I-Corps Sites: University of Iowa - Building an Integrated Innovation and Entrepreneurial Ecosystem in America's Heartland

智力优势：这是一项在爱荷华州大学建立I-Corps站点的提案。NSF创新团队（I-Corps）站点是在大学建立的NSF资助实体，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。I-Corps站点还加强了本地和区域的创新，并为导师，研究人员，企业家和投资者的国家创新网络做出了贡献。爱荷华州大学（UI）的I-Corps站点加速了UI教师，学生和社区企业家开发的技术的商业化，并投资于校园范围的基础设施，以促进创新和技术商业化。核心大学创业和技术商业化运营单位紧密结合，以确保UI I-Corps计划的有效和快速实施。UI与外部利益相关者建立了牢固的工作关系，以识别经验丰富的创业领袖和导师，并从天使投资者、风险投资家和公共部门项目中获得金融资本，以支持UI I-Corps团队。UI I-Corps项目的设立，通过为创业教育和支持的新战略投资提供资金，同时利用现有的商业化活动，显著改善了校园的创业生态系统。UI I-Corps项目的核心是创业培训; UI Venture School是基于LeanLaunch Pad和Business Model Canvas的创业培训项目。UI每年提供6-8个创业教育项目，为至少30个商业化团队提供服务。除了培训之外，大学还推出了1）针对I-Corps团队的几项业务和技术支持计划，包括夏季加速器-为期90天的新企业启动计划，2）UI ProtoLab-原型开发计划，3）UI Ventures-全面的技术和业务开发计划，4）UI Mentoring-将UI教师和学生与企业家，投资者和技术专家联系起来的指导计划，5）SBIR/STTR赠款发展援助计划。 更广泛的影响：UI I-Corps计划包含了一些机制，这些机制可以展示大学如何通过跨学科教育和创新，与学院，中心和研究单位的合作，以及与私营部门的合作，成功建立一个校园范围内相互关联的创业生态系统的潜力。UI I-Corps计划预计将：增加UI创业公司的数量;加强教师，学生，企业家，投资者和私营部门公司之间的跨学科合作;扩大UI教师和学生企业家的创业管理人才;并支持旨在解决重大社会挑战的新技术的开发和商业化。 此外，女性企业家和女性领导的初创公司是UI I-Corps项目的重点。由女性首席执行官和首席技术官领导的初创公司只占企业家的一小部分。BI的目标是在5年内增加校园内女性企业家的数量，使其与男性企业家的数量相等。BI方法的关键要素包括：1）有针对性地为Gap和女企业家的创业活动提供赠款，2）一对一的指导，将成功的女企业家与每个新的女性领导的创业公司配对，3）正式承认女企业家的成就，赠款和奖励，4）将成功的高科技女企业家带到校园参加公开研讨会和一对一的会议，5）发展女企业家网络，以获得支持、反馈和社会联系，以及6）建立企业家休假制度，特别重视女企业家。

Intellectual Merit:This is a proposal to establish an I-Corps Site at the University of Iowa.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.The University of Iowa's (UI) I-Corps Site accelerates commercialization of technologies developed by UI faculty, students and community-based entrepreneurs and has invested in campus-wide infrastructure to foster innovation and technology commercialization. Core university entrepreneurship and technology commercialization operating units are closely aligned to ensure effective and rapid implementation of the UI I-Corps program. The UI has strong working relationships with external stakeholders for identifying experienced entrepreneurial leaders and mentors and securing financial capital from angel investors, venture capitalists and public sector programs to support UI I-Corps teams. The establishment of a UI I-Corps program significantly improves the campus' entrepreneurial eco-system by providing funding for new strategic investments in entrepreneurship education and support while leveraging existing commercialization activities.At the core of the UI I-Corps program is entrepreneurial training; UI Venture School is an entrepreneurial training program based on the LeanLaunch Pad and Business Model Canvas. The UI offers 6-8 entrepreneurial educational programs annually, serving a minimum of 30 commercialization teams. In addition to training, the university launches 1) several business and technical support initiatives for I-Corps teams including the Summer Accelerator-a 90-day new venture launch program, 2) UI ProtoLabs-a prototype development program, 3) UI Ventures-a comprehensive technical and business development initiative, 4) UI Mentoring-a mentoring program connecting UI faculty and students to entrepreneurs, investors and technical experts, and 5) a SBIR/STTR grant development assistance program. Broader Impacts:The UI I-Corps program incorporates mechanisms that may demonstrate the potential for how universities can successfully build a campus-wide, interconnected entrepreneurial ecosystem through interdisciplinary education and innovation, collaboration with colleges, centers, and research units, and partnerships with the private sector. UI I-Corps program is expected to: increase the number of UI startup companies; intensify interdisciplinary collaborations among faculty, students, entrepreneurs, investors and private sector companies; expand the entrepreneurial management talent of UI faculty and student entrepreneurs; and support the development and commercialization of new technologies designed to solve significant societal challenges. In addition, female entrepreneurs and female led startup companies is the focus of the UI I-Corps project. Startup companies led by female CEOs and CTOs represent a small fraction of entrepreneurs. The goal of the BI is to increase the number of female entrepreneurs on campus to be equal to their male counterpart within 5 years. Key elements of the BI approach include: 1) targeted grant funding for Gap and startup activities for female entrepreneurs, 2) one-on-one mentoring that pairs successful female entrepreneurs with each new female led startup, 3) formal recognition of accomplishments, grants and awards by female entrepreneurs, 4) bringing successful hi-tech female entrepreneurs to campus for publicized seminars and one-on-one sessions, 5) developing a network of female entrepreneurs for support, feedback and social connections, and 6) instituting an entrepreneurial leave of absence with special emphasis for female entrepreneurs.