Johnson & Johnson has opened JLABS @ TMC (Texas Medical Centre), a new life sciences incubator providing lab space, offices and modular laboratory suites for startup companies
The Houston JLABS site is the first to open with a medical device prototype lab, including a 3D printer, which will provide entrepreneurs access to specialised tools, as well as skills building programs to design and develop smart health technologies, according to Johnson & Johnson.
JLABS @ TMC is housed within the TMC Innovation Institute, adjacent to TMC's life sciences accelerator and can accommodate up to 50 startups.
It will open with 21 companies with the first resident startups including the four winners of the JLABS Quick Fire Challenge.
Paul Stoffels, chief scientific officer and worldwide chairman, pharmaceuticals, Johnson & Johnson, said: "We're thrilled to expand our JLABS initiative into Houston.
"The city's rich research, academic and investment communities provide a robust ecosystem of early stage innovation and present a unique opportunity to collaborate with Texas startups to deliver much-needed therapeutics, medical devices, and consumer health solutions to patients and consumers more quickly."
Robert Robbins, president and CEO of TMC, said: "We have been eagerly awaiting this day when JLABS @ TMC opens its doors and immediately enhances our already robust ecosystem of talented entrepreneurs who are solving the greatest unmet healthcare needs of our generation.
"TMC has spent decades making healthcare history, and now these business accelerators housed at TMC will take innovation to new heights."
Melinda Richter, head of JLABS, said: "Houston is already a very active life sciences hub and we've recently seen a drive to further embrace the industry, establish clear leadership in biotech innovation and close the gap between research and commercialisation.
"JLABS is ideally suited to catalyse this result, not only through supporting the development of new healthcare solutions for patients but also by providing startups with access to the broader JLABS network and its family of incubators."