I-Corps Sites as an Ecosystem Catalyst

这是一个在特拉华大学霍恩创业项目中创建创新队（I-Corps）网站的奖项。这个I-Corps网站将扩展该机构的创业生态系统，包括：基于精益创业方法的培训机会；改善了创业发展中心提供的物理设施和服务；此外，还有一个由企业家、投资者、商业服务提供商、社区合作伙伴和其他人组成的广泛的创业支持网络。本网站将增加旨在将新技术引入市场的活动的数量和速度。特拉华大学？s的创业发展中心是学生创业的孵化场/孵化器，也将为I-Corps团队提供同样的服务。该地点可能会影响该机构所在地理区域的生态系统。过去，特拉华州受益于几家大型高科技雇主的存在，但经济衰退的挥之不去的影响降低了该州的社会和经济福利。因此，创业活动的增加，以及相关的新就业机会的创造，将有助于改善特拉华州和周边地区的经济福祉。参与I-Corps项目所产生的更广泛影响还将包括改善STEM学生的教育成果和竞争力，以及加强学术界和工业界之间的伙伴关系。获得资助和加入I-Corps团队的可能性，可能会激励STEM学生通过参与现有的培训机会来学习创新和创业，从而提高他们的教育成果和竞争力。通过I-Corps团队成员与潜在行业客户之间的互动，以及I-Corps团队的形成，学术界和工业界之间将建立更强大的合作伙伴关系，这些团队将尝试将工业技术商业化。

This is an award to create an Innovation Corps (I-Corps) Site at the University of Delaware (UD) Horn Program in Entrepreneurship. This I-Corps Site will expand this institution's entrepreneurial ecosystem that includes: training opportunities based on lean startup methods; improved physical facilities and service offerings provided by their Venture Development Center; and, an extensive startup support network of engaged entrepreneurs, investors, business service providers, community partners and others. This Site will increase the quantity and velocity of activities aimed at bringing new technologies into the marketplace. The University of Delaware?s Venture Development Center serves as a hatchery/incubator for student startups and will do likewise for I-Corps teams. This Site is likely to impact the ecosystem of the georgraphical region where this institution is located. In the past, Delaware benefitted from the presence of several large, hi-tech employers But, lingering effects from the economic downturn reduced the state's social and economic wellbeing. Consequently, an increase in startup activity, and the associated creation of new jobs, will serve to improve the economic wellbeing of Delaware and the surrounding region. Broader impacts resulting from participation in the I-Corps Program will also include improved educational outcomes and competitiveness for STEM students, and stronger partnerships between academia and industry. The possibility of receiving funding and joining an I-Corps team may incentivize STEM students to learn about innovation and entrepreneurship by participating in existing training opportunities, thereby improving their educational outcomes and competitiveness. Stronger partnerships between academia and industry will result from interactions between I-Corps team members and prospective industry customers as well as the formation of I-Corps teams that will attempt to commercialize industry technology.