Type I: I-Corp Site: Idea 2 Impact GO (I2I GO) - Driving the Innovation Ecosystem at East Carolina University to Build New Enterprises for the Benefit of Rural Eastern NC

I 型：I-Corp 网站：想法 2 Impact GO (I2I GO) - 推动东卡罗来纳大学的创新生态系统，建立新企业，造福北卡罗来纳州东部农村地区

• 批准号: 1735753
• 负责人: Artie Rogers
• 金额: $ 50万
• 依托单位: East Carolina University
• 依托单位国家: 美国
• 项目类别: Continuing Grant
• 财政年份: 2017
• 资助国家: 美国
• 起止时间: 2017-09-01 至 2024-08-31
• 项目状态: 已结题
• 来源: https://www.nsf.gov/awardsearch/showAward?AWD_ID=1735753&HistoricalAwards=false
• 关键词: Type; Corp; Site; Idea; Impact

This project, from East Carolina University (ECU), creates an NSF 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. I-Corps Sites also strengthen innovation locally and regionally and contribute to the National Innovation Network of mentors, researchers, entrepreneurs and investors.ECU's I-Corp Site program, titled Idea 2 Impact GO (I2I GO), is designed to be an economic driver for eastern North Carolina by 1) engaging faculty, staff, students, and local industry partners in the ideation process; 2) improving assessment of ideas for product market fit before extensive resources are invested; and 3) making resources available to develop preliminary models or prototypes for demonstration of product potential to likely customers.I2I GO enables key resource providers, such as ECU's Office of Innovation and Economic Development, the Office of Public Service and Community Relations, the College of Business, the Miller School of Entrepreneurship, and regional industry and economic development partners to merge together to produce greater outcomes together than as independent agents. The collective resources of these and other providers have been defined, cataloged, and reflected in the newly established Idea 2 Impact (I2I) portal. I2I utilizes proven approaches to innovation and commercialization, including Human Centered Design Thinking, Lean LaunchPad, Value Proposition Design and the Business Model Canvas. Combined with facilities such as this institution's Idea Lab, Innovation Design Lab, MakerBot Innovation Center and Greenville SEED @ ECU, along with skilled faculty and facilitators, the outcome of I2I GO will provide greater success in identifying new product commercialization and license opportunities and increased potential for more start-up companies to ECU is located centrally in a 31 county rural region of eastern North Carolina consisting of many economically distressed communities. While ECU's student population of 29,000 students derive from throughout North Carolina and beyond, 50% of its students are from the region east of Interstate 95. This area has traditionally benefited from industries in support of agriculture, forestry and fishing. Textile manufacturing played a vital role in the economy but overseas labor drew away many of these jobs. Many of ECU's students find a lack of available jobs in their home towns once they graduate with newly acquired skills so they leave home to find jobs elsewhere. For these reasons, much of ENC has faced declining populations. Eight of 31 counties in this region have experienced negative population growth of 15% to 33% and thirteen other counties have growth of 0% of -14%. These factors directly affect the pipeline of ECU students who are forced to find employment while attending college. 71% of first year ECU students report the need to secure part time employment while attending college. ECU's vision of success for the I-Corps Site is to build an innovation and entrepreneurship ecosystem that will generate jobs for every student growing up in eastern North Carolina. The partnerships established by I2I GO will have a direct effect on the growth of new businesses and jobs throughout eastern North Carolina.

这个项目来自东卡罗来纳大学(ECU)，在这个机构创建了一个NSF I-Corps网站。NSF创新团队(i-Corps)网站是由NSF资助的实体，成立于大学，其目的是培育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移到市场或成为i-Corps团队的申请者。I-Corps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。ECU的i-Corp网站计划名为Idea 2 Impact Go(I2I Go)，旨在通过以下方式成为北卡罗来纳州东部的经济驱动力：1)吸引教职员工、学生和当地行业合作伙伴参与构思过程；2)在投入大量资源之前，改善对产品市场适合性的想法评估；以及3)提供资源以开发初步模型或原型，以向潜在客户展示产品潜力。I2I Go使关键资源提供商，如ECU的创新和经济发展办公室、公共服务和社区关系办公室、商业学院、米勒创业学院以及区域行业和经济发展合作伙伴合并在一起，产生比作为独立代理更大的结果。这些提供商和其他提供商的集体资源已经定义、编目，并反映在新建立的Idea 2 Impact(I2I)门户中。I2i利用成熟的创新和商业化方法，包括以人为本的设计思想、精益LaunchPad、价值主张设计和商业模式画布。结合该机构的IDEA实验室、创新设计实验室、MakerBot创新中心和Greenville Seed@ECU等设施，以及熟练的教师和促进者，I2I Go的成果将在发现新产品商业化和许可机会方面取得更大成功，并增加更多初创公司到ECU的潜力，ECU位于北卡罗来纳州东部31个县的农村地区，由许多经济困难社区组成。虽然ECU的2.9万名学生来自整个北卡罗来纳州和其他地区，但50%的学生来自95号州际公路以东的地区。这一地区传统上受益于支持农业、林业和渔业的产业。纺织制造业在经济中发挥了至关重要的作用，但海外劳工抢走了其中的许多工作岗位。ECU的许多学生发现，一旦他们毕业时掌握了新的技能，家乡就缺乏可用的工作机会，所以他们离开家到其他地方找工作。出于这些原因，ENC的大部分地区都面临着人口下降的问题。该地区31个县中有8个县的人口负增长在15%到33%之间，另外13个县的人口增长率在0%到14%之间。这些因素直接影响到ECU学生在上大学期间被迫就业的管道。71%的ECU一年级学生报告说，在上大学期间需要找到兼职工作。ECU对i-Corps网站的成功愿景是建立一个创新和创业生态系统，为北卡罗来纳州东部成长的每一名学生创造就业机会。I2I Go建立的合作伙伴关系将对整个北卡罗来纳州东部新企业和就业的增长产生直接影响。