Type I: University at Buffalo I-Corps Site for Lean Entrepreneurial Growth

该项目来自布法罗大学（IB），在该机构创建了一个I-Corps站点。NSF创新团队（I-Corps）站点是在大学建立的NSF资助的实体，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站点还加强地方和区域的创新，并为导师、研究人员、企业家和投资者的国家创新网络做出贡献。通过I-Corps站点，UB改进了技术商业化和培养创业精神的方式。UB每年收到80多项发明披露，这些发明导致专利，许可证和初创公司的成立。为了培训参与者创业团队，UB的经济发展办公室（BEP）的企业家伙伴关系提供了一个独特的两阶段，资源有效的培训过程：客户发现，精益创业方法，商业模式画布，制定可测试假设和开放问题的优先列表，并评估机会的强度。在第一阶段，团队接受研讨会指导，与导师密切合作，并实践客户发现。第二阶段培训整合了密集的客户参与。UB认为NSF I-Corps Site计划是一种重要的方式：1）对新技术进行更强大的技术和商业评估; 2）提高发明者的创业技能，导致全系统的文化变革; 3）提高未来研究提案的质量; 4）提高商业化成功率; 5）为发明者和学生在I-Corps节点计划中取得成功做好准备; 6）追求SBIR/STTR资金;和6）为研究生和博士后提供世界一流的经验，将影响他们的整个职业生涯. UB I-Corps网站程序更广泛的影响是通过研究人员和参与商业利益之间的战略合作伙伴关系网络的创建实现.这些关系增加：行业赞助的研究资金;竞争性SBIR/STTR应用程序;关键的学生体验;校园范围内的跨学科合作;行业指导的水平;发明披露的数量和质量; 5-10个团队（每年）参与I-Corps节点计划;和整体文化变革（创新，创业，协作，多学科）。UB的技术转让办公室由许多其他单位和战略合作伙伴加入-一个包容性，扩大了整个校园的I-Corps网站奖的影响，进入商界，并支持更大的公共使命。

This project, from the University at Buffalo (IB), creates an 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.Through their I-Corps Site, UB improves the way technology is commercialized and entrepreneurship is cultivated. UB receives over eighty invention disclosures annually that result in patents, licenses, and the formation of startup companies. To train participant entrepreneurial teams, UB's Business & Entrepreneur Partnerships in the Office of Economic Development (BEP) offers a unique two-phase, resource-efficient training process in the areas of: Customer Discovery, Lean Startup methods, The Business Model Canvas, Developing a prioritized list of testable hypotheses and open questions, and Assessing the strength of an opportunity. Under Phase I, teams receive workshop instruction, work closely with mentors and practice customer discovery. Phase II training integrates intensive customer engagement. UB views the NSF I-Corps Site program as an important way to: 1) perform more robust technical and commercial assessments of new technologies; 2) increase inventors' entrepreneurial skills leading to system-wide culture change; 3) improve the quality of future research proposals; 4) increase commercialization success; 5) prepare inventors and students for success in the I-Corps Node program; 6) pursue SBIR/STTR funding; and 6) provide graduate students and postdocs with a world class experience that will impact their entire careers.The UB I-Corps Site program broader impacts are realized through the creation of a network of strategic partnerships between researchers and engaged commercial interests. These relationships increase: industry-sponsored research funding; competitive SBIR/STTR applications; pivotal student experiences; campus-wide, interdisciplinary collaborations; the level of industry mentorship; the number and quality of invention disclosures; participation of 5-10 teams (annually) in the I-Corps Node Program; and overall culture change (innovative, entrepreneurial, collaborative, multidisciplinary). UB's Technology Transfer Office is joined by a number of other units and strategic partners - an inclusivity that extends the impact of the I-Corps Site award across the campus, into the business community, and supports a greater public mission.