I-Corps Sites: Maturation of Innovations from Idea Generation to Commercialization at the University of New Hampshire

I-Corps 站点：新罕布什尔大学从创意产生到商业化的创新成熟度

• 批准号: 1548011
• 负责人: Jenna Matheny
• 金额: $ 27.34万
• 依托单位: University of New Hampshire
• 依托单位国家: 美国
• 项目类别: Continuing Grant
• 财政年份: 2016
• 资助国家: 美国
• 起止时间: 2016-02-01 至 2022-01-31
• 项目状态: 已结题
• 来源: https://www.nsf.gov/awardsearch/showAward?AWD_ID=1548011&HistoricalAwards=false
• 关键词: Corps; Sites; Maturation; Innovations; Idea

This is a project creates an I-Corps Site at the University of New Hampshire (UNH).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. UNH's I-Corps Site enables faculty researchers and trainees to explore the commercial potential of their discoveries. The application of the Lean Launchpad (LLP) curriculum, intellectual networking events, access to business and scientific mentors, and funding mechanisms help participants in identifying the critical path to commercialization and ways to reach the market with innovative ideas more efficiently. UNH Innovation, which is the unit primarily responsible for entrepreneurial activities and technology commercialization at UNH, hosts the I-Corps Site.UNH's existing commercialization infrastructure is coordinated to increase the likelihood that research can be quickly exposed to the I-Corps program. At least 30 I-Corps Teams are trained each year and participate in the UNH Flywheel process. Highlights of this innovative process include: (1) Exposure to a four-week Lean Launch Pad (LLP) course focusing on customer discovery and value proposition; (2) A 10-week LLP course with exposure to the entire business model canvas; (3) A demo day to showcase ideas; and (4) Twice-yearly Sandpits, where multiple subject matter experts are invited to an open discussion on a general topic to promote interdisciplinary and trans-disciplinary conversations. Promising projects are connected to business mentors, are eligible for new translational funding, and are provided access to local incubator and angel/venture capital networks to accelerate market entry of ideas.Implementation of this I-Corp Site constitutes a redesign of the ecosystem in such a way as to increase interdisciplinary and trans-disciplinary collaboration throughout UNH's $110MM research portfolio, and develop connections to available resources necessary to ensure that discoveries fulfill their economic and social potential. To assess the impact of this redesign, this proposal contains an innovative approach to program assessment. While tracking well-established metrics such as invention disclosures, licenses, and startup activity, UNH also tracks qualitative and social network measures to help assess deeper changes in UNH?s innovation ecosystem. This more robust measurement approach not only assists in future improvements in UNH's innovation ecosystem, but also increases the scalability and transferability of lessons learned and insights gained at UNH?' I-Corps Site to the national innovation network.The UNH Site impacts transcend exposure to and access by faculty and students to LLP coursework. Startup formation and job creation are expanded as a direct result of UNH research and an improved culture of commercialization on campus. The UNH Flywheel process (1) exposes the regional and national business communities to UNH?s research capacity, (2) increases research collaborations between faculty and industry; and (3) improves connections between graduate students and the local business community. The program works with existing organizations on campus like the Society for Women Engineers, Luna Cats, UNH ADVANCE, UNH chapter of the National Society of Black Engineers, and the Associate Vice President for Community, Equity, and Diversity to ensure recruitment and enrollment for programs is well advertised and broadens the participation of underrepresented cohorts in commercialization.

这是一个在新罕布什尔州大学（UNH）创建I-Corps站点的项目。NSF创新团队（I-Corps）站点是在大学中建立的NSF资助的实体，其目的是培养和支持多个本地团队将其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团队申请人。UNH的I-Corps网站使教师研究人员和学员能够探索他们发现的商业潜力。精益启动平台（LLP）课程的应用，知识网络活动，获得商业和科学导师，以及资助机制，帮助参与者确定商业化的关键路径和更有效地利用创新想法进入市场的方法。UNH Innovation是UNH主要负责创业活动和技术商业化的单位，它负责I-Corps Site。UNH现有的商业化基础设施得到协调，以增加研究可以快速暴露于I-Corps计划的可能性。每年至少有30个I-Corps小组接受培训，并参加UNH Flywheel进程。这一创新进程的重点包括： (1)参加为期四周的精益启动平台（LLP）课程，重点关注客户发现和价值主张; (2)为期10周的LLP课程，接触整个商业模式画布; (3)展示创意的演示日;以及 (4)每年两次的沙坑，邀请多个主题专家就一般主题进行公开讨论，以促进跨学科和跨学科的对话。有前途的项目与商业导师联系，有资格获得新的翻译资金，并获得当地孵化器和天使/风险投资网络的访问，以加速想法的市场进入。这个I-Corp网站的实施构成了生态系统的重新设计，以增加UNH 1.1亿美元研究组合中的跨学科和跨学科合作，开发与现有资源的必要联系，以确保发现实现其经济和社会潜力。为了评估这一重新设计的影响，本提案包含了一个创新的方案评估方法。在跟踪完善的指标，如发明披露，许可证和启动活动，UNH还跟踪定性和社会网络的措施，以帮助评估更深层次的变化UNH？的创新生态系统。这种更强大的衡量方法不仅有助于联合国总部创新生态系统的未来改进，而且还提高了联合国总部经验教训和见解的可扩展性和可转移性。' I-Corps网站到国家创新网络。UNH网站的影响超越了教师和学生对LLP课程的接触和访问。 创业形成和创造就业机会扩大作为UNH研究和校园商业化文化的改善的直接结果。UNH Flywheel流程（1）使区域和国家商业界了解UNH？的研究能力，（2）增加教师和产业之间的研究合作;（3）改善研究生和当地商界之间的联系。该计划与校园内现有的组织合作，如女性工程师协会，月球猫，UNH ADVANCE，全国黑人工程师协会UNH分会，以及社区，公平和多样性副总裁，以确保招聘和招生计划得到充分宣传，并扩大了代表性不足的群体在商业化中的参与。