The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston (UTHealth) andBioHouston, Inc. today announced a new agreement to boost services to biomedical entrepreneurs and new bio-tech start-ups in Houston.

The agreement that was signed by executives for the two nonprofits calls for greater collaboration between the organizations’ technology incubators and joint efforts to promote services.

“We saw the opportunity to expand wet lab facilities and collaborate at the same time,” said Jacqueline Northcut, president and CEO of BioHouston. “By combining services and physical resources, we can provide greater value for medical entrepreneurs in Houston.”

BioHouston plans to transfer its biomedical laboratory equipment to the UTHealth incubator located in the University Center Tower at 7000 Fannin.

“The idea is to pool resources,” said Christine Flynn, Ph.D., who manages the UTHealth incubator known as the Biotechnology Commercialization Center (BCC). “Providing even stronger resources to companies that are just starting out helps to boost these companies’ ability to get cutting-edge life science technology to the marketplace for the benefit of patients.”

The BCC’s year-old incubator currently has nine tenant companies, several of which have received Texas Emerging Technology Fund awards.

“Both organizations are committed to promoting and supporting biotechnology in Houston,” said Bruce Butler, Ph.D., vice president of research & technology at UTHealth. “Additionally, we want to recruit new biotechnology companies to Houston.”

BioHouston, the UTHealth BCC and the Houston Technology Center play complementary roles, Butler said. “I see BioHouston as a catalyst for life science companies in Houston. The Houston Technology Center is a ‘roll up your sleeves’ business advice organization, and the BCC is the third leg of the stool, providing the physical laboratories for the companies,” he said.