I-Corps Sites: Type II - Michigan Tech I-Corps Site Program - A Regional Ecosystem Partnership

密歇根理工大学的I-Corps网站建立在密歇根理工大学I-Corps网站项目1-3年的成就和经验教训的基础上。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。这是一个II型I-军团场地的提案——II型提案是由已经获得I型奖项的机构提交的。在第一个Site奖期间，密歇根理工学院与西密歇根大学建立了合作伙伴关系，在一年内将提供的研讨会数量和参加这些研讨会的团队数量增加了一倍。在网站的下一阶段，密歇根理工大学将每年举办研讨会，并每年招募团队参加；增加讲习班参加者的多样性；扩大导师池，扩大来自学术界、产业界和投资资本的经验丰富的导师的参与；继续完善I-Corps课程，通过提供后续讲习班，为国家I-Corps团队做准备，并建立和支持创新者社区，以最好地满足参与团队的需求；扩大与中西部节点的互动；修订小额奖助金程序，以鼓励更多团队申请这些奖助金；继续建设地方、区域和全州的创新文化和生态系统。密歇根科技创新创业中心（Michigan Tech Innovation Center for Entrepreneurship）将派出一批外联大使，在校园和他们的影响范围内担任倡导者，帮助招募高质量的团队参加I-Corps项目。项目评估将侧重于具体课程改进的有效性，以及项目对当地、区域和国家创新生态系统和文化的影响。该奖项反映了美国国家科学基金会的法定使命，并通过使用基金会的知识价值和更广泛的影响审查标准进行评估，被认为值得支持。

This I-Corps Site at Michigan Technological University builds on the accomplishments and lessons learned during years 1-3 of the Michigan Tech I-Corps Site Project. 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 is a proposal for a Type II I-Corps Site - Type II proposals are submitted by institutions that have already received a Type I award.During the first Site award, Michigan Tech was able to create a partnership with Western Michigan University, doubling the number of workshops offered and the number of teams participating in those workshops in one year. During the Site's next phase, Michigan Tech will offer Workshops each year and recruit teams to participate each year; increase the diversity of participants in the Workshops; expand the mentor pool to broaden participation of experienced mentors from academia, industry, and investment capital; continue to refine the I-Corps curriculum to best meet the needs of participating teams by offering a follow-up workshop in order to prepare teams for National I-Corps and to build and support communities of innovators; expand their interaction with the Midwest Node; revise the mini-grant process to encourage more teams to apply for these grants; and continue to build the local, regional, and state-wide innovation culture and ecosystem. The Michigan Tech Innovation Center for Entrepreneurship will use a cadre of Outreach Ambassadors to serve as advocates across campus and within their spheres of influence to help recruit high quality teams to participate in the I-Corps program. Project evaluation will focus on the effectiveness of specific curriculum improvements and on the impact of the project on the local, regional, and state innovation ecosystem and culture.This award reflects NSF's statutory mission and has been deemed worthy of support through evaluation using the Foundation's intellectual merit and broader impacts review criteria.