Golden State Today

A new incubator on the west side of the University of California, Berkeley campus will provide resources and support to entrepreneurs in renewable energy and clean technology. The university announced plans for this facility, named the Bakar ClimatEnginuity Hub, which is expected to open during the 2027-2028 academic year.

The donor-funded facility will be located at the current site of University Hall and will include laboratory and flexible scale-up space tailored to support a diverse array of climate research. This includes renewable energy, carbon capture, greener building materials, and agricultural practices. The initiative is part of a broader redevelopment plan called the Berkeley Innovation Zone, which aims to create a center for life sciences, materials science, and climate research.

Chancellor Carol Christ commented on the new facility: “The Bakar ClimatEnginuity Hub represents a tremendous opportunity to educate the next generation of climate innovators and support our faculty in bringing their transformative ideas to life.”

The hub aims to build on the success of the Bakar BioEnginuity Hub located in Woo Hon Fai Hall. Since its opening in November 2021, this facility has fostered 38 Bay Area startups in life sciences. Seven of these have either been acquired or raised significant investments allowing them to establish their own spaces. Collectively, these companies have raised over $380 million in investment and created more than 300 jobs.

David Schaffer, a UC Berkeley chemical and biomolecular engineering professor who will direct the Bakar ClimatEnginuity Hub said: “Our university excels at basic discovery, innovation, and policy. Translating basic academic discoveries into companies that scale them into products can broadly benefit society and really change the world.”

Schaffer also emphasized that under his leadership, the hub would develop internships and fellowship programs aimed at training undergraduate and graduate students as future leaders in climate innovation.

Designed by Gensler, the five-story facility will contain laboratory space as well as conference rooms, office space, and other interaction areas. It is expected to accommodate up to 75 tenant companies once fully occupied. Various sustainability strategies are being explored for its design including low-carbon construction methods and rooftop solar paneling.

Before its official opening, a pilot climate incubator program will be launched within existing facilities such as Woo Hall. This pilot aims to build talent through mentorships and student internships while engaging investor networks early on.

Founders at Bakar ClimatEnginuity Hub will have access to UC Berkeley’s entrepreneurial community including programs like Cleantech to Market Program (one of the first climate tech accelerators), Berkeley SkyDeck among others. Additionally partnering with Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory provides further critical scientific facilities supporting innovation translation from lab-to-market through programs like Cyclotron Road.

Rich Lyons remarked: “California and the Bay Area have long been leaders in growing climate technology industry... We aim leverage our strengths area support excellence campus core.”

Development begins this summer with demolition continuing until early 2025 followed by approximately three years construction period once site cleared.

Schaffer concluded: "We want start building momentum now... encouraging investment those companies get name out there."