I-Corps Sites - Type II: NSF I-Corps Site at The University of Toledo

这个项目来自托莱多大学，将扩展和扩大他们目前的创新队（I-Corps）站点。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。托莱多大学正在重新定位他们的网站项目，将直接支持教师主导的研究商业化。这是一个转变，从他们之前的网站资助的重点，支持跨学科，本科生创业。他们的新站点计划的目标是派遣团队参加国家I-Corps计划，并为他们申请SBIR和其他外部资金做好准备。他们每年将为30多个团队举办四次短期课程。网站和他们的工作人员在全国范围内都很活跃，正在培养成功的团队，正在向国家项目派遣团队，并正在创办公司。他们建立了一个导师池来支持他们的团队。他们对I-Corps项目有深刻的理解，并与当地的I-Corps节点有密切的合作。托莱多遗址的存在已经对该地区的生态系统和州一级产生了影响。利用俄亥俄州的两个I-Corps站点（在托莱多和阿克伦），俄亥俄州立法I-Corps@Ohio扩大支持商业化。托莱多基地还与火箭风险基金和其他孵化器机构合作。

This project, from the University of Toledo, will extend and expand their current Innovation Corps (I-Corps) Site. 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 Toledo is repositioning their site program into one that will directly support commercialization of faculty-led research. This is a shift away from the focus of their prior site grant, which supported interdisciplinary, undergraduate-student entrepreneurship. The goal of their new site program is to send teams to the national I-Corps program and prepare them for applying for SBIR and other external funding. They will hold four short courses each year, for 30+ teams. The Site and their personnel have been active nationally, are producing successful teams, are sending teams to the National program, and are launching companies. They have built a Mentor pool to support their teams. They have strong comprehension of the I-Corps program and close collaboration with their regional I-Corps Node. The existence of a Site in Toledo has already had an impact on the region's ecosystem and also at the state level. Leveraging the two I-Corps Sites in Ohio (at Toledo and Akron), the state of Ohio legislated I-Corps@Ohio to expand the support commercialization. The Toledo Site also collaborates with the Rocket Venture Fund and other incubator facilities.