Type II: University of Utah Center for Medical Innovation I-Corps Site

该项目来自犹他大学，在该机构创建了一个i-Corps站点。NSF Innovation Corps(i-Corps)站点是由NSF资助的实体，成立于大学，其目的是培育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移到市场或成为i-Corps团队的申请者。I-Corps网站还加强了当地和地区的创新，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了贡献。这是一项第二类提案，要求为现有的i-Corps网站“续签”资金。有两种类型的i-Corps选址建议。第一类提案是由以前没有获得资金作为i-Corps站点的机构提交的。这些提案可能要求在长达五年的时间里每年支付100,000美元。第二类提案是由以前作为i-Corps站点获得资金的机构提交的。犹他大学i-Corps网站项目鼓励和帮助学生和教职员工将研究项目转化为商业化项目，提供了解市场、客户、产品与市场匹配所需的教育、培训、资源和网络，并回答商业和/或技术问题。犹他大学的i-Corps Site项目目前已进入第三个年头，已培训了近90个团队和150多名参与者。该计划导致了成功的商业和技术决定，成功地向商业化过渡，并帮助将五项技术推进到商业初创阶段。这一扩展侧重于通过实施计划前三年的经验教训来完善课程，发展新的团队，产生更成功的过渡，以及实施新的融资模式，以确保未来计划的可持续性，而不需要进一步的政府资助。犹他州I-Corps网站增强并建立了该机构在医疗器械创新、商业化和创业方面的现有专业知识。该网站启动了在学术环境中从基于研究的技术向可行的商业产品过渡的模式的开发，使大学能够扩大其创新计划，为教职员工和学生创新团队提供更有影响力的资源，并改善对代表不足的参与者的招聘。这一扩展进一步推广和传播已制定的课程，并执行协议和程序，以确保其未来的财政可持续性。大学内部的伙伴关系网络支持代表性不足的学生和教师群体，并提供必要的支持和资源，帮助这些群体蓬勃发展并参与这一进程，随着该项目变得自我维持，将通过实习和特殊课程扩展到其他大学和当地高中。因此，该计划有助于增加地区商业环境的多样性，从而促进该地区所有公民的增长和经济繁荣。

This project, from the University of Utah, 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.This is a Type II proposal, requesting a "renewal" of funding for an existing I-Corps Site. There are two types of I-Corps Site proposals. Type I proposals are submitted by institutions that have not had prior funding as an I-Corps Site. These proposals may request $100,000 per year for up to five years. Type II proposals are submitted by institutions that have had prior funding as an I-Corps Site. These proposals may request up to $100,000 per year for up to three years.The University of Utah I-Corps Site program encourages and assists students and faculty in transitioning research projects to commercialization by providing education, training, resources and networking required for understanding markets, customers, product-market fit and to answer business and/or technology questions. The I-Corps Site program at the University of Utah is currently in its 3rd year and has trained nearly 90 teams and over 150 participants. The program resulted in successful business and technology go/no-go decisions, successful transition to commercialization, and helped advance five technologies to the commercial start-up stage. This extension focuses on refining the curriculum by implementing lessons learned in the first three years of the program, developing new teams and generating more successful transitions, as well as implementing the new financing model that will assure future program sustainability without further government funding.The Utah I-Corps Site enhances and builds upon this institution's existing expertise in medical device innovation, commercialization and entrepreneurship. This Site initiated the development of a model of transitioning from research-based technologies to viable commercial products in academic environment that allows the university to expand their innovation programs, provide more impactful resources to faculty and student innovation teams and improve recruitment of underrepresented participants. This extension further generalizes and disseminates the developed curriculum and implements agreements and procedures to assure its future financial sustainability. Partnership networks within the university support underrepresented student and faculty groups and offer the support and resources needed to help such groups thrive and participate in the process and, as the program becomes self-sustaining, will be extended, through internships and special courses to other colleges and local high schools. Thus, the program helps increase the diversity of the regional business environment leading to enhanced growth and economic prosperity for all citizens in the region.