhaps additional licensing opportunities, funding research or developing student exchange programs are possibilities.
But no matter what, having a perspective on broader opportunities is essential to maximizing the overall benefit when collaborating with the private sector, especially international partners.
Such interactions remind us that the College of Science brings together globally prominent faculty in disciplines at the core of scientific inquiry and education. In fact, it is a nexus of award-winning programs and centers that encourage both independent and collaborative-driven research — in Tucson or around the world.
