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

这是一个在新汉普郡大学(UNH)创建i-Corps站点的项目。NSF Innovation Corps(i-Corps)站点是由NSF资助的实体，成立于大学，其目的是培育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。北卡罗来纳大学的i-Corps网站使教师、研究人员和受训人员能够探索他们发现的商业潜力。精益启动板(LLP)课程的应用、智力网络活动、接触商业和科学导师的机会以及资助机制，有助于参与者确定商业化的关键路径，以及以创新想法更有效地进入市场的方法。UNH创新是UNH主要负责创业活动和技术商业化的单位，主办I-Corps网站。UNH现有的商业化基础设施得到协调，以增加研究可以迅速接触到I-Corps计划的可能性。每年至少有30支i-Corps团队接受培训，参加UNH飞轮项目。这一创新过程的亮点包括：(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周的精益启动平台(LLP)课程，了解整个商业模式；(3)展示想法的演示日；以及(4)一年两次的沙场，邀请多名主题专家就一个一般主题进行公开讨论，以促进跨学科和跨领域的对话。有希望的项目与商业导师联系在一起，有资格获得新的转换资金，并获得进入当地孵化器和天使/风险投资网络的机会，以加快创意的市场进入。这个i-Corp网站的实施构成了生态系统的重新设计，以这种方式在整个UNH价值1.1亿美元的研究组合中加强跨学科和跨学科的合作，并发展与可用资源的联系，以确保发现发挥其经济和社会潜力。为了评估这一重新设计的影响，本提案包含了一种创新的项目评估方法。除了跟踪成熟的指标，如发明披露、许可证和创业活动，UNH还跟踪质量和社交网络措施，以帮助评估UNH？S创新生态系统的更深层次变化。这种更稳健的衡量方法不仅有助于UNH创新生态系统的未来改进，而且还增加了在UNH学到的经验和见解的可扩展性和可转移性。I-Corps站点对国家创新网络的影响。UNH站点的影响超越了教职员工和学生接触LLP课程的范围。作为UNH研究和校园商业化文化改善的直接结果，初创企业的形成和就业创造得到了扩大。UNH飞轮程序(1)使地区和国家的企业界接触到UNH？S的研究能力，(2)增加教师和行业之间的研究合作，(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、露娜猫、UNH Advance、全国黑人工程师协会UNH分会以及负责社区、公平和多样性的协理副总裁，以确保项目的招聘和注册得到良好宣传，并扩大代表不足的群体参与商业化。

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.