In March 2024, Temple University opened the Innovation Nest, aptly nicknamed the iNest, with the desire to commercialize new innovations from researchers, spur student innovation and support the growth of startup companies affiliated with Temple. 

Just a little more than a half year later, the new space is already making headlines. 

On Tuesday, Nov. 26, Technical.ly Philly recognized the opening of the iNest with the 2024 Technical.ly Award for Power Move of the Year. The annual Technical.ly Awards series honors impactful leaders, change-making companies and innovative technology products making communities better.  

“Part of what attracted me to Temple was the momentum already in place here, and the iNest is a great example of that. This is the type of work that elevates not only Temple but the entire city and region, and it is great to see the iNest recognized by Technical.ly Philly as the Power Move of the Year,” said Temple University President John Fry. “Over the next several years, we have the opportunity to spur a health and technology innovation corridor along North Broad Street, anchored by Temple’s Main Campus and Health Sciences Center campus. Because of the work of the iNest, we are already well on our way.” 

Technical.ly is a news organization that connects and challenges a community of technologists and entrepreneurs who are invested in where they live. Its stories are published online daily in Washington, D.C.; Baltimore; Delaware; Philadelphia and Pittsburgh. 

The Technical.ly newsroom curated nominees for its most recent awards following a public call for suggestions. Those nominees were then voted on by the public, with several thousand votes being cast.  

The Power Move of the Year is one of the most significant honors given out by the publication as it recognizes “the strategic move that made the most difference to the region overall."  

An initiative of Temple’s Office of the Vice President for Research, the iNest essentially serves as a one-stop shop for startup companies and aspiring student innovators alike. It can host up to 12 individual companies in its physical space, and it also can serve other companies through a “flex” membership model where clients do not have their own dedicated space but can use shared facilities.   

“We’re excited to receive this award as it not only recognizes Temple’s community of innovators, entrepreneurs and investors that are working tirelessly to launch impactful discoveries and businesses from the iNest, but also the many partners that made iNest possible, including the commonwealth of Pennsylvania and Sbarro Health Research Organization,” said Steve Nappi, associate vice president of technology commercialization and business development for the Office of the Vice President for Research. 

Presently, 10 companies are working out of the iNest, including Muse Engine, Spryte Communications, Inovele, UprightVR, Sbarro Health Research Organization, Lab Plastics, IPS Groupe, Vitalera, Inksider and UpTale. In the coming year, Temple hopes to further grow that number. 

“Technical.ly is an important part of the robust innovation ecosystem in Philadelphia and Temple is thrilled that iNest has been recognized in this way,” said Josh Gladden, Temple’s vice president for research. “Looking forward to 2025, one of the biggest opportunities I see is growing our city and regional partnerships in both the public and private sectors. We laid groundwork in 2024, and now, we need to push on that. I am also eager to work with President Fry to sharpen and articulate the vision for the next generation of Temple research and innovation.”