I-Corps Sites: Jackson State University Center for Innovation and Entrepreneurship

这个项目来自杰克逊州立大学创新与创业中心，建立了一个I-Corps网站。创新团队（I-Corps）站点是nsf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。I-Corps站点还加强地方和区域创新，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贡献。杰克逊州立大学创新与创业中心（JSU中心）通过对教师、学生和工作人员在学术创业和创新领域的培训，支持将实验室研究成果转化为市场，从而加强了他们的创业文化。JSU网站：-为科学，技术，工程和数学（STEM）学科的教师和学生团队提供创业培训和发展机会，为他们参与NSF I-Corps团队计划或进一步商业化做好准备；-扩大代表性不足的教师和学生，特别是非洲裔美国人，对STEM和创业培训和发展的参与；培养教师和学生探索将学术研究转化为有利于商业化的工具、产品、服务等的能力。这些目标通过三个主要活动来实现：-每年对30个STEM团队进行为期12周的培训，强调客户发现和商业模式画布在商业化过程中的作用。-为团队和校园社区提供为期一年的学术创业研讨会-每年年底的学术创业网络和参与会议，每年与密西西比创新月和全球创业周一起举办。虽然在理解如何支持学者将研究和创新从实验室转移到市场方面取得了进展，但很少有人关注少数族裔服务机构的教师和学生可能需要不同程度的支持或参与才能在创业努力中取得成功。教学负担、服务要求和有限的资源可能会阻碍少数族裔服务机构的有色人种教师冒险创业。缺乏接触STEM专业人员和有限的获取创业信息的机会可能会限制非裔美国学生？参与基于研究的学术创业的机会。在JSU机构内设置I-Corps站点有助于更好地理解克服阻碍STEM中有色人种和女性参与创新和商业化活动的障碍的最佳实践。通过为STEM领域的教职员工和学生开展教学活动，并积极让有色人种教职员工和学生参与学术创业、创业、商业化培训和客户发现，JSU创业中心/I-Corps网站在扩大未被充分代表的人群参与STEM相关创业活动方面发挥了重要作用。有色人种教师参与的增加对社会和社区产生了影响，特别是通过将来自不同学者和思想家的研究成果的产品、过程、服务和/或工具推向市场。将代表性不足的学生与STEM教师和成功的企业家配对也会通过提供重要的网络、指导和研究机会来影响社区——所有这些都是招聘和留住学生以及促进教师职业发展的重要组成部分。

This project, from Jackson State University Center for Innovation and Entrepreneurship, establishes an I-Corps Site. 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.The Jackson State University Center for Innovation and Entrepreneurship (JSU Center) strengthens their culture of entrepreneurship by supporting the translation of research from lab to market through training for faculty, students, and staff in the areas of academic entrepreneurship and innovation. The JSU Site:-Offers entrepreneurial training and development opportunities for faculty and student teams in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) disciplines to prepare them for participation in the NSF I-Corps Teams Program or for further commercialization; -Broadens the participation of underrepresented, specifically African American, faculty and students in STEM and entrepreneurial training and development; and -Builds the capacity of faculty and students to explore the translation of academic research into tools, products, services, etc. that are favorable candidates for commercialization. These objectives are carried out through three major activities: -Twelve weeks of training for 30 STEM teams per year that emphasizes the role of customer discovery and the business model canvas in the journey toward commercialization.-A year-long series of academic entrepreneurship workshops offered to the teams as well as to the campus community-An end of the year Academic Entrepreneurship Networking and Engagement Session, hosted annually in conjunction with Mississippi Innovation Month and Global Entrepreneurship Week.While progress has been made in understanding how to support scholars in the transition of research and innovations from lab to market, little attention has been directed to the ways in which faculty and students at minority serving institutions may require different levels of support or engagement to be successful in their entrepreneurial efforts. Teaching-loads, service requirements, and limited resources may hinder faculty of color at minority serving institutions from venturing into entrepreneurship. Lack of exposure to STEM professionals and limited access to information regarding entrepreneurship may limit African American students? opportunities to participate in research based academic entrepreneurship. Situating an I-Corps Site within the JSU institutional contributes to greater understanding of the best practices for overcoming the obstacles that hinder people of color and women in STEM from participating in innovation and commercialization activities.Through teaching and learning activities for faculty and students in STEM, and by actively engaging faculty and students of color in academic entrepreneurship, start-up, and commercialization training and customer discovery, the JSU Entrepreneurship Center/I-Corps Site plays a major role in broadening the participation of underrepresented populations in STEM related entrepreneurial activities. The increased participation of faculty of color impacts society and the community in particular by bringing to market the products, process, services, and/or tools that are the result of research from a diverse pool of scholars and thinkers. The pairing of underrepresented students with STEM faculty and successful entrepreneurs also impacts the community by providing important networking, mentorship, and research opportunities - all of which are essential parts of recruiting and retaining students and promoting career advancement for faculty.