U.S. Rep. Lori Trahan speaks at a podium as Massachusetts Gov. Maura Healey looks on.
At the LINC development announcement, U.S. Rep. Lori Trahan spoke about its benefits as Gov. Maura Healey looked on. LINC is a collaboration between UMass Lowell, the UMass Building Authority, the city of Lowell, and private developers, with significant support from Healey’s administration and city, state and federal officials.

04/15/2026

Launched in March 2024, LINC, or the Lowell Innovation Network Corridor, is a growing innovation ecosystem that drives research and economic growth and creates opportunities for students, faculty and the local community. 

Developed through broad collaboration, the project includes a combination of existing and new buildings offering space for industry partners of all sizes, market-rate housing and entertainment venues on campus and throughout Lowell. Companies have already moved into existing buildings within the corridor, occupying renovated mill space at 201 Cabot St., the Wannalancit Business Center, and at 110 Canal St. 

While the development continues, the benefits are already clear. Innovative research and development are underway, as industry taps into the expertise of UMass Lowell faculty, students and alumni. Students are gaining career-connected experience with LINC and local organizations, and community members are getting specialized training to prepare them for in-demand jobs. 

And it’s all happening with enthusiastic support from our city, state and federal government partners.

Two people work in foreground at table on laptop while four others talk standing in background
UMass Lowell Sustainability Coordinator Ellie Bancroft ’25, left, and Rist Institute Eco Rep Anna Kifor, a senior majoring in mathematics, work together in the shared space. In the background, Anne Maglia, vice chancellor for research, innovation and economic development, at right, speaks with Rist Institute namesake Brian Rist ’77, ’22, ’22 (H), UMass Lowell Sustainability Director Dai Kim and Rist Institute Business Operations Director Amy Allen ’03, ’04, ’19, ’21.

Connect and Collaborate

Weston & Sampson, a nationally recognized firm specializing in design, engineering and environmental services, has opened an office in LINC, where it shares space with the UMass Lowell Rist Institute for Sustainability and Energy. The collaborative space is poised to accelerate joint environmental projects and hands-on student engagement. 

Sustainability Coordinator Ellie Bancroft ’25, left, and Rist Institute Eco Rep Anna Kifor, a senior majoring in mathematics, work together in the shared space. In the background, Anne Maglia, vice chancellor for research, innovation and economic development, at right, speaks with Rist Institute namesake Brian Rist ’77, ’22, ’22 (H), UMass Lowell Sustainability Director Dai Kim and Rist Institute Business Operations Director Amy Allen ’03, ’04, ’19, ’21.

Researchers work on air tanks in laboratory
As one of eight Draper Scholars at UMass Lowell, Ph.D. student Ahmed Ibreljic, right, receives full funding for his doctoral studies, in addition to a stipend, health insurance and support for conference travel.

Academia and Industry Unite

Electrical and computer engineering Ph.D. student Ahmed Ibreljic is getting the best of both worlds through the Draper Scholars Program. Ibreljic is conducting research in the lab of Electrical Engineering Asst. Prof. Anhar Bhuiyan, who is leading two National Science Foundation grants to advance next-generation power components for satellites and spacecraft. Simultaneously, Ibreljic is learning from experienced engineers and scientists at Draper, a nonprofit research and development company that is an anchor tenant in LINC and has committed $10 million to UML student scholarships.

As one of eight Draper Scholars at UMass Lowell, Ph.D. student Ahmed Ibreljic, right, receives full funding for his doctoral studies, in addition to a stipend, health insurance and support for conference travel.

Said Siddiqui, John Ohrn and Amelia Halloran huddle around a laptop
Amelia Halloran, right, writes code with assistance from Saim Siddiqui, left, and John Ohrn, center. They are three of 13 UMass Lowell students who interned with SAIC last summer.

Career-Connected Experiences

As the university’s partnerships with industry expand thanks to LINC, opportunities for students to get paid internships and other career-connected experiences are also on the rise. Last summer, 13 UMass Lowell students interned with LINC partner SAIC, a global leader in technology integration. The students gained cloud computing skills through their support of Cloud One, a secure cloud platform managed by the U.S. Air Force and used by the U.S. Department of Defense.

Amelia Halloran, right, writes code with assistance from Saim Siddiqui, left, and John Ohrn, center. They are three of 13 UMass Lowell students who interned with SAIC last summer.

Rebecca Waupoose in front of a wall with Optiline Enterprises logo on it
Rebecca Waupoose, who spent six years serving in the U.S. Navy, landed a project management role with Optiline Enterprises, a construction company based in Nashua, New Hampshire, just two months after joining the Vets RISE program.

Workforce Ready

Companies located in LINC are preparing people to succeed in today’s rapidly evolving job market. Bioversity, a nonprofit workforce training provider, offered its Biotech Career Foundations certificate program at UMass Lowell for the first time last spring. The training provides area residents with hands-on lab training, technical instruction and career guidance to prepare for entry-level scientific operations roles. Veterans Reskilled in Innovative Solutions for Employment (Vets RISE) is helping veterans, service members preparing to leave the military and their spouses to launch civilian careers. Funded by a grant from the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, the program is run in partnership with UMass Lowell and Headlamp, an organization dedicated to connecting veterans to jobs that leverage their unique skills.

Rebecca Waupoose, who spent six years serving in the U.S. Navy, landed a project management role with Optiline Enterprises, a construction company based in Nashua, New Hampshire, just two months after joining the Vets RISE program.

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