I-Corps Sites: Journey to Innovation and Entrepreneurship at Missouri S&T

该项目在密苏里科技大学(密苏里州S或S)创建了一个创新团队网站。美国国家科学基金会创新团队(i-Corps)网站是由美国国家科学基金会资助的实体，其目的是培养和支持多个当地团队，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移到市场或成为i-Corps团队的申请者。I-Corps的网站还加强了当地和地区的创新，并为由导师、研究人员、企业家和投资者组成的国家创新网络做出了贡献。这个位于M S的网站将教育和研究与尖端应用程序相结合，创造和传播服务于密苏里州和全国的知识，并帮助在全球范围内解决社会挑战。该网站加强了大学的战略计划，该计划要求将体验式学习作为本科课程的组成部分，以促进创新和创造力。此外，i-Corps网站鼓励大量未开发的STEM人才，并为商业化提供制度支持。互为补充的校园学生设计和体验式学习中心也被用来培养学生企业家，并将他们的商业想法加速推向市场。通过为商业化努力提供有针对性的种子资金，i-Corps网站增强了S&T的现有项目，提高了创业的知名度，并扩大了对现有技术转让项目的参与。每年有30个团队获得i-Corps网站的资金，将想法和研究转化到市场上。SITE创业教育计划以i-Corps课程为基础，采用体验式、协作式学习，并使用精益启动板方法。该网站的目标是：(1)加强S大学本科生和研究生的创业活动和培训经验；(2)利用有限合伙人模式，扩大博士、教师和代表性不足群体的培训机会；(3)增加进入I-Corps计划的团队、密苏里大学系统和S；T；的企业家研究员以及VentureWell E-Team的数量；以及(4)将更多活动转化为商业化。团队从现有的和新的创业学生活动、课程项目、研究以及当地和地区性创业竞赛和创业活动的参与者中招募。i-Corps网站影响到S&T公司所在的中西部地区和密苏里州中部。罗拉及其周边农村地区偏远，需要经济复苏。I-Corps网站促进了创造大量创新者和企业家的活动，以建立当地的技术中心和经济基础，并吸引民间领袖和其他利益相关者参与。该网站也是与圣路易斯和堪萨斯城更成熟的创业社区和发达的经济基础合作的桥梁。该网站通过创业课程、研讨会、工作坊、创新夏令营和比赛以及其他外展活动，为来自附近社区大学、中学和高中的学生提供体验培训的肥沃土壤。目前正在特别注意招募女性和代表性不足的少数族裔学生参加该方案；该方案的活动将通过各种机制广泛传播，包括专门的网站、时事通讯和其他社交媒体。

This project creates an Innovation Corps Site at Missouri University of Science and Technology (Missouri S&T or S&T).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. I-Corps Sites also strengthen innovation locally and regionally and contribute to the National Innovation Network of mentors, researchers, entrepreneurs and investors.This Site at M S&T integrates education and research with cutting-edge applications to create and convey knowledge that serves the State of Missouri and the nation, and helps solve societal challenges at global scale. The Site enhances the university strategic plan which requires experiential learning as an integral component of undergraduate curricula to foster innovation and creativity. In addition, the I-Corps Site encourages a large number of untapped STEM talents and provides institutional support for commercialization. The complementary, on-campus Student Design and Experiential Leaning Center is also leveraged to develop student entrepreneurs and accelerate their business ideas to the market place. By providing targeted seed funds for commercialization efforts, the I-Corps Site enhances existing programs at S&T, improves visibility of entrepreneurship, and expands participation in existing technology transfer programs. Thirty teams per year receive I-Corps Site funding to translate ideas and research to the marketplace. The Site entrepreneurial education program is based on the I-Corps curriculum with experiential, collaborative learning and uses the Lean LaunchPad methodology. The Site objectives are to: (1) Enhance entrepreneurial activities and training experiences for undergraduate and graduate students at S&T; (2) Expand training opportunities available to post docs, faculty, underrepresented groups using LLP model; (3) Increase the number of teams entering the I-Corps program, entrepreneur fellows at the University of Missouri System and S&T, and VentureWell E-Teams; and (4) Transition more activities to commercialization. Teams are recruited from existing and new entrepreneurial student activities, course projects, research, and participants in local and regional venture competitions and entrepreneurship events.The I-Corps Site impacts the Midwest region and Central Missouri where S&T is located. Rolla and its surrounding rural areas are remote and in need of economic resurgence. The I-Corps Site catalyzes activities to create a critical mass of innovators and entrepreneurs to establish a local technology hub and economic base and engage civic leaders and other stakeholders. The Site also serves as a bridge for collaboration with more mature startup communities and developed economic bases in St Louis and Kansas City. The Site provides fertile ground for experiential training of students from nearby community colleges, middle schools, and high schools through entrepreneurship courses, seminars, workshops, innovation camps and competitions, and other outreach activities. Special attention is being paid to recruit and involve female and underrepresented minority students in this program; the activities of which will be widely disseminated through various mechanisms including a dedicated website, newsletters and other social media.