I-Corps Sites: Expanding the Innovation Ecosystem at Washington State University

这个来自华盛顿州立大学（WSU）的项目在这个机构创建了一个I-Corps Site。美国国家科学基金会创新队（I-Corps）站点是由美国国家科学基金会资助的实体，建立在大学里，其目的是培养和支持多个本地团队，将他们的技术概念转化为市场。网站提供基础设施、建议、资源、网络机会、培训和适度的资金，使团体能够将他们的工作转化为市场或成为I-Corps团队的申请人。WSU网站作为跨校园合作的机制，作为为学生和教师提供体验式学习机会的结构。通过扩大校园内外相关项目之间的联系，该网站实现了超越个人努力的利益，并增强了华盛顿州立大学对国家创新生态系统以及华盛顿州立大学周围地理区域的贡献。华盛顿州立大学I-Corps网站的目标是在其体验式创业生态系统中加强和扩大现有创业项目的准入。为了实现这一目标，每年支持30至40个I-Corps团队，扩大创业活动，包括为期8周的培训和创意开发过程。每个支持的团队为大学技术或站点生成的商业理念生成一个商业模型草案。这些团队准备通过Site网络和国家I-Corps网络寻求资金或合作机会。最终，华盛顿州立大学将为学生/教师合作体验式创业培训提供核心蓝图，这将为STEM学生提供额外的途径，让他们与教师一起对新技术理念进行商业评估。将华盛顿州立大学纳入I-Corps国家网络，使网站领导者能够加速过去几年实现的积极创业文化速度。

This project, from Washington State University (WSU) creates an I-Corps Site at this institution.NSF Innovation Corps (I-Corps) Sites are NSF-funded entities established at universities whose purpose is to nurture and support multiple, local teams to transition their technology concepts into the marketplace. Sites provide infrastructure, advice, resources, networking opportunities, training and modest funding to enable groups to transition their work into the marketplace or into becoming I-Corps Team applicants. The WSU Site serves as mechanism for collaboration across campus, acting as a structure for providing experiential learning opportunities for students and faculty. By expanding the connectivity between related programs on and off campus, the Site realizes benefits that transcend the individual efforts and enhance WSU's contribution to the national innovation ecosystem as well as the geographical region around WSU.The goal of WSU's I-Corps Site is to enhance and broaden access to existing entrepreneurship programs within their experiential entrepreneurship ecosystem. To accomplish this goal, 30 to 40 I-Corps Teams per year are supported, expanding startup generation activities to include an 8-week training and idea development process. Each supported Team produces a draft business model for a university technology or Site-generated business idea. Those Teams emerge ready to pursue funding or partnership opportunities through the Site network and national I-Corps Network. Ultimately, WSU will provide a core blueprint for student/faculty collaborative experiential entrepreneurship training which will provide additional pathways for STEM students to engage with faculty in the business assessment of new technology ideas. Bringing WSU into the I-Corps national network allows Site Leaders to accelerate the positive startup culture velocity achieved in the last few years.