About the InQbation Lab

The Querrey InQbation Lab was named in honor of Kimberly K. Querrey (’22, ’23 P), Chair of the Innovation and Entrepreneurship Committee of Northwestern’s Board of Trustees. Founded in 2022, the InQbation Lab builds on Querrey’s holistic vision of creating an ecosystem that will accelerate breakthrough discoveries to society.

The incubator provides a home set aside for Northwestern’s highly entrepreneurial faculty to contribute to innovation through commercialization of sophisticated scientific discoveries and serves as a springboard to catalyze economic growth and opportunities to the Evanston and Chicago communities.

Not only does the "Q" in InQbation honor Querrey’s vision and support, but it also represents the critical Questions Northwestern’s researchers translate into solutions to advance our world.

Northwestern innovators are pushing the bounds of science and engineering through discovery, collaboration and promising ventures. The Querrey InQbation Lab will give these entrepreneurial faculty the resources to realize their potential and maximize the benefits to society.”

Northwestern was awarded an Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity grant of $3M, which was matched by the University,  to support the initial renovations at 1801 Maple Ave. The community space and 5th floor wet labs and offices were completed in December 2022, and the 6th floor wet labs and offices were completed in June 2023. Given the increased activity and space needs at 1801 Maple, the Illinois General Assembly also appropriated $50 million for further renovations at 1801 as part of the state’s 2022 capital budget.

Facts & Figures

The Querrey InQbation Lab offers a variety of programs related to different phases of the commercialization process. The programs are open to Northwestern startups, faculty, undergraduate and graduate students (Masters, PhD, MBA, MD and JD) and postdoctoral fellows.