University Innovation Fellows - User contributions [en]

Fellow:Stephen Kender

2021-10-12T02:06:44Z

Ephenstephen: looking to delete this page

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2018-01-07T03:16:00Z

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Fellow:Stephen Kender

2018-01-07T03:14:01Z

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Fellow:Stephen Kender

2017-02-27T03:54:54Z

Ephenstephen:

''Engineering Entrepreneur Always Looking up for Inspiration''

 [[File:Skender.png|thumb|Skender.png]]

----

 '''STEPHEN KENDER '''is a Plastics Engineering student at the University of Massachusetts Lowell and an agent of change in his community. Stephen has kept himself busy during his first year in college. He is a member of the Pre-Law Society's Mock Trial team, has created a giving kindness initiative on his campus, and has won multiple awards at entrepreneurial competitions for his venture, [http://impactivesports.com/ Impactive Sports]. An Eagle Scout, he frequently volunteers his time as an "Open Space Steward" in his hometown of Chelmsford, MA, keeping public property in good condition at no cost to the town.

In his first few years at UMass Lowell, Stephen has made many connections within the university and with industry professionals, and have put a lot of time and effort into being a leader in various entrepreneurship initiatives on campus. Last spring, he introduced Hawkathon, a $25,000 hackathon that was first of its kind at the university, which saw almost 100 students from across the Northeast building incredible innovations in a 24-hour time-span. This year, Hawkathon has partnered with MIT Hacking Medicine and the Massachusetts eHealth Institute to put on a digital health hackathon, and it is expected to be even more impactful to the students, the community, and the digital health industry.
<div>
His experiences inside and outside the classroom have built him into the person he is today, with a heart for innovation and a mind for engineering. He put this enthusiasm into his venture, Impactive Sports, a novel sports equipment project designed to withstand higher impacts and reduce the costs (and risks) of playing sports. In a few months he and his twin sisters raised almost $5,000 from university-sponsored competitions, and they are currently in the process of testing their prototypes.

He joined the University Innovation Fellows program in fall of 2015. In early June 2016, he helped organize the first-ever student track of the Deshpande Symposium, where a national network of entrepreneurial-minded students and officials gathered to learn about ways to innovate higher education. A week later, he was honored with the opportunity to speak about space design at a workshop at the Global Entrepreneurship Summit, where he pitched his research and experiences to 120 people from all over the world. As a representative of UMass Lowell, he hopes to bring back as much as he can in order to spread of design thinking throughout his campus and community.

In his free time, Stephen likes designing in 2- and 3-dimensions, as well as playing a variety of casual sports. He enjoys talking your ear off about plastics engineering, days off due to weather, and has recently taken up a telescope hobby to feed his addiction to space exploration.

If you would like to contact Stephen, you can reach him via [mailto:stephenkender88@gmail.com e-mail] or [https://www.linkedin.com/in/stephenkender LinkedIn].

'''RELATED LINKS'''

----

[http://www.uml.edu/ UMass Lowell]

[http://universityinnovation.org/wiki/University_of_Massachusetts_Lowell UMass Lowell Wiki Page]

[http://universityinnovation.org/wiki/UMass_Lowell_Student_Priorities UMass Lowell Student Priorities Wiki Page]

<blockquote>"How lucky am I to have something that makes saying goodbye so hard."</blockquote><div> </div></div>
[[Category:Student Contributors|s]]

Fellow:Stephen Kender

2017-02-27T03:53:59Z

Ephenstephen:

''Engineering Entrepreneur Always Looking up for Inspiration''

 [[File:Skender.png|thumb]]

----

 '''STEPHEN KENDER '''is a Plastics Engineering student at the University of Massachusetts Lowell and an agent of change in his community. Stephen has kept himself busy during his first year in college. He is a member of the Pre-Law Society's Mock Trial team, has created a giving kindness initiative on his campus, and has won multiple awards at entrepreneurial competitions for his venture, [http://impactivesports.com/ Impactive Sports]. An Eagle Scout, he frequently volunteers his time as an "Open Space Steward" in his hometown of Chelmsford, MA, keeping public property in good condition at no cost to the town.

In his first few years at UMass Lowell, Stephen has made many connections within the university and with industry professionals, and have put a lot of time and effort into being a leader in various entrepreneurship initiatives on campus. Last spring, he introduced Hawkathon, a $25,000 hackathon that was first of its kind at the university, which saw almost 100 students from across the Northeast building incredible innovations in a 24-hour time-span. This year, Hawkathon has partnered with MIT Hacking Medicine and the Massachusetts eHealth Institute to put on a digital health hackathon, and it is expected to be even more impactful to the students, the community, and the digital health industry.
<div>
His experiences inside and outside the classroom have built him into the person he is today, with a heart for innovation and a mind for engineering. He put this enthusiasm into his venture, Impactive Sports, a novel sports equipment project designed to withstand higher impacts and reduce the costs (and risks) of playing sports. In a few months he and his twin sisters raised almost $5,000 from university-sponsored competitions, and they are currently in the process of testing their prototypes.

He joined the University Innovation Fellows program in fall of 2015. In early June 2016, he helped organize the first-ever student track of the Deshpande Symposium, where a national network of entrepreneurial-minded students and officials gathered to learn about ways to innovate higher education. A week later, he was honored with the opportunity to speak about space design at a workshop at the Global Entrepreneurship Summit, where he pitched his research and experiences to 120 people from all over the world. As a representative of UMass Lowell, he hopes to bring back as much as he can in order to spread of design thinking throughout his campus and community.

In his free time, Stephen likes designing in 2- and 3-dimensions, as well as playing a variety of casual sports. He enjoys talking your ear off about plastics engineering, days off due to weather, and has recently taken up a telescope hobby to feed his addiction to space exploration.

If you would like to contact Stephen, you can reach him via [mailto:stephenkender88@gmail.com e-mail] or [https://www.linkedin.com/in/stephenkender LinkedIn].

'''RELATED LINKS'''

----

[http://www.uml.edu/ UMass Lowell]

[http://universityinnovation.org/wiki/University_of_Massachusetts_Lowell UMass Lowell Wiki Page]

[http://universityinnovation.org/wiki/UMass_Lowell_Student_Priorities UMass Lowell Student Priorities Wiki Page]

<blockquote>"How lucky am I to have something that makes saying goodbye so hard."</blockquote><div> </div></div>
[[Category:Student Contributors|s]]

File:Skender.png

2017-02-27T03:53:37Z

Ephenstephen:

File:SKender.png

2017-02-27T02:35:41Z

Ephenstephen:

File:File-2-min.jpeg

2017-02-27T02:33:55Z

Ephenstephen: Ephenstephen uploaded a new version of "File:File-2-min.jpeg"

File:File-2-min.jpeg

2017-02-27T02:33:28Z

Ephenstephen:

Fellow:Rachel Silk

2015-10-23T00:06:14Z

Ephenstephen:

Rachel Silk is a rising senior student at the University of Massachusetts Lowell majoring in Business Administration with a dual concentration in Entrepreneurship and Marketing. Currently, Rachel is out on a Professional Co-op as a Marketing Events Coordinator for a healthcare IT company, Imprivata. She was born and raised in the heart of Lowell, Massachusetts. One of Rachel's passions includes using innovative and creative ways to unite UMass Lowell and the community. In Spring 2015, Rachel along with fellow classmates, started 'Love of the Game', an inspiring non-profit that hosts clinics ran by varisty college athletes for individuals with disabilities.[[File:RachelSilk.Headshot.PNG|thumb|RachelSilk.Headshot.PNG]]

Since last spring, Rachel has been given the opportunity to work in a growing company where she is dealt with new challenges everyday. This has overall helped her success with 'Love of the Game', because on October 18th, 2015, 'Love of the Game' hosted their first sports clinic, featuring the entire UMass Lowell Men's Varsity Basketball team!

As an University Innovation Fellow, she is looking for new ways to not only make UMass Lowell more innovative, but also how to include the community in on these new changes. After her last year, she hopes to continue to work for Imprivata and remain an active member of her community.

In her free time, Rachel enjoys playing on her company's soccer team, family brunches, and Sunday football (Go Pats!)

Fellow:Rachel Silk

2015-10-23T00:06:03Z

Ephenstephen:

Rachel Silk is a rising senior student at the University of Massachusetts Lowell majoring in Business Administration with a dual concentration in Entrepreneurship and Marketing. Currently, Rachel is out on a Professional Co-op as a Marketing Events Coordinator for a healthcare IT company, Imprivata. She was born and raised in the heart of Lowell, Massachusetts. One of Rachel's passions includes using innovative and creative ways to unite UMass Lowell and the community. In Spring 2015, Rachel along with fellow classmates, started 'Love of the Game', an inspiring non-profit that hosts clinics ran by varisty college athletes for individuals with disabilities.[[File:RachelSilk.Headshot.PNG|thumb]]

Since last spring, Rachel has been given the opportunity to work in a growing company where she is dealt with new challenges everyday. This has overall helped her success with 'Love of the Game', because on October 18th, 2015, 'Love of the Game' hosted their first sports clinic, featuring the entire UMass Lowell Men's Varsity Basketball team!

As an University Innovation Fellow, she is looking for new ways to not only make UMass Lowell more innovative, but also how to include the community in on these new changes. After her last year, she hopes to continue to work for Imprivata and remain an active member of her community.

In her free time, Rachel enjoys playing on her company's soccer team, family brunches, and Sunday football (Go Pats!)  <o:p></o:p>

Fellow:Rachel Silk

2015-10-23T00:05:31Z

Ephenstephen:

Rachel Silk is a rising senior student at the University of Massachusetts Lowell majoring in Business Administration with a dual concentration in Entrepreneurship and Marketing. Currently, Rachel is out on a Professional Co-op as a Marketing Events Coordinator for a healthcare IT company, Imprivata. She was born and raised in the heart of Lowell, Massachusetts. One of Rachel's passions includes using innovative and creative ways to unite UMass Lowell and the community. In Spring 2015, Rachel along with fellow classmates, started 'Love of the Game', an inspiring non-profit that hosts clinics ran by varisty college athletes for individuals with disabilities.http://universityinnovation.org/images/0/0f/RachelSilk.Headshot.PNG

Since last spring, Rachel has been given the opportunity to work in a growing company where she is dealt with new challenges everyday. This has overall helped her success with 'Love of the Game', because on October 18th, 2015, 'Love of the Game' hosted their first sports clinic, featuring the entire UMass Lowell Men's Varsity Basketball team!

As an University Innovation Fellow, she is looking for new ways to not only make UMass Lowell more innovative, but also how to include the community in on these new changes. After her last year, she hopes to continue to work for Imprivata and remain an active member of her community.

In her free time, Rachel enjoys playing on her company's soccer team, family brunches, and Sunday football (Go Pats!)  <o:p></o:p>

School:University of Massachusetts Lowell

2015-10-13T15:30:26Z

Ephenstephen:

<div style="float: right; clear: right;">[[File:UMass-Lowell-logo.png]]</div>
The University of Massachusetts Lowell (also known as UMass Lowell or UML) is a [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Public_university public] [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_research_universities_in_the_United_States doctoral/research] university in [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lowell,_Massachusetts Lowell], [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Massachusetts Massachusetts], [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_States United States],and part of the [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/University_of_Massachusetts University of Massachusetts] system. With more than 1,100 faculty members and more than 16,000 students, it is the largest university in the [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Merrimack_Valley Merrimack Valley] and the second-largest public institution in the state behind UMass Amherst. The university offers more than 120 degree choices, internships, bachelor’s to master’s programs and doctoral studies in the College of Fine Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences; College of Health Sciences; College of Sciences; the Francis College of Engineering; the Graduate School of Education; and the Manning School of Business.

= '''Overview - A Campus On The Move''' =

UMass Lowell has been evolving in every aspect; upgraded classrooms, libraries and labs; new and renovated student living and activity spaces; and enhanced parking facilities are a few on the list of what has been updated and changed over the past decade of campus improvement.

*University Crossing
**Officially completed and operating, this new building hosts student services and activities, bookstore, dining, University police, transportation services, and senior administration offices.
*Pulichino Tong Building
**The University’s current construction project, the Tong Building will replace the now-relocated Honor’s Eames Dorm building on UMass Lowell’s North Campus and will house the entirety of the Robert J. Manning School of Business.
*University Suites
**This brand new dorm on UMass Lowell’s East campus provides housing for 472 students in four- and six-bed suites. There is a ground-floor common area with a café - Hawk's Nest - featuring fresh bakery, grab & go items and a late night Asian menu, in addition to delicious Red Mango frozen yogurt & smoothies and "We proudly serve" Starbucks Coffee. A multi-purpose room is open to the UMass Lowell community. Each residential floor has two common kitchen/lounge areas, two quiet study rooms and a group study room.
*Riverview Suites
**The other half of the two-dorm addition to UMass Lowell in 2013, Riverview Suites has either two or three bedroom suites complete with a live-in kitchen, classroom and meeting rooms inside the building, and a gym inside the facility. The University leases the property from Soho Development, who also built the $42 million facility.
*New Garages
**In the past three years, UMass Lowell has added two large parking garages to each of its largest parking lots, greatly increasing the parking capacity for the strong commuter presence attending the school.
*Health and Social Sciences Building
**In 2013, this new criminal justice and criminology, nursing and psychology building had its grand opening. The construction of this building marked the first new construction in 30 years on the University’s South Campus, including all campuses in the University’s recent wave of evolution.

Since 2009, the University has also been heavily updating the existing buildings while acquiring and renovating new ones. UMass Lowell renovated the newly acquired Inn and Conference Center, added Taco Bell and Subway to the University’s dining partners, renovated the newly acquired Tsongas Center, and heavily updated their Dining Hall in the tallest UMass Lowell building, Fox Hall 

== 2015 Innovation Fellows Plans ==

[https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1ZwhfzohFPyuM4Vutiho8ZAuV8Jmq-JxBJ2vNaGZe-kY/edit?usp=sharing Landscape Canvas]

[https://docs.google.com/presentation/d/1o3F2IN8YoWKMk83r0SoAfr5NH_qUw7RFa2ZxjslksQM/edit?usp=sharing Lean Startup Presentation]

= '''Student Entrepreneurship''' =

==== '''NonSpec ''' ====

[http://www.nonspec.org/ NonSpec] participated in the 2013 first annual DifferenceMaker™ Idea Challenge where they showed dedication and enthusiasm by attending each educational workshop and event throughout the process which aided in their success.  At the Idea Challenge they received the prestigious title of “Campus Wide DifferenceMaker™” and the top award of $5,000. This prize represents the project most likely to make a significant difference in the community, region and the world.

The $5,000 award has allowed Nonspec to move their initiative forward by creating their first batch of prosthetic limbs. With a projected 15% market share in the next five years, Nonspec plans to use this market presence to launch a foundation called “Give a Hand”. The purpose of this foundation would be to spread their mission, goals, charitable cause, and products around the world in order to make a difference in developing nations.

Since Nonspec’s success at the Idea Challenge they have gained great publicity in other arenas.  They were recently named one of the top 10 semi-finalists in Entrepreneur® Magazine’s “College Entrepreneur of 2013 Contest”.  In addition, they were invited to attend [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ppnzNSnxi-g IAPD Plastics Application Design Competition], which was held on October 2, 2013 in Miami, Florida.  Lastly, the team was utilized as a role model by being featured in a [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aLwLg4XHrck video] that was shown at all DifferenceMaker™ freshman orientation sessions throughout the summer due to their motivation and high entrepreneurial spirits.

= Departments and Programs =

== '''Center for Innovation and Entrepreneurship''' ==

The Center for Innovation and Entrepreneurship offers students and faculty of all disciplines the opportunity to work together to develop innovative and entrepreneurial solutions to the major problems facing our community, the region and the world. The Center hosts several programs that encourage social innovation and entrepreneurship among UMass Lowell students as well as the broader community in which we live. The DifferenceMaker program provides training, mentoring and other resources to UMass Lowell students and faculty who wish to address social, environmental and economic problems in our community.

== '''DifferenceMaker™''' ==

The DifferenceMaker™ Program sponsors specific events and activities that support students in solving big problems through innovation and entrepreneurship. The Program is highly experiential by offering students a series of workshops that they can engage in to better understand innovation, entrepreneurship and launching a start-up of their interest.

Students of all majors and disciplines are welcome to join this Program and make a difference at UMass Lowell, in the community or in the world through innovative and entrepreneurial action.

=== Goals of DifferenceMaker™ ===

*Introduce all UMass students to creative problem solving, innovation and entrepreneurship
*Accelerate purpose in each students education
*Connect current students to alumni experience
*Encourage a social responsibility ethos

=== DifferenceMaker™ Available Activities ===

*'''DifferenceMaker™ Enterprise Co-op'''
**Throughout each year, DifferenceMaker™ will hire several students from various majors to participate in paid co-op experiences. Student co-ops assist in conducting and summarizing entrepreneurial research, developing and distributing marketing materials for various center initiatives, and provide center support for faculty and innovation fellows affiliate with the center. 
*'''Freshman Make A Difference Orientation'''
**During the summer sessions, DifferenceMaker™ has a large presence in the Freshman Orientation days. Through the Office of Orientation, Student Activities and Leadership, and ResLife, DifferenceMaker™ was able to present to every attending freshman and gain exposure to all of the new students at UMass Lowell.
*'''Freshman DifferenceMaker™ Convocation'''
**At the beginning of each academic year, we present DifferenceMaker™ to every incoming freshman at Convocation. Each year we perform a fun activity to engage students in our program.
*'''Introduction to DifferenceMaker™'''
**Freshman Seminars-A series of in-class discussions in collaboration with the Manning School of Business, The Francis College of Engineering, The College of Fine Arts, Humanities, and Social Sciences, and The College of Health Sciences in order to introduce the DifferenceMaker™ Program to students of all disciplines and to inspire them to explore their passions through creative problem solving.
*'''Introduction to the DifferenceMaker™ Program'''
**A series of events were held on both the north and south campuses to introduce students to DifferenceMaker™ Program concepts, allow them to share their ideas and interests, explore possible projects and solution, and to connected with each other to form teams. These events included the DifferenceMaker™ Convocation Pitch, the Climate Change Teach-in, a DifferenceMaker™ Team Building Dinner, and others.
*'''DifferenceMaker™ LLC'''
**Having a presence in the student residence halls as well as the classroom is important to motivate students and discover new ideas waiting to happen. The DifferenceMaker™ Living/Learning Community brings new students together in the ResLife environment for innovation and brainstorming outside of the classroom.
*'''Honors DifferenceMaker™ Program'''
**In collaboration with UMass Lowell Honors Program, this concerted effort to embed elements of social entrepreneurship in our Honors Program includes coursework and community-based student efforts that have specific focus on innovation and entrepreneurial practices.
*'''Introduction to Engineering Extra Credit Project'''
**This activity was a collaboration effort between the DifferenceMaker™ Program and The Francis College of Engineering to introduce freshman engineering majors to the DifferenceMaker™ Program, innovation, and entrepreneurship. In this introductory activity, the students’ innovative ideas were explored and presented in a format which would enable their projects to be candidates for both the DifferenceMaker™ Program Idea Challenge and Campus Catalyst program.
*'''Creative Venture Competition'''
**This contest held in October of 2013 hosted by DifferenceMaker™ focused on innovation from Arts, Humanities, and Social Science students. $2500 was awarded to the best entrepreneurial business a proposal, and $250 to each finalist team was also awarded.
*'''Digital Federal Credit Union Innovation Contest''' 
**In November of 2013, DifferenceMaker™ along with DCU hosted an Innovation Contest focusing on banking and financial innovation in the industry. With a grand prize of $500 per team member and peripheral prizes of $100 per team member, the contest gave thousands to innovative teams and cutting edge ideas.
*'''DifferenceMaker™ Reverse Pitch'''
**This pitch event was debuted on November 19, 2013. This event was a spin-off of “normal” idea challenges and hackathons. Instead of students pitching their ideas to funding sources or judges, businesses and community partners actually pitched their existing problems to a student audience in the hopes that they can develop a solution.
*'''DifferenceMaker™ Idea Challenge'''
**''''''DifferenceMaker™ is hosting its fourth annual Idea Challenge; this challenge is for student entrepreneurial teams to come up with sustainable ideas that will make some sort of impact on the world or their community. Help in the form of various workshops in the months leading up to the Idea Challenge is available, teaching students how to properly pitch their ideas and how to flesh out their business plans. There are various subcategories for each team to have a chance at winning spread out across over many different disciplines, encouraging all students to participate and welcoming all ideas.
*'''DifferenceMaker™ Workshops'''
**Team Building Mixer
**Identifying Problems and Opportunities
**Developing Solutions
**Identifying Resources
**Rocket Pitch Coaching
*'''Campus Catalyst Program'''
**''''''The DifferenceMaker™ Program works closely with 'E For All', a community business accelerator funded by the Deshpande Foundation, in order to encourage students to generate and develop their entrepreneurial ideas. The Sandbox Campus Catalyst program provided seed funding for student social and business solutions with potential. 

=== '''DifferenceMaker™ Program Available Resources''' ===

*'''DifferenceMaker™ Central'''
**Large open office collaboration space equipped with Wi-Fi, 3 Mac computers, printer/copier, 2 46” LCD TV monitors with projection capabilities, 6 white boards, 10 tables with chairs all equipped with wheels that can be easily rearranged for optimal use and collaboration, refrigerator, sink, cabinet space, coffee maker and other necessary office supplies.
*'''Hawk  Hatch'''
**Philanthropic Crowd Funding Source
*'''Grants'''
*'''Networking'''
**Mentors
**Faculty Fellows and DifferenceMaker™ Staff
*'''Events'''
**Series of Educational Entrepreneurial Workshops including materials
**Problem, Opportunity, Solution, Resources, Pitch Coaching
**Team Building Assistance
**TeamMaker Platform, Team Building Mixer

Through the Center for Innovation & Entrepreneurship, along with affiliated faculty and other campus programs, the University has introduced a range of activities that help students make a difference in the world.

=== '''DifferenceMaker™ Future Efforts''' ===

The DifferenceMaker™ Program plans to continue many of the activities and events initiated in the first year of the program.  Some of these programs will be revised and they intend to launch several new initiatives, including a DifferenceMaker™ Passport Program, a DifferenceMaker™ Mentor Program and a seed grant program to encourage faculty participation in the DifferenceMaker™ program. They also plan to expand our collaboration with several University colleges. 

This year they plan to increase the role of DifferenceMaker™ Living Learning Community students in the DifferenceMaker™ program by training the members to become DifferenceMaker™ ambassadors once they transition into their sophomore year  through weekly meetings and monthly events. The training will allow LLC members to learn more about entrepreneurship and the DifferenceMaker™ Program so they can promote it to student clubs and campus classes.  Once the LLC students become sophomores they will transition into a DifferenceMaker™ Ambassador role, and hopefully will form the nucleus of a yet-to-be-formed DifferenceMaker™ student club.  

In order to assist students to both record and encourage their participation in DifferenceMaker™ events, they are planning the development and implementation of a DifferenceMaker™ Passport Program. Consistent with the goals of the UMass Lowell DifferenceMaker™ Program, the Passport Program will assist students to identify, record and collect experiences meant to: 

*Develop individual entrepreneurial identity
*Develop entrepreneurial skills and self-confidence
*Develop creative and sustainable solutions to complex problems
*Connect with the University, E For All and community entrepreneurial ecosystems

They anticipate that the number of students engaged in the DifferenceMaker™ Program and related activities will increase each year. As they encourage and reward the formation of various types of student ventures and projects, the need for mentors who can consult with student teams will increase. They plan to guide these students and track their progress through a professional Mentor Program. The UMass Lowell Mentor Program will provide a committed network of mentors with a broad set of skills and professional experiences, who can assist UMass Lowell entrepreneurs in developing the knowledge and skills, needed to grow an idea into a successful, new venture.

The DM UMass Lowell Mentor Program will seek to connect DifferenceMaker™ students with successful experienced entrepreneurs and alumnus, as well as faculty and staff.  The Mentor Program will focus on assisting students to further develop solutions as part of the DifferenceMaker™ Program. Mentors will provide guidance in further refining student team objectives and help them in building their entrepreneurial skillsets.

They are planning to offer DifferenceMaker™ Faculty Workshops to help faculty consider how they might engage their own students in DifferenceMaker™ activities through course related activities and through co-curricular activities. Our hope is that by engaging more faculty, they in turn will serve as both mentors and catalysts for students, encouraging and guiding student project selection and development. They have also observed that student teams often need support and guidance from faculty from different disciplines, these workshops and an accompanying seed grant program are meant as catalysts to encourage interdisciplinary engagement among faculty,

While the overarching goal of the DifferenceMaker™ program is to encourage UMass Lowell students to develop sustainable and entrepreneurial solutions to the challenges and opportunities they will confront in this world, they anticipate another, potentially significant impact on the University community itself. Our students will only be successful if they have the support of faculty, alumni, business and community members. During our first year of program activities, they have found these constituents to be most supportive and willing to mentor and work with our students.  Alumni are mentoring and investing in student ventures.  Faculty are working across disciplines to ensure their student teams make progress. Local profit and non-profit businesses are eager to work with student teams, providing real-world problems and opportunities for student projects. In one short year, the DifferenceMaker™ program has been embraced by the greater University community. Our hope and plan is to anchor this program in the curriculum and culture of the University, so all UMass Lowell students have an opportunity to make a difference in this world.

  

== '''Commercial Venture and Intellectual Property Office (CVIP)''' ==

'''CVIP Mission'''

The mission of UMass Lowell’s Office of Commercial Ventures and Intellectual Property (CVIP) is to facilitate the transfer of technology arising from government, foundation and industrial sponsored university research to the private sector. They facilitate development of inventions toward commercial relevance and utility, nurture mutually beneficial and sustainable relationships between the University and industry, promote an innovative and entrepreneurial culture at the University and contribute to the economic vibrancy and well-being of the Commonwealth. CVIP’s activities enable the successful transfer of commercially viable technology from the laboratory to the marketplace for public use and benefit. 

'''CVIP Functions'''

The main objectives of CVIP are:

*to license patents and other protections to industry in order to promote the development of inventions toward practical application;
*to foster a culture of innovation, facilitate commercially promising endeavors, and positively contribute to the University’s entrepreneurial ecosystem;
*to seek new business opportunities and form productive collaborations with industry in an effort to increase research and licensing revenue to the University;
*to generate income for inventors and the University as a whole for use in supporting further research, technology development and transfer;
*to advocate for the research community and seek to create incentives, provide rewards and obtain resources to advance commercialization of the technologies they generate.

== New Venture Initiative ==

New Venture Initiative (NVI) is a mix of university resources and equity investment designed to provide a path to and facilitate more start-up activity at UMass Lowell.  As part of the larger Commercial Venture and Intellectual Property Office (CVIP), the NVI fund focuses on inventions, discoveries, products and services that have been developed in whole or in part at UMass Lowell, have achieved proof of concept (or an early prototype) and are ready for commercial product development, rather than those requiring further basic research.  

== '''Massachusetts Medical Device Development Center (M2D2):''' ==

The Massachusetts Medical Device Development Center (M2D2) is a lifeline for the state’s smaller medical device companies, offering inventors and executives easy, affordable, and coordinated access to world-class researchers and resources at the Lowell and Worcester campuses of the University of Massachusetts.

'''M2D2 Available Resources'''

*9000 square feet of space on second floor including:
**6 wet laboratory suites
**Two office suites
**Large open office collaboration area
**Board room
**Reception area
**Break Room equipped with a table and chairs, full size refrigerator, microwave, sink, dishwasher, and coffee maker
*5000 square feet of space on first floor including:
**Six individual offices 
**Bright shared kitchen space equipped with a table and chairs, full size refrigerator and sink
**One large state of the art conference room with full pull down screen, computer with web access and a projector  
**All conference rooms contain a 46" Aquos LCD screen, as well as computer with web access and a projector
**Business and medical feasibility assessments
**Product development space
**Medical and clinical pathway assistance
**Connection to additional services such as laboratory use, incubator space for start-ups and clinical trial support through the product life cycle
**SBIR and STTR research
**Access to capital
**Networking events
**New Venture Competitions

== '''Entrepreneurship For All''' ==

'E for All' is a project of the Deshpande Foundation, which has encouraged the use of entrepreneurship and innovation as catalysts for sustainable change in the United States, India and Canada since 1996. Deshpande supported centers including the MIT Deshpande Center for Technological Innovation, the Deshpande Center for Social Innovation in Hubli, India, the Pond-Deshpande Centre at the University of New Brunswick, and our own 'E For All'  at the University of Massachusetts Lowell. 'E for All' includes higher education partners (Middlesex Community College, Merrimack College and Northern Essex Community College) and a host of regional community and business partners.

'''E for All Mission'''

The mission of 'E For All' is to connect and strengthen the ecosystem in Lowell and Lawrence, Massachusetts, around entrepreneurship and leadership. This mission is supported by the following three principle 'E For All' programs:

*'''Catalysts '''- The Catalyst program provides seed funding and mentoring support to foster initiative around new ideas and programs among local high school and college students.
*'''Entrepreneurship '''- The Entrepreneur Program is a community-wide initiative supporting entrepreneurship. More than 30 partner organizations and institutions are participating in this initiative, which gives entrepreneurs a greater chance at success through pitch contests, workshops and intensive programs. 
*'''Leadership '''- The 'E For All' Leadership Institute (SLI) offers leadership development for individuals that live, work or are interested in the communities of Lawrence and Lowell. 

== Other Organizations ==

'''Entrepreneurial Ventures Association''': EVA is an interdisciplinary organization that is open to all majors; they share resources, advice, and interests with other COM and UML clubs to help students turn their entrepreneurial ideas into reality.  

'''Honors Ambassador Program: '''Students participate in the Honors Ambassador Program to gain valuable experience through courses tailored for higher development and to foster relationships with communities and organizations that the program is involved with.

= '''University Entrepreneurship''' =

== Creative New Academic Programs ==

==== '''The Manning School of Business'''  ====

'''Undergraduate - Entrepreneurship Concentration''': Prepares students to be "outside-of-the-box" thinkers and innovators in today's complex global economy.

*The '''entrepreneurship concentration''' prepares students to be an "outside of the box" thinker and innovator in today's complex global economy. Using an interdisciplinary focus, students who complete the concentration will:
**Develop the management skills required to identify and launch new business ventures around innovative products, services and technologies. 
**Develop an understanding of the concepts and activities associated with entrepreneurship and innovation. 
**Understand the financial aspects of an entrepreneurial venture from start-up to "harvest". 
**Discover their individual "entrepreneurial spirit" through experiential learning in interdisciplinary classes and the College's Venture Lab.

'''Graduate - Master of Science in Innovation and Technological Entrepreneurship (MSITE)''': Provides engineers, business majors and scientists with the skills and knowledge required to drive innovation in today's collaborative, global workforce.

'''Graduate - Master of Science in Innovation and Technological Entrepreneurship (MSITE) Healthcare Innovation & Entrepreneurship (HI+E) Option''': This option is targeted towards healthcare professionals, such as hospital managers/administrators, clinicians, physicians and other medical professionals who need to understand and manage the impact of emerging technologies and innovations in the healthcare industry. The Program will also benefit recent graduates who wish to enter the healthcare industries as a career choice.

'''Graduate Certificate - New Venture Creation''': This program is focused specifically on the creation of technology-based ventures and is designed to assist professionals with undergraduate and career experience in science, engineering, technology or business fields in better understanding how to develop and launch a technology-based business.

==== '''College of Sciences, Computer Science Department''' ====

The Computer Science Department offers an entrepreneurship option in their master's degree. It is directed at those with a strong undergraduate background in Computer Science who are interested in both deepening their technical knowledge and in understanding the tools required for developing a company directed towards software services and products.

==== '''College of Engineering, Electrical and Computer Engineering Department, Assistive Technology Program''' ====

A component of the undergraduate Electrical and Computer Engineering program, senior ECE students complete a senior capstone project aimed at designing and producing an assistive technology device for a person with a disability. Engineering students can apply the knowledge they have learned from their courses and help solve problems for disabled people through creating technological advances. 

== Entrepreneurial Capital Projects and Acquisitions ==

=== '''The Mark and Elisia Saab Emerging Technologies and Innovation Center''' ===

This new UMass Lowell 2012-13 construction is a building developed for bringing innovation and industry together. Faculty and student researchers use the resources available in this building to meet industry challenges and improve lives using UMass Lowell technologies and patents. Core facilities for use in fundamental and translational research are available to faculty and students; it contains class 100, 1,000, and 10,000 cleanroom spaces, wet lab and engineering lab space, and a plastics processing high bay. The ETIC is has LEED Gold Certification, and is considered green. The construction of this building also is estimated to supporting at least 130 new jobs.

 

=== '''Health and Social Sciences Building'''  ===

This new building that houses criminal justice and criminology, nursing, and psychology provides classrooms, simulation laboratories, observation facilities, a demonstration hospital wing, and ample meeting space for community projects. The construction of this new building supported more than 800 construction and related jobs, and provided the much needed resources and space for UMass Lowell’s growing social science population.

= '''University-Industry Collaboration''' =

'''Research Activities'''

UMass Lowell places a large focus on professional research, as evidenced by the ample lab space professors have to work with in buildings such as the ETIC. A comprehensive list of all research areas and information about them can be found on the UMass Lowell website. 

==== Center for Industrial Competitiveness ====

For nearly 20 years, UMass Lowell’s Center for Industrial Competitiveness has conducted research on industrial innovation, regional development, corporate governance, financialization, and sustainable prosperity. Resources available stretch all around the world through collaborative networks and relationships, providing ample information and a global understanding on development. Research also includes local industrial development in Massachusetts. 

= '''Regional and Local Economic Development''' =

'''Economic and Social Development of Regions Department:'''

This graduate program focuses on giving an interdisciplinary education that is tailored to fit the needs of the individual. By educating both the private and public sectors of economic and social development, this program aims to create work ready individuals that can bring innovation and change to shifting social and economic environment.

'''Lowell Makes''' 

Lowell Makes is a non-profit, shared community workshop and laboratory. It is an organized group of local artists, engineers, makers, and thinkers who work together to provide tools and learning resources to the public. They use these resources to collaborate on individual and community projects in order to promote science, technology and art; while working and experimenting on innovative ideas to encourage learning within the community.

'''Mill No.5'''

Mill No.5 is one of the few non-UML entrepreneurial constructs in the Lowell urban environment. Like many mills in Lowell, it has been renovated and repurposed. Being subdivided and updated to proper code, there are rooms available for offices and start-ups looking to have an office space to centralize their resources. 

= Related Links =

University Innovation Fellows:
[http://universityinnovation.org/wiki/Stephen_Kender Stephen Kender][[Ana Gouveia|Ana Gouveia]][[James Abdallah|James Abdallah]][[KevinMDesjardins|Kevin Desjardins]][[Jacob Hulme|Jacob Hulme]][[UMass Lowell Student Priorities|UMass Lowell Student Priorities]]

[[Category:Universities]]

School:University of Massachusetts Lowell

2015-10-12T19:30:46Z

Ephenstephen:

<div style="float: right; clear: right;">[[File:UMass-Lowell-logo.png]]</div>
The University of Massachusetts Lowell (also known as UMass Lowell or UML) is a [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Public_university public] [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_research_universities_in_the_United_States doctoral/research] university in [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lowell,_Massachusetts Lowell], [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Massachusetts Massachusetts], [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_States United States],and part of the [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/University_of_Massachusetts University of Massachusetts] system. With more than 1,100 faculty members and more than 16,000 students, it is the largest university in the [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Merrimack_Valley Merrimack Valley] and the second-largest public institution in the state behind UMass Amherst. The university offers more than 120 degree choices, internships, bachelor’s to master’s programs and doctoral studies in the College of Fine Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences; College of Health Sciences; College of Sciences; the Francis College of Engineering; the Graduate School of Education; and the Manning School of Business.

= '''Overview - A Campus On The Move''' =

UMass Lowell has been evolving in every aspect; upgraded classrooms, libraries and labs; new and renovated student living and activity spaces; and enhanced parking facilities are a few on the list of what has been updated and changed over the past decade of campus improvement.

*University Crossing
**Officially completed and operating, this new building hosts student services and activities, bookstore, dining, University police, transportation services, and senior administration offices.
*Pulichino Tong Building
**The University’s current construction project, the Tong Building will replace the now-relocated Honor’s Eames Dorm building on UMass Lowell’s North Campus and will house the entirety of the Robert J. Manning School of Business.
*University Suites
**This brand new dorm on UMass Lowell’s East campus provides housing for 472 students in four- and six-bed suites. There is a ground-floor common area with a café - Hawk's Nest - featuring fresh bakery, grab & go items and a late night Asian menu, in addition to delicious Red Mango frozen yogurt & smoothies and "We proudly serve" Starbucks Coffee. A multi-purpose room is open to the UMass Lowell community. Each residential floor has two common kitchen/lounge areas, two quiet study rooms and a group study room.
*Riverview Suites
**The other half of the two-dorm addition to UMass Lowell in 2013, Riverview Suites has either two or three bedroom suites complete with a live-in kitchen, classroom and meeting rooms inside the building, and a gym inside the facility. The University leases the property from Soho Development, who also built the $42 million facility.
*New Garages
**In the past three years, UMass Lowell has added two large parking garages to each of its largest parking lots, greatly increasing the parking capacity for the strong commuter presence attending the school.
*Health and Social Sciences Building
**In 2013, this new criminal justice and criminology, nursing and psychology building had its grand opening. The construction of this building marked the first new construction in 30 years on the University’s South Campus, including all campuses in the University’s recent wave of evolution.

Since 2009, the University has also been heavily updating the existing buildings while acquiring and renovating new ones. UMass Lowell renovated the newly acquired Inn and Conference Center, added Taco Bell and Subway to the University’s dining partners, renovated the newly acquired Tsongas Center, and heavily updated their Dining Hall in the tallest UMass Lowell building, Fox Hall 

== 2015 Innovation Fellows Plans ==

[https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1ZwhfzohFPyuM4Vutiho8ZAuV8Jmq-JxBJ2vNaGZe-kY/edit?usp=sharing Landscape Canvas]

[https://docs.google.com/presentation/d/1o3F2IN8YoWKMk83r0SoAfr5NH_qUw7RFa2ZxjslksQM/edit?usp=sharing Lean Startup Presentation]

= '''Student Entrepreneurship''' =

==== '''NonSpec ''' ====

[http://www.nonspec.org/ NonSpec] participated in the 2013 first annual DifferenceMaker™ Idea Challenge where they showed dedication and enthusiasm by attending each educational workshop and event throughout the process which aided in their success.  At the Idea Challenge they received the prestigious title of “Campus Wide DifferenceMaker™” and the top award of $5,000. This prize represents the project most likely to make a significant difference in the community, region and the world.

The $5,000 award has allowed Nonspec to move their initiative forward by creating their first batch of prosthetic limbs. With a projected 15% market share in the next five years, Nonspec plans to use this market presence to launch a foundation called “Give a Hand”. The purpose of this foundation would be to spread their mission, goals, charitable cause, and products around the world in order to make a difference in developing nations.

Since Nonspec’s success at the Idea Challenge they have gained great publicity in other arenas.  They were recently named one of the top 10 semi-finalists in Entrepreneur® Magazine’s “College Entrepreneur of 2013 Contest”.  In addition, they were invited to attend [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ppnzNSnxi-g IAPD Plastics Application Design Competition], which was held on October 2, 2013 in Miami, Florida.  Lastly, the team was utilized as a role model by being featured in a [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aLwLg4XHrck video] that was shown at all DifferenceMaker™ freshman orientation sessions throughout the summer due to their motivation and high entrepreneurial spirits.

= Departments and Programs =

== '''Center for Innovation and Entrepreneurship''' ==

The Center for Innovation and Entrepreneurship offers students and faculty of all disciplines the opportunity to work together to develop innovative and entrepreneurial solutions to the major problems facing our community, the region and the world. The Center hosts several programs that encourage social innovation and entrepreneurship among UMass Lowell students as well as the broader community in which we live. The DifferenceMaker program provides training, mentoring and other resources to UMass Lowell students and faculty who wish to address social, environmental and economic problems in our community.

== '''DifferenceMaker™''' ==

The DifferenceMaker™ Program sponsors specific events and activities that support students in solving big problems through innovation and entrepreneurship. The Program is highly experiential by offering students a series of workshops that they can engage in to better understand innovation, entrepreneurship and launching a start-up of their interest.

Students of all majors and disciplines are welcome to join this Program and make a difference at UMass Lowell, in the community or in the world through innovative and entrepreneurial action.

=== Goals of DifferenceMaker™ ===

*Introduce all UMass students to creative problem solving, innovation and entrepreneurship
*Accelerate purpose in each students education
*Connect current students to alumni experience
*Encourage a social responsibility ethos

=== DifferenceMaker™ Available Activities ===

*'''DifferenceMaker™ Enterprise Co-op'''
**Throughout each year, DifferenceMaker™ will hire several students from various majors to participate in paid co-op experiences. Student co-ops assist in conducting and summarizing entrepreneurial research, developing and distributing marketing materials for various center initiatives, and provide center support for faculty and innovation fellows affiliate with the center. 
*'''Freshman Make A Difference Orientation'''
**During the summer sessions, DifferenceMaker™ has a large presence in the Freshman Orientation days. Through the Office of Orientation, Student Activities and Leadership, and ResLife, DifferenceMaker™ was able to present to every attending freshman and gain exposure to all of the new students at UMass Lowell.
*'''Freshman DifferenceMaker™ Convocation'''
**At the beginning of each academic year, we present DifferenceMaker™ to every incoming freshman at Convocation. Each year we perform a fun activity to engage students in our program.
*'''Introduction to DifferenceMaker™'''
**Freshman Seminars-A series of in-class discussions in collaboration with the Manning School of Business, The Francis College of Engineering, The College of Fine Arts, Humanities, and Social Sciences, and The College of Health Sciences in order to introduce the DifferenceMaker™ Program to students of all disciplines and to inspire them to explore their passions through creative problem solving.
*'''Introduction to the DifferenceMaker™ Program'''
**A series of events were held on both the north and south campuses to introduce students to DifferenceMaker™ Program concepts, allow them to share their ideas and interests, explore possible projects and solution, and to connected with each other to form teams. These events included the DifferenceMaker™ Convocation Pitch, the Climate Change Teach-in, a DifferenceMaker™ Team Building Dinner, and others.
*'''DifferenceMaker™ LLC'''
**Having a presence in the student residence halls as well as the classroom is important to motivate students and discover new ideas waiting to happen. The DifferenceMaker™ Living/Learning Community brings new students together in the ResLife environment for innovation and brainstorming outside of the classroom.
*'''Honors DifferenceMaker™ Program'''
**In collaboration with UMass Lowell Honors Program, this concerted effort to embed elements of social entrepreneurship in our Honors Program includes coursework and community-based student efforts that have specific focus on innovation and entrepreneurial practices.
*'''Introduction to Engineering Extra Credit Project'''
**This activity was a collaboration effort between the DifferenceMaker™ Program and The Francis College of Engineering to introduce freshman engineering majors to the DifferenceMaker™ Program, innovation, and entrepreneurship. In this introductory activity, the students’ innovative ideas were explored and presented in a format which would enable their projects to be candidates for both the DifferenceMaker™ Program Idea Challenge and Campus Catalyst program.
*'''Creative Venture Competition'''
**This contest held in October of 2013 hosted by DifferenceMaker™ focused on innovation from Arts, Humanities, and Social Science students. $2500 was awarded to the best entrepreneurial business a proposal, and $250 to each finalist team was also awarded.
*'''Digital Federal Credit Union Innovation Contest''' 
**In November of 2013, DifferenceMaker™ along with DCU hosted an Innovation Contest focusing on banking and financial innovation in the industry. With a grand prize of $500 per team member and peripheral prizes of $100 per team member, the contest gave thousands to innovative teams and cutting edge ideas.
*'''DifferenceMaker™ Reverse Pitch'''
**This pitch event was debuted on November 19, 2013. This event was a spin-off of “normal” idea challenges and hackathons. Instead of students pitching their ideas to funding sources or judges, businesses and community partners actually pitched their existing problems to a student audience in the hopes that they can develop a solution.
*'''DifferenceMaker™ Idea Challenge'''
**''''''DifferenceMaker™ is hosting its fourth annual Idea Challenge; this challenge is for student entrepreneurial teams to come up with sustainable ideas that will make some sort of impact on the world or their community. Help in the form of various workshops in the months leading up to the Idea Challenge is available, teaching students how to properly pitch their ideas and how to flesh out their business plans. There are various subcategories for each team to have a chance at winning spread out across over many different disciplines, encouraging all students to participate and welcoming all ideas.
*'''DifferenceMaker™ Workshops'''
**Team Building Mixer
**Identifying Problems and Opportunities
**Developing Solutions
**Identifying Resources
**Rocket Pitch Coaching
*'''Campus Catalyst Program'''
**''''''The DifferenceMaker™ Program works closely with 'E For All', a community business accelerator funded by the Deshpande Foundation, in order to encourage students to generate and develop their entrepreneurial ideas. The Sandbox Campus Catalyst program provided seed funding for student social and business solutions with potential. 

=== '''DifferenceMaker™ Program Available Resources''' ===

*'''DifferenceMaker™ Central'''
**Large open office collaboration space equipped with Wi-Fi, 3 Mac computers, printer/copier, 2 46” LCD TV monitors with projection capabilities, 6 white boards, 10 tables with chairs all equipped with wheels that can be easily rearranged for optimal use and collaboration, refrigerator, sink, cabinet space, coffee maker and other necessary office supplies.
*'''Hawk  Hatch'''
**Philanthropic Crowd Funding Source
*'''Grants'''
*'''Networking'''
**Mentors
**Faculty Fellows and DifferenceMaker™ Staff
*'''Events'''
**Series of Educational Entrepreneurial Workshops including materials
**Problem, Opportunity, Solution, Resources, Pitch Coaching
**Team Building Assistance
**TeamMaker Platform, Team Building Mixer

Through the Center for Innovation & Entrepreneurship, along with affiliated faculty and other campus programs, the University has introduced a range of activities that help students make a difference in the world.

=== '''DifferenceMaker™ Future Efforts''' ===

The DifferenceMaker™ Program plans to continue many of the activities and events initiated in the first year of the program.  Some of these programs will be revised and they intend to launch several new initiatives, including a DifferenceMaker™ Passport Program, a DifferenceMaker™ Mentor Program and a seed grant program to encourage faculty participation in the DifferenceMaker™ program. They also plan to expand our collaboration with several University colleges. 

This year they plan to increase the role of DifferenceMaker™ Living Learning Community students in the DifferenceMaker™ program by training the members to become DifferenceMaker™ ambassadors once they transition into their sophomore year  through weekly meetings and monthly events. The training will allow LLC members to learn more about entrepreneurship and the DifferenceMaker™ Program so they can promote it to student clubs and campus classes.  Once the LLC students become sophomores they will transition into a DifferenceMaker™ Ambassador role, and hopefully will form the nucleus of a yet-to-be-formed DifferenceMaker™ student club.  

In order to assist students to both record and encourage their participation in DifferenceMaker™ events, they are planning the development and implementation of a DifferenceMaker™ Passport Program. Consistent with the goals of the UMass Lowell DifferenceMaker™ Program, the Passport Program will assist students to identify, record and collect experiences meant to: 

*Develop individual entrepreneurial identity
*Develop entrepreneurial skills and self-confidence
*Develop creative and sustainable solutions to complex problems
*Connect with the University, E For All and community entrepreneurial ecosystems

They anticipate that the number of students engaged in the DifferenceMaker™ Program and related activities will increase each year. As they encourage and reward the formation of various types of student ventures and projects, the need for mentors who can consult with student teams will increase. They plan to guide these students and track their progress through a professional Mentor Program. The UMass Lowell Mentor Program will provide a committed network of mentors with a broad set of skills and professional experiences, who can assist UMass Lowell entrepreneurs in developing the knowledge and skills, needed to grow an idea into a successful, new venture.

The DM UMass Lowell Mentor Program will seek to connect DifferenceMaker™ students with successful experienced entrepreneurs and alumnus, as well as faculty and staff.  The Mentor Program will focus on assisting students to further develop solutions as part of the DifferenceMaker™ Program. Mentors will provide guidance in further refining student team objectives and help them in building their entrepreneurial skillsets.

They are planning to offer DifferenceMaker™ Faculty Workshops to help faculty consider how they might engage their own students in DifferenceMaker™ activities through course related activities and through co-curricular activities. Our hope is that by engaging more faculty, they in turn will serve as both mentors and catalysts for students, encouraging and guiding student project selection and development. They have also observed that student teams often need support and guidance from faculty from different disciplines, these workshops and an accompanying seed grant program are meant as catalysts to encourage interdisciplinary engagement among faculty,

While the overarching goal of the DifferenceMaker™ program is to encourage UMass Lowell students to develop sustainable and entrepreneurial solutions to the challenges and opportunities they will confront in this world, they anticipate another, potentially significant impact on the University community itself. Our students will only be successful if they have the support of faculty, alumni, business and community members. During our first year of program activities, they have found these constituents to be most supportive and willing to mentor and work with our students.  Alumni are mentoring and investing in student ventures.  Faculty are working across disciplines to ensure their student teams make progress. Local profit and non-profit businesses are eager to work with student teams, providing real-world problems and opportunities for student projects. In one short year, the DifferenceMaker™ program has been embraced by the greater University community. Our hope and plan is to anchor this program in the curriculum and culture of the University, so all UMass Lowell students have an opportunity to make a difference in this world.

  

== '''Commercial Venture and Intellectual Property Office (CVIP)''' ==

'''CVIP Mission'''

The mission of UMass Lowell’s Office of Commercial Ventures and Intellectual Property (CVIP) is to facilitate the transfer of technology arising from government, foundation and industrial sponsored university research to the private sector. They facilitate development of inventions toward commercial relevance and utility, nurture mutually beneficial and sustainable relationships between the University and industry, promote an innovative and entrepreneurial culture at the University and contribute to the economic vibrancy and well-being of the Commonwealth. CVIP’s activities enable the successful transfer of commercially viable technology from the laboratory to the marketplace for public use and benefit. 

'''CVIP Functions'''

The main objectives of CVIP are:

*to license patents and other protections to industry in order to promote the development of inventions toward practical application;
*to foster a culture of innovation, facilitate commercially promising endeavors, and positively contribute to the University’s entrepreneurial ecosystem;
*to seek new business opportunities and form productive collaborations with industry in an effort to increase research and licensing revenue to the University;
*to generate income for inventors and the University as a whole for use in supporting further research, technology development and transfer;
*to advocate for the research community and seek to create incentives, provide rewards and obtain resources to advance commercialization of the technologies they generate.

== New Venture Initiative ==

New Venture Initiative (NVI) is a mix of university resources and equity investment designed to provide a path to and facilitate more start-up activity at UMass Lowell.  As part of the larger Commercial Venture and Intellectual Property Office (CVIP), the NVI fund focuses on inventions, discoveries, products and services that have been developed in whole or in part at UMass Lowell, have achieved proof of concept (or an early prototype) and are ready for commercial product development, rather than those requiring further basic research.  

== '''Massachusetts Medical Device Development Center (M2D2):''' ==

The Massachusetts Medical Device Development Center (M2D2) is a lifeline for the state’s smaller medical device companies, offering inventors and executives easy, affordable, and coordinated access to world-class researchers and resources at the Lowell and Worcester campuses of the University of Massachusetts.

'''M2D2 Available Resources'''

*9000 square feet of space on second floor including:
**6 wet laboratory suites
**Two office suites
**Large open office collaboration area
**Board room
**Reception area
**Break Room equipped with a table and chairs, full size refrigerator, microwave, sink, dishwasher, and coffee maker
*5000 square feet of space on first floor including:
**Six individual offices 
**Bright shared kitchen space equipped with a table and chairs, full size refrigerator and sink
**One large state of the art conference room with full pull down screen, computer with web access and a projector  
**All conference rooms contain a 46" Aquos LCD screen, as well as computer with web access and a projector
**Business and medical feasibility assessments
**Product development space
**Medical and clinical pathway assistance
**Connection to additional services such as laboratory use, incubator space for start-ups and clinical trial support through the product life cycle
**SBIR and STTR research
**Access to capital
**Networking events
**New Venture Competitions

== '''Entrepreneurship For All''' ==

'E for All' is a project of the Deshpande Foundation, which has encouraged the use of entrepreneurship and innovation as catalysts for sustainable change in the United States, India and Canada since 1996. Deshpande supported centers including the MIT Deshpande Center for Technological Innovation, the Deshpande Center for Social Innovation in Hubli, India, the Pond-Deshpande Centre at the University of New Brunswick, and our own 'E For All'  at the University of Massachusetts Lowell. 'E for All' includes higher education partners (Middlesex Community College, Merrimack College and Northern Essex Community College) and a host of regional community and business partners.

'''E for All Mission'''

The mission of 'E For All' is to connect and strengthen the ecosystem in Lowell and Lawrence, Massachusetts, around entrepreneurship and leadership. This mission is supported by the following three principle 'E For All' programs:

*'''Catalysts '''- The Catalyst program provides seed funding and mentoring support to foster initiative around new ideas and programs among local high school and college students.
*'''Entrepreneurship '''- The Entrepreneur Program is a community-wide initiative supporting entrepreneurship. More than 30 partner organizations and institutions are participating in this initiative, which gives entrepreneurs a greater chance at success through pitch contests, workshops and intensive programs. 
*'''Leadership '''- The 'E For All' Leadership Institute (SLI) offers leadership development for individuals that live, work or are interested in the communities of Lawrence and Lowell. 

== Other Organizations ==

'''Entrepreneurial Ventures Association''': EVA is an interdisciplinary organization that is open to all majors; they share resources, advice, and interests with other COM and UML clubs to help students turn their entrepreneurial ideas into reality.  

'''Honors Ambassador Program: '''Students participate in the Honors Ambassador Program to gain valuable experience through courses tailored for higher development and to foster relationships with communities and organizations that the program is involved with.

 

= '''University Entrepreneurship''' =

== Creative New Academic Programs ==

==== '''The Manning School of Business'''  ====

'''Undergraduate - Entrepreneurship Concentration''': Prepares students to be "outside-of-the-box" thinkers and innovators in today's complex global economy.

*The '''entrepreneurship concentration''' prepares students to be an "outside of the box" thinker and innovator in today's complex global economy. Using an interdisciplinary focus, students who complete the concentration will:
**Develop the management skills required to identify and launch new business ventures around innovative products, services and technologies. 
**Develop an understanding of the concepts and activities associated with entrepreneurship and innovation. 
**Understand the financial aspects of an entrepreneurial venture from start-up to "harvest". 
**Discover their individual "entrepreneurial spirit" through experiential learning in interdisciplinary classes and the College's Venture Lab.

'''Graduate - Master of Science in Innovation and Technological Entrepreneurship (MSITE)''': Provides engineers, business majors and scientists with the skills and knowledge required to drive innovation in today's collaborative, global workforce.

'''Graduate - Master of Science in Innovation and Technological Entrepreneurship (MSITE) Healthcare Innovation & Entrepreneurship (HI+E) Option''': This option is targeted towards healthcare professionals, such as hospital managers/administrators, clinicians, physicians and other medical professionals who need to understand and manage the impact of emerging technologies and innovations in the healthcare industry. The Program will also benefit recent graduates who wish to enter the healthcare industries as a career choice.

'''Graduate Certificate - New Venture Creation''': This program is focused specifically on the creation of technology-based ventures and is designed to assist professionals with undergraduate and career experience in science, engineering, technology or business fields in better understanding how to develop and launch a technology-based business.

==== '''College of Sciences, Computer Science Department''' ====

The Computer Science Department offers an entrepreneurship option in their master's degree. It is directed at those with a strong undergraduate background in Computer Science who are interested in both deepening their technical knowledge and in understanding the tools required for developing a company directed towards software services and products.

==== '''College of Engineering, Electrical and Computer Engineering Department, Assistive Technology Program''' ====

A component of the undergraduate Electrical and Computer Engineering program, senior ECE students complete a senior capstone project aimed at designing and producing an assistive technology device for a person with a disability. Engineering students can apply the knowledge they have learned from their courses and help solve problems for disabled people through creating technological advances. 

== Entrepreneurial Capital Projects and Acquisitions ==

=== '''The Mark and Elisia Saab Emerging Technologies and Innovation Center''' ===

This new UMass Lowell 2012-13 construction is a building developed for bringing innovation and industry together. Faculty and student researchers use the resources available in this building to meet industry challenges and improve lives using UMass Lowell technologies and patents. Core facilities for use in fundamental and translational research are available to faculty and students; it contains class 100, 1,000, and 10,000 cleanroom spaces, wet lab and engineering lab space, and a plastics processing high bay. The ETIC is has LEED Gold Certification, and is considered green. The construction of this building also is estimated to supporting at least 130 new jobs.

 

=== '''Health and Social Sciences Building'''  ===

This new building that houses criminal justice and criminology, nursing, and psychology provides classrooms, simulation laboratories, observation facilities, a demonstration hospital wing, and ample meeting space for community projects. The construction of this new building supported more than 800 construction and related jobs, and provided the much needed resources and space for UMass Lowell’s growing social science population.

= '''University-Industry Collaboration''' =

'''Research Activities'''

UMass Lowell places a large focus on professional research, as evidenced by the ample lab space professors have to work with in buildings such as the ETIC. A comprehensive list of all research areas and information about them can be found on the UMass Lowell website. 

==== Center for Industrial Competitiveness ====

For nearly 20 years, UMass Lowell’s Center for Industrial Competitiveness has conducted research on industrial innovation, regional development, corporate governance, financialization, and sustainable prosperity. Resources available stretch all around the world through collaborative networks and relationships, providing ample information and a global understanding on development. Research also includes local industrial development in Massachusetts. 

= '''Regional and Local Economic Development''' =

'''Economic and Social Development of Regions Department:'''

This graduate program focuses on giving an interdisciplinary education that is tailored to fit the needs of the individual. By educating both the private and public sectors of economic and social development, this program aims to create work ready individuals that can bring innovation and change to shifting social and economic environment.

'''Lowell Makes''' 

Lowell Makes is a non-profit, shared community workshop and laboratory. It is an organized group of local artists, engineers, makers, and thinkers who work together to provide tools and learning resources to the public. They use these resources to collaborate on individual and community projects in order to promote science, technology and art; while working and experimenting on innovative ideas to encourage learning within the community.

 

'''Mill No.5'''

Mill No.5 is one of the few non-UML entrepreneurial constructs in the Lowell urban environment. Like many mills in Lowell, it has been renovated and repurposed. Being subdivided and updated to proper code, there are rooms available for offices and start-ups looking to have an office space to centralize their resources. 

= Related Links =

University Innovation Fellows:
[http://universityinnovation.org/wiki/Stephen_Kender Stephen Kender][[Ana Gouveia|Ana Gouveia]][[James Abdallah|James Abdallah]][[KevinMDesjardins|Kevin Desjardins]][[Jacob Hulme|Jacob Hulme]][[UMass Lowell Student Priorities|UMass Lowell Student Priorities]]
[[Category:Universities]]

School:University of Massachusetts Lowell

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School:University of Massachusetts Lowell

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School:University of Massachusetts Lowell

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School:University of Massachusetts Lowell

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<div style="float: right; clear: right;">[[File:UMass-Lowell-logo.png]]</div>
The University of Massachusetts Lowell (also known as UMass Lowell or UML) is a [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Public_university public] [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_research_universities_in_the_United_States doctoral/research] university in [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lowell,_Massachusetts Lowell], [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Massachusetts Massachusetts], [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_States United States],and part of the [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/University_of_Massachusetts University of Massachusetts] system. With more than 1,100 faculty members and more than 16,000 students, it is the largest university in the [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Merrimack_Valley Merrimack Valley] and the second-largest public institution in the state behind UMass Amherst. The university offers more than 120 degree choices, internships, bachelor’s to master’s programs and doctoral studies in the College of Fine Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences; College of Health Sciences; College of Sciences; the Francis College of Engineering; the Graduate School of Education; and the Manning School of Business.

= '''Overview - A Campus On The Move''' =

UMass Lowell has been evolving in every aspect; upgraded classrooms, libraries and labs; new and renovated student living and activity spaces; and enhanced parking facilities are a few on the list of what has been updated and changed over the past decade of campus improvement.

*University Crossing
**Officially completed and operating, this new building hosts student services and activities, bookstore, dining, University police, transportation services, and senior administration offices.
*Pulichino Tong Building
**The University’s current construction project, the Tong Building will replace the now-relocated Honor’s Eames Dorm building on UMass Lowell’s North Campus and will house the entirety of the Robert J. Manning School of Business.
*University Suites
**This brand new dorm on UMass Lowell’s East campus provides housing for 472 students in four- and six-bed suites. There is a ground-floor common area with a café - Hawk's Nest - featuring fresh bakery, grab & go items and a late night Asian menu, in addition to delicious Red Mango frozen yogurt & smoothies and "We proudly serve" Starbucks Coffee. A multi-purpose room is open to the UMass Lowell community. Each residential floor has two common kitchen/lounge areas, two quiet study rooms and a group study room.
*Riverview Suites
**The other half of the two-dorm addition to UMass Lowell in 2013, Riverview Suites has either two or three bedroom suites complete with a live-in kitchen, classroom and meeting rooms inside the building, and a gym inside the facility. The University leases the property from Soho Development, who also built the $42 million facility.
*New Garages
**In the past three years, UMass Lowell has added two large parking garages to each of its largest parking lots, greatly increasing the parking capacity for the strong commuter presence attending the school.
*Health and Social Sciences Building
**In 2013, this new criminal justice and criminology, nursing and psychology building had its grand opening. The construction of this building marked the first new construction in 30 years on the University’s South Campus, including all campuses in the University’s recent wave of evolution.

Since 2009, the University has also been heavily updating the existing buildings while acquiring and renovating new ones. UMass Lowell renovated the newly acquired Inn and Conference Center, added Taco Bell and Subway to the University’s dining partners, renovated the newly acquired Tsongas Center, and heavily updated their Dining Hall in the tallest UMass Lowell building, Fox Hall 

== 2015 Innovation Fellows Plans ==

[https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1ZwhfzohFPyuM4Vutiho8ZAuV8Jmq-JxBJ2vNaGZe-kY/edit?usp=sharing Landscape Canvas]

[https://docs.google.com/presentation/d/1o3F2IN8YoWKMk83r0SoAfr5NH_qUw7RFa2ZxjslksQM/edit?usp=sharing Lean Startup Presentation]

= '''Student Entrepreneurship''' =

==== '''NonSpec ''' ====

[http://www.nonspec.org/ NonSpec] participated in the 2013 first annual DifferenceMaker™ Idea Challenge where they showed dedication and enthusiasm by attending each educational workshop and event throughout the process which aided in their success.  At the Idea Challenge they received the prestigious title of “Campus Wide DifferenceMaker™” and the top award of $5,000. This prize represents the project most likely to make a significant difference in the community, region and the world.

The $5,000 award has allowed Nonspec to move their initiative forward by creating their first batch of prosthetic limbs. With a projected 15% market share in the next five years, Nonspec plans to use this market presence to launch a foundation called “Give a Hand”. The purpose of this foundation would be to spread their mission, goals, charitable cause, and products around the world in order to make a difference in developing nations.

Since Nonspec’s success at the Idea Challenge they have gained great publicity in other arenas.  They were recently named one of the top 10 semi-finalists in Entrepreneur® Magazine’s “College Entrepreneur of 2013 Contest”.  In addition, they were invited to attend [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ppnzNSnxi-g IAPD Plastics Application Design Competition], which was held on October 2, 2013 in Miami, Florida.  Lastly, the team was utilized as a role model by being featured in a [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aLwLg4XHrck video] that was shown at all DifferenceMaker™ freshman orientation sessions throughout the summer due to their motivation and high entrepreneurial spirits.

= Departments and Programs =

== '''Center for Innovation and Entrepreneurship''' ==

The Center for Innovation and Entrepreneurship offers students and faculty of all disciplines the opportunity to work together to develop innovative and entrepreneurial solutions to the major problems facing our community, the region and the world. The Center hosts several programs that encourage social innovation and entrepreneurship among UMass Lowell students as well as the broader community in which we live. The DifferenceMaker program provides training, mentoring and other resources to UMass Lowell students and faculty who wish to address social, environmental and economic problems in our community.

== '''DifferenceMaker™''' ==

The DifferenceMaker™ Program sponsors specific events and activities that support students in solving big problems through innovation and entrepreneurship. The Program is highly experiential by offering students a series of workshops that they can engage in to better understand innovation, entrepreneurship and launching a start-up of their interest.

Students of all majors and disciplines are welcome to join this Program and make a difference at UMass Lowell, in the community or in the world through innovative and entrepreneurial action.

=== Goals of DifferenceMaker™ ===

*Introduce all UMass students to creative problem solving, innovation and entrepreneurship
*Accelerate purpose in each students education
*Connect current students to alumni experience
*Encourage a social responsibility ethos

=== DifferenceMaker™ Available Activities ===

*'''DifferenceMaker™ Enterprise Co-op'''
**Throughout each year, DifferenceMaker™ will hire several students from various majors to participate in paid co-op experiences. Student co-ops assist in conducting and summarizing entrepreneurial research, developing and distributing marketing materials for various center initiatives, and provide center support for faculty and innovation fellows affiliate with the center. 
*'''Freshman Make A Difference Orientation'''
**During the summer sessions, DifferenceMaker™ has a large presence in the Freshman Orientation days. Through the Office of Orientation, Student Activities and Leadership, and ResLife, DifferenceMaker™ was able to present to every attending freshman and gain exposure to all of the new students at UMass Lowell.
*'''Freshman DifferenceMaker™ Convocation'''
**At the beginning of each academic year, we present DifferenceMaker™ to every incoming freshman at Convocation. Each year we perform a fun activity to engage students in our program.
*'''Introduction to DifferenceMaker™'''
**Freshman Seminars-A series of in-class discussions in collaboration with the Manning School of Business, The Francis College of Engineering, The College of Fine Arts, Humanities, and Social Sciences, and The College of Health Sciences in order to introduce the DifferenceMaker™ Program to students of all disciplines and to inspire them to explore their passions through creative problem solving.
*'''Introduction to the DifferenceMaker™ Program'''
**A series of events were held on both the north and south campuses to introduce students to DifferenceMaker™ Program concepts, allow them to share their ideas and interests, explore possible projects and solution, and to connected with each other to form teams. These events included the DifferenceMaker™ Convocation Pitch, the Climate Change Teach-in, a DifferenceMaker™ Team Building Dinner, and others.
*'''DifferenceMaker™ LLC'''
**Having a presence in the student residence halls as well as the classroom is important to motivate students and discover new ideas waiting to happen. The DifferenceMaker™ Living/Learning Community brings new students together in the ResLife environment for innovation and brainstorming outside of the classroom.
*'''Honors DifferenceMaker™ Program'''
**In collaboration with UMass Lowell Honors Program, this concerted effort to embed elements of social entrepreneurship in our Honors Program includes coursework and community-based student efforts that have specific focus on innovation and entrepreneurial practices.
*'''Introduction to Engineering Extra Credit Project'''
**This activity was a collaboration effort between the DifferenceMaker™ Program and The Francis College of Engineering to introduce freshman engineering majors to the DifferenceMaker™ Program, innovation, and entrepreneurship. In this introductory activity, the students’ innovative ideas were explored and presented in a format which would enable their projects to be candidates for both the DifferenceMaker™ Program Idea Challenge and Campus Catalyst program.
*'''Creative Venture Competition'''
**This contest held in October of 2013 hosted by DifferenceMaker™ focused on innovation from Arts, Humanities, and Social Science students. $2500 was awarded to the best entrepreneurial business a proposal, and $250 to each finalist team was also awarded.
*'''Digital Federal Credit Union Innovation Contest''' 
**In November of 2013, DifferenceMaker™ along with DCU hosted an Innovation Contest focusing on banking and financial innovation in the industry. With a grand prize of $500 per team member and peripheral prizes of $100 per team member, the contest gave thousands to innovative teams and cutting edge ideas.
*'''DifferenceMaker™ Reverse Pitch'''
**This pitch event was debuted on November 19, 2013. This event was a spin-off of “normal” idea challenges and hackathons. Instead of students pitching their ideas to funding sources or judges, businesses and community partners actually pitched their existing problems to a student audience in the hopes that they can develop a solution.
*'''DifferenceMaker™ Idea Challenge'''
**''''''DifferenceMaker™ is hosting its fourth annual Idea Challenge; this challenge is for student entrepreneurial teams to come up with sustainable ideas that will make some sort of impact on the world or their community. Help in the form of various workshops in the months leading up to the Idea Challenge is available, teaching students how to properly pitch their ideas and how to flesh out their business plans. There are various subcategories for each team to have a chance at winning spread out across over many different disciplines, encouraging all students to participate and welcoming all ideas.
*'''DifferenceMaker™ Workshops'''
**Team Building Mixer
**Identifying Problems and Opportunities
**Developing Solutions
**Identifying Resources
**Rocket Pitch Coaching
*'''Campus Catalyst Program'''
**''''''The DifferenceMaker™ Program works closely with 'E For All', a community business accelerator funded by the Deshpande Foundation, in order to encourage students to generate and develop their entrepreneurial ideas. The Sandbox Campus Catalyst program provided seed funding for student social and business solutions with potential. 

=== '''DifferenceMaker™ Program Available Resources''' ===

*'''DifferenceMaker™ Central'''
**Large open office collaboration space equipped with Wi-Fi, 3 Mac computers, printer/copier, 2 46” LCD TV monitors with projection capabilities, 6 white boards, 10 tables with chairs all equipped with wheels that can be easily rearranged for optimal use and collaboration, refrigerator, sink, cabinet space, coffee maker and other necessary office supplies.
*'''Hawk  Hatch'''
**Philanthropic Crowd Funding Source
*'''Grants'''
*'''Networking'''
**Mentors
**Faculty Fellows and DifferenceMaker™ Staff
*'''Events'''
**Series of Educational Entrepreneurial Workshops including materials
**Problem, Opportunity, Solution, Resources, Pitch Coaching
**Team Building Assistance
**TeamMaker Platform, Team Building Mixer

Through the Center for Innovation & Entrepreneurship, along with affiliated faculty and other campus programs, the University has introduced a range of activities that help students make a difference in the world.

=== '''DifferenceMaker™ Inaugural Year Statistics''' ===

*72 DifferenceMaker™ events held in inaugural year
*3,500  students who participates in a DifferenceMaker™ event this past year
*$25,000  of funds awarded to 10 IdeaChallenge finalist teams
*1,265  freshman participating in summer rapid ideation workshops
*112  students who participated in the First Annual IdeaChallenge
*22  cross discipline relationships notes between students among IdeaChallenge teams
*24  academic disciplines represented by students in the IdeaChallenge teams

=== '''2015 DifferenceMaker™ Idea Challenge Finalists''' ===

'''Campus-Wide DifferenceMaker'''

'''Hydraulic Walker ($5,000)'''

*Ryan Andrews - Physical Therapy Graduate
*Peter Klausmeyer - Physical Therapy Graduate



'''Significant Social Impact'''

'''1st Place'''-'''L''''''ove of the Game ($4,000)'''

*Jessica Dion - Exercise Physiology '16
*Dylan Doucette - Exercise Physiology '16
*Lucas Parsons - Exercise Physiology '16
*Rachel Silk - Business Marketing '16
*Daniel Schmith - Business Entrepreneurship '18
*Jennie Pisarik - Exercise Physiology '16



'''2nd Place - Buddies Without Borders ($2,500)'''

*Tugba Arsava - Community Social Psychology Graduate
*Burhan Colak - Civil Engineering Graduate
*Katherine Cox - Psychology '18
*Madeline Ormazza - Business '17
*Shashank Raghuveer - Computer Science Graduate
*Fang Zhang - Chemistry Graduate



'''Contribution to a Healthier Lifestyle'''

'''1st Place - Playable Therapy ($4,000)'''

*Suhaib Alfageeh - Computer Science '16
*Lucas Brown - English and Math '16
*Chelsea Hayes - Business '16
*Damir Ismagilove - Math '16
*Anthony Pitaro - Exercise Physiology '15
*Mark Mcgrotty - Computer Science '16



'''2nd Place - Solar Electric Vehicles ($2,500)'''

*Suhaib Alfageeh - Computer Science '16
*Chukwuma Azubuine - Entrepreneurship Graduate
*Richard Asirifi - Electrical Engineering '16
*Anas Dahany - Electrical Engineering '15
*David Jenkins - Mechanical Engineering '15
*Oliver Kayego - Electrical Engineering '17
*Chris Leger - Electrical Engineering '15
*Jared Mrvos - Computer Engineering '17
*Charles Reid - Mechanical Engineering '15
*Kenneth Sanders - Computer Science '18
*Mukhammaddin Zinaddinov - Electrical Engineering '18



'''Innovative Technology Solution'''

'''1st Place - Masela Dentures ($4,000)'''

*Cormac Hondros-McCarthy - Plastics Engineering '15
*Casey McRae - Plastics Engineering '15



'''2nd Place - KEnDERS Athletic Body Armor($2,500)'''

*Elizabeth Kender - Plastics Engineering '16
*Laura Kender - Plastics Engineering '16
*Stephen Kender - Plastics Engineering '18



'''First to Market'''

'''1st Place - Mayday ($4,000)'''

*Cibhi SelVan-  Business Graduate
*Alessandro Agnello-  Computer Science PhD



'''2nd Place''' - '''Word Builder '''('''$2,500)'''

*Sergio Coronado - Computer Engineering '16
*Ian Copithorne - Computer Engineering '16



'''Honorable Mention'''

'''Low-Income Community Homework Center ($1,500)'''

*Arnaldo Rivera - Psychology '15
*Hector Rivera  - Psychology '15



'''Fan Favorite'''

'''Indoor Hydroponic System ($2,500)'''

*Rapheeporn Aungaphinant - Business Graduate
*Katherine Cain - Business Graduate
*Tucker Holladay - Business Graduate
*Shu-Wei Hsu - Business Graduate
*Alima Shamuratova - Business Graduate



=== '''DifferenceMaker™ Future Efforts:''' ===

The DifferenceMaker™ Program plans to continue many of the activities and events initiated in the first year of the program.  Some of these programs will be revised and they intend to launch several new initiatives, including a DifferenceMaker™ Passport Program, a DifferenceMaker™ Mentor Program and a seed grant program to encourage faculty participation in the DifferenceMaker™ program. They also plan to expand our collaboration with several University colleges. 

This year they plan to increase the role of DifferenceMaker™ Living Learning Community students in the DifferenceMaker™ program by training the members to become DifferenceMaker™ ambassadors once they transition into their sophomore year  through weekly meetings and monthly events. The training will allow LLC members to learn more about entrepreneurship and the DifferenceMaker™ Program so they can promote it to student clubs and campus classes.  Once the LLC students become sophomores they will transition into a DifferenceMaker™ Ambassador role, and hopefully will form the nucleus of a yet-to-be-formed DifferenceMaker™ student club.  

In order to assist students to both record and encourage their participation in DifferenceMaker™ events, they are planning the development and implementation of a DifferenceMaker™ Passport Program. Consistent with the goals of the UMass Lowell DifferenceMaker™ Program, the Passport Program will assist students to identify, record and collect experiences meant to: 

*Develop individual entrepreneurial identity
*Develop entrepreneurial skills and self-confidence
*Develop creative and sustainable solutions to complex problems
*Connect with the University, E For All and community entrepreneurial ecosystems

They anticipate that the number of students engaged in the DifferenceMaker™ Program and related activities will increase each year. As they encourage and reward the formation of various types of student ventures and projects, the need for mentors who can consult with student teams will increase. They plan to guide these students and track their progress through a professional Mentor Program. The UMass Lowell Mentor Program will provide a committed network of mentors with a broad set of skills and professional experiences, who can assist UMass Lowell entrepreneurs in developing the knowledge and skills, needed to grow an idea into a successful, new venture.

The DM UMass Lowell Mentor Program will seek to connect DifferenceMaker™ students with successful experienced entrepreneurs and alumnus, as well as faculty and staff.  The Mentor Program will focus on assisting students to further develop solutions as part of the DifferenceMaker™ Program. Mentors will provide guidance in further refining student team objectives and help them in building their entrepreneurial skillsets.

They are planning to offer DifferenceMaker™ Faculty Workshops to help faculty consider how they might engage their own students in DifferenceMaker™ activities through course related activities and through co-curricular activities. Our hope is that by engaging more faculty, they in turn will serve as both mentors and catalysts for students, encouraging and guiding student project selection and development. They have also observed that student teams often need support and guidance from faculty from different disciplines, these workshops and an accompanying seed grant program are meant as catalysts to encourage interdisciplinary engagement among faculty,

While the overarching goal of the DifferenceMaker™ program is to encourage UMass Lowell students to develop sustainable and entrepreneurial solutions to the challenges and opportunities they will confront in this world, they anticipate another, potentially significant impact on the University community itself. Our students will only be successful if they have the support of faculty, alumni, business and community members. During our first year of program activities, they have found these constituents to be most supportive and willing to mentor and work with our students.  Alumni are mentoring and investing in student ventures.  Faculty are working across disciplines to ensure their student teams make progress. Local profit and non-profit businesses are eager to work with student teams, providing real-world problems and opportunities for student projects. In one short year, the DifferenceMaker™ program has been embraced by the greater University community. Our hope and plan is to anchor this program in the curriculum and culture of the University, so all UMass Lowell students have an opportunity to make a difference in this world.

  

== '''Commercial Venture and Intellectual Property Office (CVIP)''' ==

'''CVIP Mission'''

The mission of UMass Lowell’s Office of Commercial Ventures and Intellectual Property (CVIP) is to facilitate the transfer of technology arising from government, foundation and industrial sponsored university research to the private sector. They facilitate development of inventions toward commercial relevance and utility, nurture mutually beneficial and sustainable relationships between the University and industry, promote an innovative and entrepreneurial culture at the University and contribute to the economic vibrancy and well-being of the Commonwealth. CVIP’s activities enable the successful transfer of commercially viable technology from the laboratory to the marketplace for public use and benefit. 

'''CVIP Functions'''

The main objectives of CVIP are:

*to license patents and other protections to industry in order to promote the development of inventions toward practical application;
*to foster a culture of innovation, facilitate commercially promising endeavors, and positively contribute to the University’s entrepreneurial ecosystem;
*to seek new business opportunities and form productive collaborations with industry in an effort to increase research and licensing revenue to the University;
*to generate income for inventors and the University as a whole for use in supporting further research, technology development and transfer;
*to advocate for the research community and seek to create incentives, provide rewards and obtain resources to advance commercialization of the technologies they generate.

== New Venture Initiative ==

New Venture Initiative (NVI) is a mix of university resources and equity investment designed to provide a path to and facilitate more start-up activity at UMass Lowell.  As part of the larger Commercial Venture and Intellectual Property Office (CVIP), the NVI fund focuses on inventions, discoveries, products and services that have been developed in whole or in part at UMass Lowell, have achieved proof of concept (or an early prototype) and are ready for commercial product development, rather than those requiring further basic research.  

== '''Massachusetts Medical Device Development Center (M2D2):''' ==

The Massachusetts Medical Device Development Center (M2D2) is a lifeline for the state’s smaller medical device companies, offering inventors and executives easy, affordable, and coordinated access to world-class researchers and resources at the Lowell and Worcester campuses of the University of Massachusetts.

'''M2D2 Available Resources'''

*9000 square feet of space on second floor including:
**6 wet laboratory suites
**Two office suites
**Large open office collaboration area
**Board room
**Reception area
**Break Room equipped with a table and chairs, full size refrigerator, microwave, sink, dishwasher, and coffee maker
*5000 square feet of space on first floor including:
**Six individual offices 
**Bright shared kitchen space equipped with a table and chairs, full size refrigerator and sink
**One large state of the art conference room with full pull down screen, computer with web access and a projector  
**All conference rooms contain a 46" Aquos LCD screen, as well as computer with web access and a projector
**Business and medical feasibility assessments
**Product development space
**Medical and clinical pathway assistance
**Connection to additional services such as laboratory use, incubator space for start-ups and clinical trial support through the product life cycle
**SBIR and STTR research
**Access to capital
**Networking events
**New Venture Competitions

== '''Entrepreneurship For All''' ==

'E for All' is a project of the Deshpande Foundation, which has encouraged the use of entrepreneurship and innovation as catalysts for sustainable change in the United States, India and Canada since 1996. Deshpande supported centers including the MIT Deshpande Center for Technological Innovation, the Deshpande Center for Social Innovation in Hubli, India, the Pond-Deshpande Centre at the University of New Brunswick, and our own 'E For All'  at the University of Massachusetts Lowell. 'E for All' includes higher education partners (Middlesex Community College, Merrimack College and Northern Essex Community College) and a host of regional community and business partners.

'''E for All Mission'''

The mission of 'E For All' is to connect and strengthen the ecosystem in Lowell and Lawrence, Massachusetts, around entrepreneurship and leadership. This mission is supported by the following three principle 'E For All' programs:

*'''Catalysts '''- The Catalyst program provides seed funding and mentoring support to foster initiative around new ideas and programs among local high school and college students.
*'''Entrepreneurship '''- The Entrepreneur Program is a community-wide initiative supporting entrepreneurship. More than 30 partner organizations and institutions are participating in this initiative, which gives entrepreneurs a greater chance at success through pitch contests, workshops and intensive programs. 
*'''Leadership '''- The 'E For All' Leadership Institute (SLI) offers leadership development for individuals that live, work or are interested in the communities of Lawrence and Lowell. 

== Other Organizations ==

'''Entrepreneurial Ventures Association''': EVA is an interdisciplinary organization that is open to all majors; they share resources, advice, and interests with other COM and UML clubs to help students turn their entrepreneurial ideas into reality.  

'''Honors Ambassador Program: '''Students participate in the Honors Ambassador Program to gain valuable experience through courses tailored for higher development and to foster relationships with communities and organizations that the program is involved with.

= '''University Entrepreneurship''' =

== Creative New Academic Programs ==

==== '''The Manning School of Business'''  ====

'''Undergraduate - Entrepreneurship Concentration''': Prepares students to be "outside-of-the-box" thinkers and innovators in today's complex global economy.

*The '''entrepreneurship concentration''' prepares students to be an "outside of the box" thinker and innovator in today's complex global economy. Using an interdisciplinary focus, students who complete the concentration will:
**Develop the management skills required to identify and launch new business ventures around innovative products, services and technologies. 
**Develop an understanding of the concepts and activities associated with entrepreneurship and innovation. 
**Understand the financial aspects of an entrepreneurial venture from start-up to "harvest". 
**Discover their individual "entrepreneurial spirit" through experiential learning in interdisciplinary classes and the College's Venture Lab.

'''Graduate - Master of Science in Innovation and Technological Entrepreneurship (MSITE)''': Provides engineers, business majors and scientists with the skills and knowledge required to drive innovation in today's collaborative, global workforce.

'''Graduate - Master of Science in Innovation and Technological Entrepreneurship (MSITE) Healthcare Innovation & Entrepreneurship (HI+E) Option''': This option is targeted towards healthcare professionals, such as hospital managers/administrators, clinicians, physicians and other medical professionals who need to understand and manage the impact of emerging technologies and innovations in the healthcare industry. The Program will also benefit recent graduates who wish to enter the healthcare industries as a career choice.

'''Graduate Certificate - New Venture Creation''': This program is focused specifically on the creation of technology-based ventures and is designed to assist professionals with undergraduate and career experience in science, engineering, technology or business fields in better understanding how to develop and launch a technology-based business.

==== '''College of Sciences, Computer Science Department''' ====

The Computer Science Department offers an entrepreneurship option in their master's degree. It is directed at those with a strong undergraduate background in Computer Science who are interested in both deepening their technical knowledge and in understanding the tools required for developing a company directed towards software services and products.

==== '''College of Engineering, Electrical and Computer Engineering Department, Assistive Technology Program''' ====

A component of the undergraduate Electrical and Computer Engineering program, senior ECE students complete a senior capstone project aimed at designing and producing an assistive technology device for a person with a disability. Engineering students can apply the knowledge they have learned from their courses and help solve problems for disabled people through creating technological advances. 

== Entrepreneurial Capital Projects and Acquisitions ==

=== '''The Mark and Elisia Saab Emerging Technologies and Innovation Center''' ===

This new UMass Lowell 2012-13 construction is a building developed for bringing innovation and industry together. Faculty and student researchers use the resources available in this building to meet industry challenges and improve lives using UMass Lowell technologies and patents. Core facilities for use in fundamental and translational research are available to faculty and students; it contains class 100, 1,000, and 10,000 cleanroom spaces, wet lab and engineering lab space, and a plastics processing high bay. The ETIC is has LEED Gold Certification, and is considered green. The construction of this building also is estimated to supporting at least 130 new jobs.

 

=== '''Health and Social Sciences Building'''  ===

This new building that houses criminal justice and criminology, nursing, and psychology provides classrooms, simulation laboratories, observation facilities, a demonstration hospital wing, and ample meeting space for community projects. The construction of this new building supported more than 800 construction and related jobs, and provided the much needed resources and space for UMass Lowell’s growing social science population.

= '''University-Industry Collaboration''' =

'''Research Activities'''

UMass Lowell places a large focus on professional research, as evidenced by the ample lab space professors have to work with in buildings such as the ETIC. A comprehensive list of all research areas and information about them can be found on the UMass Lowell website. [http://www.uml.edu/Research/Centers/default.aspx http://www.uml.edu/Research/Centers/default.aspx]

==== Center for Industrial Competitiveness ====

For nearly 20 years, UMass Lowell’s Center for Industrial Competitiveness has conducted research on industrial innovation, regional development, corporate governance, financialization, and sustainable prosperity. Resources available stretch all around the world through collaborative networks and relationships, providing ample information and a global understanding on development. Research also includes local industrial development in Massachusetts. 

UMass Lowell has a page dedicated to the CIC researchers and their work, which can be found here: [http://www.uml.edu/centers/cic/Research/Research.html http://www.uml.edu/centers/cic/Research/Research.html]

= '''Regional and Local Economic Development''' =

'''Economic and Social Development of Regions Department:'''

This graduate program focuses on giving an interdisciplinary education that is tailored to fit the needs of the individual. By educating both the private and public sectors of economic and social development, this program aims to create work ready individuals that can bring innovation and change to shifting social and economic environment.

'''Lowell Makes''' 

“A membership‐driven collaborative space equipped with a wide variety of tools, machines, materials, computers and other resources where individuals can gain and practice modern skills with state‐of‐the‐art technology, access to resources they could not otherwise, and a community of creative minded people who make all kinds of things. “Art is the Handmaid of Human Good” is both the City of Lowell’s motto, and a reminder of Lowell’s rich industrial and artistic history as our inspiration.” - [http://www.lowellmakes.com/proposal/ http://www.lowellmakes.com/proposal/]

Lowell makes was founded to be a space where those who do not have access to certain equipment to bring their ideas to life will have that access they need and have the support they need to push their innovation to the next level. It is a space that has resources tailored for budding entrepreneurs, and can be rented out by anyone with a plan. 

'''Mill No.5'''

Mill No.5 is one of the few non-UML entrepreneurial constructs in the Lowell urban environment. Like many mills in Lowell, it has been renovated and repurposed. Being subdivided and updated to proper code, there are rooms available for offices and start-ups looking to have an office space to centralize their resources. 

= '''Conclusion''' =

Entrepreneurship is a strategic objective at the University of Massachusetts Lowell.  During the last five years, UMass Lowell has re-positioned itself with students, faculty, staff, and the community as a true public enterprise committed to taking an entrepreneurial approach to innovation in all aspects of its structure.   A rapidly expanding innovation ecosystem encourages and guides entrepreneurial action, whether academically or commercially, amongst its faculty and student body -- fostering an entrepreneurial approach to economic development through a variety of programs and activities. UMass Lowell will continue to thrive in all aspects of entrepreneurship and innovation.  

= Related Links =

University Innovation Fellows:
[http://universityinnovation.org/wiki/Stephen_Kender Stephen Kender][[Ana Gouveia|Ana Gouveia]][[James Abdallah|James Abdallah]][[KevinMDesjardins|Kevin Desjardins]][[Jacob Hulme|Jacob Hulme]][[UMass Lowell Student Priorities|UMass Lowell Student Priorities]]
[[Category:Universities]]

School:University of Massachusetts Lowell

2015-10-12T19:24:21Z

Ephenstephen:

<div style="float: right; clear: right;">[[File:UMass-Lowell-logo.png]]</div>
The University of Massachusetts Lowell (also known as UMass Lowell or UML) is a [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Public_university public] [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_research_universities_in_the_United_States doctoral/research] university in [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lowell,_Massachusetts Lowell], [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Massachusetts Massachusetts], [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_States United States],and part of the [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/University_of_Massachusetts University of Massachusetts] system. With more than 1,100 faculty members and more than 16,000 students, it is the largest university in the [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Merrimack_Valley Merrimack Valley] and the second-largest public institution in the state behind UMass Amherst. The university offers more than 120 degree choices, internships, bachelor’s to master’s programs and doctoral studies in the College of Fine Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences; College of Health Sciences; College of Sciences; the Francis College of Engineering; the Graduate School of Education; and the Manning School of Business.

= '''Overview - A Campus On The Move''' =

UMass Lowell has been evolving in every aspect; upgraded classrooms, libraries and labs; new and renovated student living and activity spaces; and enhanced parking facilities are a few on the list of what has been updated and changed over the past decade of campus improvement.

*University Crossing
**Officially completed and operating, this new building hosts student services and activities, bookstore, dining, University police, transportation services, and senior administration offices.
*Pulichino Tong Building
**The University’s current construction project, the Tong Building will replace the now-relocated Honor’s Eames Dorm building on UMass Lowell’s North Campus and will house the entirety of the Robert J. Manning School of Business.
*University Suites
**This brand new dorm on UMass Lowell’s East campus provides housing for 472 students in four- and six-bed suites. There is a ground-floor common area with a café - Hawk's Nest - featuring fresh bakery, grab & go items and a late night Asian menu, in addition to delicious Red Mango frozen yogurt & smoothies and "We proudly serve" Starbucks Coffee. A multi-purpose room is open to the UMass Lowell community. Each residential floor has two common kitchen/lounge areas, two quiet study rooms and a group study room.
*Riverview Suites
**The other half of the two-dorm addition to UMass Lowell in 2013, Riverview Suites has either two or three bedroom suites complete with a live-in kitchen, classroom and meeting rooms inside the building, and a gym inside the facility. The University leases the property from Soho Development, who also built the $42 million facility.
*New Garages
**In the past three years, UMass Lowell has added two large parking garages to each of its largest parking lots, greatly increasing the parking capacity for the strong commuter presence attending the school.
*Health and Social Sciences Building
**In 2013, this new criminal justice and criminology, nursing and psychology building had its grand opening. The construction of this building marked the first new construction in 30 years on the University’s South Campus, including all campuses in the University’s recent wave of evolution.

Since 2009, the University has also been heavily updating the existing buildings while acquiring and renovating new ones. UMass Lowell renovated the newly acquired Inn and Conference Center, added Taco Bell and Subway to the University’s dining partners, renovated the newly acquired Tsongas Center, and heavily updated their Dining Hall in the tallest UMass Lowell building, Fox Hall 

== 2015 Innovation Fellows Plans ==

[https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1ZwhfzohFPyuM4Vutiho8ZAuV8Jmq-JxBJ2vNaGZe-kY/edit?usp=sharing Landscape Canvas]

[https://docs.google.com/presentation/d/1o3F2IN8YoWKMk83r0SoAfr5NH_qUw7RFa2ZxjslksQM/edit?usp=sharing Lean Startup Presentation]

= '''Student Entrepreneurship''' =

==== '''NonSpec ''' ====

[http://www.nonspec.org/ NonSpec] participated in the 2013 first annual DifferenceMaker™ Idea Challenge where they showed dedication and enthusiasm by attending each educational workshop and event throughout the process which aided in their success.  At the Idea Challenge they received the prestigious title of “Campus Wide DifferenceMaker™” and the top award of $5,000. This prize represents the project most likely to make a significant difference in the community, region and the world.

The $5,000 award has allowed Nonspec to move their initiative forward by creating their first batch of prosthetic limbs. With a projected 15% market share in the next five years, Nonspec plans to use this market presence to launch a foundation called “Give a Hand”. The purpose of this foundation would be to spread their mission, goals, charitable cause, and products around the world in order to make a difference in developing nations.

Since Nonspec’s success at the Idea Challenge they have gained great publicity in other arenas.  They were recently named one of the top 10 semi-finalists in Entrepreneur® Magazine’s “College Entrepreneur of 2013 Contest”.  In addition, they were invited to attend [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ppnzNSnxi-g IAPD Plastics Application Design Competition], which was held on October 2, 2013 in Miami, Florida.  Lastly, the team was utilized as a role model by being featured in a [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aLwLg4XHrck video] that was shown at all DifferenceMaker™ freshman orientation sessions throughout the summer due to their motivation and high entrepreneurial spirits.

= Departments and Programs =

== '''Center for Innovation and Entrepreneurship''' ==

The Center for Innovation and Entrepreneurship offers students and faculty of all disciplines the opportunity to work together to develop innovative and entrepreneurial solutions to the major problems facing our community, the region and the world. The Center hosts several programs that encourage social innovation and entrepreneurship among UMass Lowell students as well as the broader community in which we live. The DifferenceMaker program provides training, mentoring and other resources to UMass Lowell students and faculty who wish to address social, environmental and economic problems in our community.

== '''DifferenceMaker™''' ==

The DifferenceMaker™ Program sponsors specific events and activities that support students in solving big problems through innovation and entrepreneurship. The Program is highly experiential by offering students a series of workshops that they can engage in to better understand innovation, entrepreneurship and launching a start-up of their interest.

Students of all majors and disciplines are welcome to join this Program and make a difference at UMass Lowell, in the community or in the world through innovative and entrepreneurial action.

=== Goals of DifferenceMaker™ ===

*Introduce all UMass students to creative problem solving, innovation and entrepreneurship
*Accelerate purpose in each students education
*Connect current students to alumni experience
*Encourage a social responsibility ethos

=== DifferenceMaker™ Available Activities ===

*'''DifferenceMaker™ Enterprise Co-op'''
**Throughout each year, DifferenceMaker™ will hire several students from various majors to participate in paid co-op experiences. Student co-ops assist in conducting and summarizing entrepreneurial research, developing and distributing marketing materials for various center initiatives, and provide center support for faculty and innovation fellows affiliate with the center. 
*'''Freshman Make A Difference Orientation'''
**During the summer sessions, DifferenceMaker™ has a large presence in the Freshman Orientation days. Through the Office of Orientation, Student Activities and Leadership, and ResLife, DifferenceMaker™ was able to present to every attending freshman and gain exposure to all of the new students at UMass Lowell.
*'''Freshman DifferenceMaker™ Convocation'''
**At the beginning of each academic year, we present DifferenceMaker™ to every incoming freshman at Convocation. Each year we perform a fun activity to engage students in our program.
*'''Introduction to DifferenceMaker™'''
**Freshman Seminars-A series of in-class discussions in collaboration with the Manning School of Business, The Francis College of Engineering, The College of Fine Arts, Humanities, and Social Sciences, and The College of Health Sciences in order to introduce the DifferenceMaker™ Program to students of all disciplines and to inspire them to explore their passions through creative problem solving.
*'''Introduction to the DifferenceMaker™ Program'''
**A series of events were held on both the north and south campuses to introduce students to DifferenceMaker™ Program concepts, allow them to share their ideas and interests, explore possible projects and solution, and to connected with each other to form teams. These events included the DifferenceMaker™ Convocation Pitch, the Climate Change Teach-in, a DifferenceMaker™ Team Building Dinner, and others.
*'''DifferenceMaker™ LLC'''
**Having a presence in the student residence halls as well as the classroom is important to motivate students and discover new ideas waiting to happen. The DifferenceMaker™ Living/Learning Community brings new students together in the ResLife environment for innovation and brainstorming outside of the classroom.
*'''Honors DifferenceMaker™ Program'''
**In collaboration with UMass Lowell Honors Program, this concerted effort to embed elements of social entrepreneurship in our Honors Program includes coursework and community-based student efforts that have specific focus on innovation and entrepreneurial practices.
*'''Introduction to Engineering Extra Credit Project'''
**This activity was a collaboration effort between the DifferenceMaker™ Program and The Francis College of Engineering to introduce freshman engineering majors to the DifferenceMaker™ Program, innovation, and entrepreneurship. In this introductory activity, the students’ innovative ideas were explored and presented in a format which would enable their projects to be candidates for both the DifferenceMaker™ Program Idea Challenge and Campus Catalyst program.
*'''Creative Venture Competition'''
**This contest held in October of 2013 hosted by DifferenceMaker™ focused on innovation from Arts, Humanities, and Social Science students. $2500 was awarded to the best entrepreneurial business a proposal, and $250 to each finalist team was also awarded.
*'''Digital Federal Credit Union Innovation Contest''' 
**In November of 2013, DifferenceMaker™ along with DCU hosted an Innovation Contest focusing on banking and financial innovation in the industry. With a grand prize of $500 per team member and peripheral prizes of $100 per team member, the contest gave thousands to innovative teams and cutting edge ideas.
*'''DifferenceMaker™ Reverse Pitch'''
**This pitch event was debuted on November 19, 2013. This event was a spin-off of “normal” idea challenges and hackathons. Instead of students pitching their ideas to funding sources or judges, businesses and community partners actually pitched their existing problems to a student audience in the hopes that they can develop a solution.
*'''DifferenceMaker™ Idea Challenge'''
**''''''DifferenceMaker™ is hosting its fourth annual Idea Challenge; this challenge is for student entrepreneurial teams to come up with sustainable ideas that will make some sort of impact on the world or their community. Help in the form of various workshops in the months leading up to the Idea Challenge is available, teaching students how to properly pitch their ideas and how to flesh out their business plans. There are various subcategories for each team to have a chance at winning spread out across over many different disciplines, encouraging all students to participate and welcoming all ideas.
*'''DifferenceMaker™ Workshops'''
**Team Building Mixer
**Identifying Problems and Opportunities
**Developing Solutions
**Identifying Resources
**Rocket Pitch Coaching
*'''Campus Catalyst Program'''
**''''''The DifferenceMaker™ Program works closely with 'E For All', a community business accelerator funded by the Deshpande Foundation, in order to encourage students to generate and develop their entrepreneurial ideas. The Sandbox Campus Catalyst program provided seed funding for student social and business solutions with potential. 

=== '''DifferenceMaker™ Program Available Resources''' ===

*'''DifferenceMaker™ Central'''
**Large open office collaboration space equipped with Wi-Fi, 3 Mac computers, printer/copier, 2 46” LCD TV monitors with projection capabilities, 6 white boards, 10 tables with chairs all equipped with wheels that can be easily rearranged for optimal use and collaboration, refrigerator, sink, cabinet space, coffee maker and other necessary office supplies.
*'''Hawk  Hatch'''
**Philanthropic Crowd Funding Source
*'''Grants'''
*'''Networking'''
**Mentors
**Faculty Fellows and DifferenceMaker™ Staff
*'''Events'''
**Series of Educational Entrepreneurial Workshops including materials
**Problem, Opportunity, Solution, Resources, Pitch Coaching
**Team Building Assistance
**TeamMaker Platform, Team Building Mixer

Through the Center for Innovation & Entrepreneurship, along with affiliated faculty and other campus programs, the University has introduced a range of activities that help students make a difference in the world.

=== '''DifferenceMaker™ Inaugural Year Statistics''' ===

*72 DifferenceMaker™ events held in inaugural year
*3,500  students who participates in a DifferenceMaker™ event this past year
*$25,000  of funds awarded to 10 IdeaChallenge finalist teams
*1,265  freshman participating in summer rapid ideation workshops
*112  students who participated in the First Annual IdeaChallenge
*22  cross discipline relationships notes between students among IdeaChallenge teams
*24  academic disciplines represented by students in the IdeaChallenge teams

=== '''2015 DifferenceMaker™ Idea Challenge Finalists''' ===

'''Campus-Wide DifferenceMaker'''

'''Hydraulic Walker ($5,000)'''

*Ryan Andrews - Physical Therapy Graduate
*Peter Klausmeyer - Physical Therapy Graduate



'''Significant Social Impact'''

'''1st Place'''- '''L''''''ove of the Game ($4,000)'''

*Jessica Dion - Exercise Physiology '16
*Dylan Doucette - Exercise Physiology '16
*Lucas Parsons - Exercise Physiology '16
*Rachel Silk - Business Marketing '16
*Daniel Schmith - Business Entrepreneurship '18
*Jennie Pisarik - Exercise Physiology '16



'''2nd Place - Buddies Without Borders ($2,500)'''

*Tugba Arsava - Community Social Psychology Graduate
*Burhan Colak - Civil Engineering Graduate
*Katherine Cox - Psychology '18
*Madeline Ormazza - Business '17
*Shashank Raghuveer - Computer Science Graduate
*Fang Zhang - Chemistry Graduate



'''Contribution to a Healthier Lifestyle'''

'''1st Place - Playable Therapy ($4,000)'''

*Suhaib Alfageeh - Computer Science '16
*Lucas Brown - English and Math '16
*Chelsea Hayes - Business '16
*Damir Ismagilove - Math '16
*Anthony Pitaro - Exercise Physiology '15
*Mark Mcgrotty - Computer Science '16



'''2nd Place - Solar Electric Vehicles ($2,500)'''

*Suhaib Alfageeh - Computer Science '16
*Chukwuma Azubuine - Entrepreneurship Graduate
*Richard Asirifi - Electrical Engineering '16
*Anas Dahany - Electrical Engineering '15
*David Jenkins - Mechanical Engineering '15
*Oliver Kayego - Electrical Engineering '17
*Chris Leger - Electrical Engineering '15
*Jared Mrvos - Computer Engineering '17
*Charles Reid - Mechanical Engineering '15
*Kenneth Sanders - Computer Science '18
*Mukhammaddin Zinaddinov - Electrical Engineering '18



'''Innovative Technology Solution'''

'''1st Place - Masela Dentures ($4,000)'''

*Cormac Hondros-McCarthy - Plastics Engineering '15
*Casey McRae - Plastics Engineering '15



'''2nd Place - KEnDERS Athletic Body Armor($2,500)'''

*Elizabeth Kender - Plastics Engineering '16
*Laura Kender - Plastics Engineering '16
*Stephen Kender - Plastics Engineering '18



'''First to Market'''

'''1st Place - Mayday ($4,000)'''

*Cibhi SelVan-  Business Graduate
*Alessandro Agnello-  Computer Science PhD



'''2nd Place''' - '''Word Builder '''('''$2,500)'''

*Sergio Coronado - Computer Engineering '16
*Ian Copithorne - Computer Engineering '16



'''Honorable Mention'''

'''Low-Income Community Homework Center ($1,500)'''

*Arnaldo Rivera - Psychology '15
*Hector Rivera  - Psychology '15



'''Fan Favorite'''

'''Indoor Hydroponic System ($2,500)'''

*Rapheeporn Aungaphinant - Business Graduate
*Katherine Cain - Business Graduate
*Tucker Holladay - Business Graduate
*Shu-Wei Hsu - Business Graduate
*Alima Shamuratova - Business Graduate



=== '''DifferenceMaker™ Future Efforts:''' ===

The DifferenceMaker™ Program plans to continue many of the activities and events initiated in the first year of the program.  Some of these programs will be revised and they intend to launch several new initiatives, including a DifferenceMaker™ Passport Program, a DifferenceMaker™ Mentor Program and a seed grant program to encourage faculty participation in the DifferenceMaker™ program. They also plan to expand our collaboration with several University colleges. 

This year they plan to increase the role of DifferenceMaker™ Living Learning Community students in the DifferenceMaker™ program by training the members to become DifferenceMaker™ ambassadors once they transition into their sophomore year  through weekly meetings and monthly events. The training will allow LLC members to learn more about entrepreneurship and the DifferenceMaker™ Program so they can promote it to student clubs and campus classes.  Once the LLC students become sophomores they will transition into a DifferenceMaker™ Ambassador role, and hopefully will form the nucleus of a yet-to-be-formed DifferenceMaker™ student club.  

In order to assist students to both record and encourage their participation in DifferenceMaker™ events, they are planning the development and implementation of a DifferenceMaker™ Passport Program. Consistent with the goals of the UMass Lowell DifferenceMaker™ Program, the Passport Program will assist students to identify, record and collect experiences meant to: 

*Develop individual entrepreneurial identity
*Develop entrepreneurial skills and self-confidence
*Develop creative and sustainable solutions to complex problems
*Connect with the University, E For All and community entrepreneurial ecosystems

They anticipate that the number of students engaged in the DifferenceMaker™ Program and related activities will increase each year. As they encourage and reward the formation of various types of student ventures and projects, the need for mentors who can consult with student teams will increase. They plan to guide these students and track their progress through a professional Mentor Program. The UMass Lowell Mentor Program will provide a committed network of mentors with a broad set of skills and professional experiences, who can assist UMass Lowell entrepreneurs in developing the knowledge and skills, needed to grow an idea into a successful, new venture.

The DM UMass Lowell Mentor Program will seek to connect DifferenceMaker™ students with successful experienced entrepreneurs and alumnus, as well as faculty and staff.  The Mentor Program will focus on assisting students to further develop solutions as part of the DifferenceMaker™ Program. Mentors will provide guidance in further refining student team objectives and help them in building their entrepreneurial skillsets.

They are planning to offer DifferenceMaker™ Faculty Workshops to help faculty consider how they might engage their own students in DifferenceMaker™ activities through course related activities and through co-curricular activities. Our hope is that by engaging more faculty, they in turn will serve as both mentors and catalysts for students, encouraging and guiding student project selection and development. They have also observed that student teams often need support and guidance from faculty from different disciplines, these workshops and an accompanying seed grant program are meant as catalysts to encourage interdisciplinary engagement among faculty,

While the overarching goal of the DifferenceMaker™ program is to encourage UMass Lowell students to develop sustainable and entrepreneurial solutions to the challenges and opportunities they will confront in this world, they anticipate another, potentially significant impact on the University community itself. Our students will only be successful if they have the support of faculty, alumni, business and community members. During our first year of program activities, they have found these constituents to be most supportive and willing to mentor and work with our students.  Alumni are mentoring and investing in student ventures.  Faculty are working across disciplines to ensure their student teams make progress. Local profit and non-profit businesses are eager to work with student teams, providing real-world problems and opportunities for student projects. In one short year, the DifferenceMaker™ program has been embraced by the greater University community. Our hope and plan is to anchor this program in the curriculum and culture of the University, so all UMass Lowell students have an opportunity to make a difference in this world.

  

== '''Commercial Venture and Intellectual Property Office (CVIP)''' ==

Commercial Ventures and Intellectual Property (CVIP) is responsible for the protection and commercialization of intellectual property at UMass Lowell. 

==== '''CVIP Mission''' ====

The mission of UMass Lowell’s Office of Commercial Ventures and Intellectual Property (CVIP) is to facilitate the transfer of technology arising from government, foundation and industrial sponsored university research to the private sector. They facilitate development of inventions toward commercial relevance and utility, nurture mutually beneficial and sustainable relationships between the University and industry, promote an innovative and entrepreneurial culture at the University and contribute to the economic vibrancy and well-being of the Commonwealth. CVIP’s activities enable the successful transfer of commercially viable technology from the laboratory to the marketplace for public use and benefit. 

==== '''CVIP Functions''' ====

The main objectives of CVIP are:

*to license patents and other protections to industry in order to promote the development of inventions toward practical application;
*to foster a culture of innovation, facilitate commercially promising endeavors, and positively contribute to the University’s entrepreneurial ecosystem;
*to seek new business opportunities and form productive collaborations with industry in an effort to increase research and licensing revenue to the University;
*to generate income for inventors and the University as a whole for use in supporting further research, technology development and transfer;
*to advocate for the research community and seek to create incentives, provide rewards and obtain resources to advance commercialization of the technologies they generate.

== New Venture Initiative ==

New Venture Initiative (NVI) is a mix of university resources and equity investment designed to provide a path to and facilitate more start-up activity at UMass Lowell.  As part of the larger Commercial Venture and Intellectual Property Office (CVIP), the NVI fund focuses on inventions, discoveries, products and services that have been developed in whole or in part at UMass Lowell, have achieved proof of concept (or an early prototype) and are ready for commercial product development, rather than those requiring further basic research.  

== '''Massachusetts Medical Device Development Center (M2D2):''' ==

The Massachusetts Medical Device Development Center (M2D2) is a lifeline for the state’s smaller medical device companies, offering inventors and executives easy, affordable, and coordinated access to world-class researchers and resources at the Lowell and Worcester campuses of the University of Massachusetts.

==== '''M2D2 Available Resources''' ====

*9000 square feet of space on second floor including:
**6 wet laboratory suites
**Two office suites
**Large open office collaboration area
**Board room
**Reception area
**Break Room equipped with a table and chairs, full size refrigerator, microwave, sink, dishwasher, and coffee maker
*5000 square feet of space on first floor including:
**Six individual offices 
**Bright shared kitchen space equipped with a table and chairs, full size refrigerator and sink
**One large state of the art conference room with full pull down screen, computer with web access and a projector  
**All conference rooms contain a 46" Aquos LCD screen, as well as computer with web access and a projector
**Business and medical feasibility assessments
**Product development space
**Medical and clinical pathway assistance
**Connection to additional services such as laboratory use, incubator space for start-ups and clinical trial support through the product life cycle
**SBIR and STTR research
**Access to capital
**Networking events
**New Venture Competitions

== '''Entrepreneurship For All''' ==

'E for All' is a project of the Deshpande Foundation, which has encouraged the use of entrepreneurship and innovation as catalysts for sustainable change in the United States, India and Canada since 1996. Deshpande supported centers including the MIT Deshpande Center for Technological Innovation, the Deshpande Center for Social Innovation in Hubli, India, the Pond-Deshpande Centre at the University of New Brunswick, and our own 'E For All'  at the University of Massachusetts Lowell. 'E for All' includes higher education partners (Middlesex Community College, Merrimack College and Northern Essex Community College) and a host of regional community and business partners.

=== '''E for All Mission''' ===

The mission of 'E For All' is to connect and strengthen the ecosystem in Lowell and Lawrence, Massachusetts, around entrepreneurship and leadership. This mission is supported by the following three principle 'E For All' programs:

·       Catalysts-The Catalyst program provides seed funding and mentoring support to foster initiative around new ideas and programs among local high school and college students.

·       Entrepreneurship-The Entrepreneur Program is a community-wide initiative supporting entrepreneurship. More than 30 partner organizations and institutions are participating in this initiative, which gives entrepreneurs a greater chance at success through pitch contests, workshops and intensive programs. 

·       Leadership-The 'E For All' Leadership Institute (SLI) offers leadership development for individuals that live, work or are interested in the communities of Lawrence and Lowell. 

== Other Organizations ==

'''Entrepreneurial Ventures Association''': EVA is an interdisciplinary organization that is open to all majors; they share resources, advice, and interests with other COM and UML clubs to help students turn their entrepreneurial ideas into reality.  

'''Honors Ambassador Program: '''Students participate in the Honors Ambassador Program to gain valuable experience through courses tailored for higher development and to foster relationships with communities and organizations that the program is involved with.

= '''University Entrepreneurship''' =

== Creative New Academic Programs ==

==== '''The Manning School of Business'''  ====

'''Undergraduate - Entrepreneurship Concentration''': Prepares students to be "outside-of-the-box" thinkers and innovators in today's complex global economy.

*The '''entrepreneurship concentration''' prepares students to be an "outside of the box" thinker and innovator in today's complex global economy. Using an interdisciplinary focus, students who complete the concentration will:
**Develop the management skills required to identify and launch new business ventures around innovative products, services and technologies. 
**Develop an understanding of the concepts and activities associated with entrepreneurship and innovation. 
**Understand the financial aspects of an entrepreneurial venture from start-up to "harvest". 
**Discover their individual "entrepreneurial spirit" through experiential learning in interdisciplinary classes and the College's Venture Lab.

'''Graduate - Master of Science in Innovation and Technological Entrepreneurship (MSITE)''': Provides engineers, business majors and scientists with the skills and knowledge required to drive innovation in today's collaborative, global workforce.

'''Graduate - Master of Science in Innovation and Technological Entrepreneurship (MSITE) Healthcare Innovation & Entrepreneurship (HI+E) Option''': This option is targeted towards healthcare professionals, such as hospital managers/administrators, clinicians, physicians and other medical professionals who need to understand and manage the impact of emerging technologies and innovations in the healthcare industry. The Program will also benefit recent graduates who wish to enter the healthcare industries as a career choice.

'''Graduate Certificate - New Venture Creation''': This program is focused specifically on the creation of technology-based ventures and is designed to assist professionals with undergraduate and career experience in science, engineering, technology or business fields in better understanding how to develop and launch a technology-based business.

==== '''College of Sciences, Computer Science Department''' ====

The Computer Science Department offers an entrepreneurship option in their master's degree. It is directed at those with a strong undergraduate background in Computer Science who are interested in both deepening their technical knowledge and in understanding the tools required for developing a company directed towards software services and products.

==== '''College of Engineering, Electrical and Computer Engineering Department, Assistive Technology Program''' ====

A component of the undergraduate Electrical and Computer Engineering program, senior ECE students complete a senior capstone project aimed at designing and producing an assistive technology device for a person with a disability. Engineering students can apply the knowledge they have learned from their courses and help solve problems for disabled people through creating technological advances. 

== Entrepreneurial Capital Projects and Acquisitions ==

=== '''The Mark and Elisia Saab Emerging Technologies and Innovation Center''' ===

This new UMass Lowell 2012-13 construction is a building developed for bringing innovation and industry together. Faculty and student researchers use the resources available in this building to meet industry challenges and improve lives using UMass Lowell technologies and patents. Core facilities for use in fundamental and translational research are available to faculty and students; it contains class 100, 1,000, and 10,000 cleanroom spaces, wet lab and engineering lab space, and a plastics processing high bay. The ETIC is has LEED Gold Certification, and is considered green. The construction of this building also is estimated to supporting at least 130 new jobs.

 

=== '''Health and Social Sciences Building'''  ===

This new building that houses criminal justice and criminology, nursing, and psychology provides classrooms, simulation laboratories, observation facilities, a demonstration hospital wing, and ample meeting space for community projects. The construction of this new building supported more than 800 construction and related jobs, and provided the much needed resources and space for UMass Lowell’s growing social science population.

= '''University-Industry Collaboration''' =

'''Research Activities'''

UMass Lowell places a large focus on professional research, as evidenced by the ample lab space professors have to work with in buildings such as the ETIC. A comprehensive list of all research areas and information about them can be found on the UMass Lowell website. [http://www.uml.edu/Research/Centers/default.aspx http://www.uml.edu/Research/Centers/default.aspx]

==== Center for Industrial Competitiveness ====

For nearly 20 years, UMass Lowell’s Center for Industrial Competitiveness has conducted research on industrial innovation, regional development, corporate governance, financialization, and sustainable prosperity. Resources available stretch all around the world through collaborative networks and relationships, providing ample information and a global understanding on development. Research also includes local industrial development in Massachusetts. 

UMass Lowell has a page dedicated to the CIC researchers and their work, which can be found here: [http://www.uml.edu/centers/cic/Research/Research.html http://www.uml.edu/centers/cic/Research/Research.html]

= '''Regional and Local Economic Development''' =

'''Economic and Social Development of Regions Department:'''

This graduate program focuses on giving an interdisciplinary education that is tailored to fit the needs of the individual. By educating both the private and public sectors of economic and social development, this program aims to create work ready individuals that can bring innovation and change to shifting social and economic environment.

'''Lowell Makes''' 

“A membership‐driven collaborative space equipped with a wide variety of tools, machines, materials, computers and other resources where individuals can gain and practice modern skills with state‐of‐the‐art technology, access to resources they could not otherwise, and a community of creative minded people who make all kinds of things. “Art is the Handmaid of Human Good” is both the City of Lowell’s motto, and a reminder of Lowell’s rich industrial and artistic history as our inspiration.” - [http://www.lowellmakes.com/proposal/ http://www.lowellmakes.com/proposal/]

Lowell makes was founded to be a space where those who do not have access to certain equipment to bring their ideas to life will have that access they need and have the support they need to push their innovation to the next level. It is a space that has resources tailored for budding entrepreneurs, and can be rented out by anyone with a plan. 

'''Mill No.5'''

Mill No.5 is one of the few non-UML entrepreneurial constructs in the Lowell urban environment. Like many mills in Lowell, it has been renovated and repurposed. Being subdivided and updated to proper code, there are rooms available for offices and start-ups looking to have an office space to centralize their resources. 

= '''Conclusion''' =

Entrepreneurship is a strategic objective at the University of Massachusetts Lowell.  During the last five years, UMass Lowell has re-positioned itself with students, faculty, staff, and the community as a true public enterprise committed to taking an entrepreneurial approach to innovation in all aspects of its structure.   A rapidly expanding innovation ecosystem encourages and guides entrepreneurial action, whether academically or commercially, amongst its faculty and student body -- fostering an entrepreneurial approach to economic development through a variety of programs and activities. UMass Lowell will continue to thrive in all aspects of entrepreneurship and innovation.  

= Related Links =

University Innovation Fellows:
[http://universityinnovation.org/wiki/Stephen_Kender Stephen Kender][[Ana Gouveia|Ana Gouveia]][[James Abdallah|James Abdallah]][[KevinMDesjardins|Kevin Desjardins]][[Jacob Hulme|Jacob Hulme]][[UMass Lowell Student Priorities|UMass Lowell Student Priorities]]
[[Category:Universities]]

School:University of Massachusetts Lowell

2015-10-12T19:23:41Z

Ephenstephen:

<div style="float: right; clear: right;">[[File:UMass-Lowell-logo.png]]</div>
The University of Massachusetts Lowell (also known as UMass Lowell or UML) is a [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Public_university public] [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_research_universities_in_the_United_States doctoral/research] university in [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lowell,_Massachusetts Lowell], [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Massachusetts Massachusetts], [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_States United States],and part of the [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/University_of_Massachusetts University of Massachusetts] system. With more than 1,100 faculty members and more than 16,000 students, it is the largest university in the [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Merrimack_Valley Merrimack Valley] and the second-largest public institution in the state behind UMass Amherst. The university offers more than 120 degree choices, internships, bachelor’s to master’s programs and doctoral studies in the College of Fine Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences; College of Health Sciences; College of Sciences; the Francis College of Engineering; the Graduate School of Education; and the Manning School of Business.

= '''Overview - A Campus On The Move''' =

UMass Lowell has been evolving in every aspect; upgraded classrooms, libraries and labs; new and renovated student living and activity spaces; and enhanced parking facilities are a few on the list of what has been updated and changed over the past decade of campus improvement.

*University Crossing
**Officially completed and operating, this new building hosts student services and activities, bookstore, dining, University police, transportation services, and senior administration offices.
*Pulichino Tong Building
**The University’s current construction project, the Tong Building will replace the now-relocated Honor’s Eames Dorm building on UMass Lowell’s North Campus and will house the entirety of the Robert J. Manning School of Business.
*University Suites
**This brand new dorm on UMass Lowell’s East campus provides housing for 472 students in four- and six-bed suites. There is a ground-floor common area with a café - Hawk's Nest - featuring fresh bakery, grab & go items and a late night Asian menu, in addition to delicious Red Mango frozen yogurt & smoothies and "We proudly serve" Starbucks Coffee. A multi-purpose room is open to the UMass Lowell community. Each residential floor has two common kitchen/lounge areas, two quiet study rooms and a group study room.
*Riverview Suites
**The other half of the two-dorm addition to UMass Lowell in 2013, Riverview Suites has either two or three bedroom suites complete with a live-in kitchen, classroom and meeting rooms inside the building, and a gym inside the facility. The University leases the property from Soho Development, who also built the $42 million facility.
*New Garages
**In the past three years, UMass Lowell has added two large parking garages to each of its largest parking lots, greatly increasing the parking capacity for the strong commuter presence attending the school.
*Health and Social Sciences Building
**In 2013, this new criminal justice and criminology, nursing and psychology building had its grand opening. The construction of this building marked the first new construction in 30 years on the University’s South Campus, including all campuses in the University’s recent wave of evolution.

Since 2009, the University has also been heavily updating the existing buildings while acquiring and renovating new ones. UMass Lowell renovated the newly acquired Inn and Conference Center, added Taco Bell and Subway to the University’s dining partners, renovated the newly acquired Tsongas Center, and heavily updated their Dining Hall in the tallest UMass Lowell building, Fox Hall 

== 2015 Innovation Fellows Plans ==

[https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1ZwhfzohFPyuM4Vutiho8ZAuV8Jmq-JxBJ2vNaGZe-kY/edit?usp=sharing Landscape Canvas]

[https://docs.google.com/presentation/d/1o3F2IN8YoWKMk83r0SoAfr5NH_qUw7RFa2ZxjslksQM/edit?usp=sharing Lean Startup Presentation]

= '''Student Entrepreneurship''' =

==== '''NonSpec ''' ====

[http://www.nonspec.org/ NonSpec] participated in the 2013 first annual DifferenceMaker™ Idea Challenge where they showed dedication and enthusiasm by attending each educational workshop and event throughout the process which aided in their success.  At the Idea Challenge they received the prestigious title of “Campus Wide DifferenceMaker™” and the top award of $5,000. This prize represents the project most likely to make a significant difference in the community, region and the world.

The $5,000 award has allowed Nonspec to move their initiative forward by creating their first batch of prosthetic limbs. With a projected 15% market share in the next five years, Nonspec plans to use this market presence to launch a foundation called “Give a Hand”. The purpose of this foundation would be to spread their mission, goals, charitable cause, and products around the world in order to make a difference in developing nations.

Since Nonspec’s success at the Idea Challenge they have gained great publicity in other arenas.  They were recently named one of the top 10 semi-finalists in Entrepreneur® Magazine’s “College Entrepreneur of 2013 Contest”.  In addition, they were invited to attend [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ppnzNSnxi-g IAPD Plastics Application Design Competition], which was held on October 2, 2013 in Miami, Florida.  Lastly, the team was utilized as a role model by being featured in a [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aLwLg4XHrck video] that was shown at all DifferenceMaker™ freshman orientation sessions throughout the summer due to their motivation and high entrepreneurial spirits.

= Departments and Programs =

== '''Center for Innovation and Entrepreneurship''' ==

The Center for Innovation and Entrepreneurship offers students and faculty of all disciplines the opportunity to work together to develop innovative and entrepreneurial solutions to the major problems facing our community, the region and the world. The Center hosts several programs that encourage social innovation and entrepreneurship among UMass Lowell students as well as the broader community in which we live. The DifferenceMaker program provides training, mentoring and other resources to UMass Lowell students and faculty who wish to address social, environmental and economic problems in our community.

== '''DifferenceMaker™''' ==

The DifferenceMaker™ Program sponsors specific events and activities that support students in solving big problems through innovation and entrepreneurship. The Program is highly experiential by offering students a series of workshops that they can engage in to better understand innovation, entrepreneurship and launching a start-up of their interest.

Students of all majors and disciplines are welcome to join this Program and make a difference at UMass Lowell, in the community or in the world through innovative and entrepreneurial action.

=== Goals of DifferenceMaker™ ===

*Introduce all UMass students to creative problem solving, innovation and entrepreneurship
*Accelerate purpose in each students education
*Connect current students to alumni experience
*Encourage a social responsibility ethos

=== DifferenceMaker™ Available Activities ===

*'''DifferenceMaker™ Enterprise Co-op'''
**Throughout each year, DifferenceMaker™ will hire several students from various majors to participate in paid co-op experiences. Student co-ops assist in conducting and summarizing entrepreneurial research, developing and distributing marketing materials for various center initiatives, and provide center support for faculty and innovation fellows affiliate with the center. 
*'''Freshman Make A Difference Orientation'''
**During the summer sessions, DifferenceMaker™ has a large presence in the Freshman Orientation days. Through the Office of Orientation, Student Activities and Leadership, and ResLife, DifferenceMaker™ was able to present to every attending freshman and gain exposure to all of the new students at UMass Lowell.
*'''Freshman DifferenceMaker™ Convocation'''
**At the beginning of each academic year, we present DifferenceMaker™ to every incoming freshman at Convocation. Each year we perform a fun activity to engage students in our program.
*'''Introduction to DifferenceMaker™'''
**Freshman Seminars-A series of in-class discussions in collaboration with the Manning School of Business, The Francis College of Engineering, The College of Fine Arts, Humanities, and Social Sciences, and The College of Health Sciences in order to introduce the DifferenceMaker™ Program to students of all disciplines and to inspire them to explore their passions through creative problem solving.
*'''Introduction to the DifferenceMaker™ Program'''
**A series of events were held on both the north and south campuses to introduce students to DifferenceMaker™ Program concepts, allow them to share their ideas and interests, explore possible projects and solution, and to connected with each other to form teams. These events included the DifferenceMaker™ Convocation Pitch, the Climate Change Teach-in, a DifferenceMaker™ Team Building Dinner, and others.
*'''DifferenceMaker™ LLC'''
**Having a presence in the student residence halls as well as the classroom is important to motivate students and discover new ideas waiting to happen. The DifferenceMaker™ Living/Learning Community brings new students together in the ResLife environment for innovation and brainstorming outside of the classroom.
*'''Honors DifferenceMaker™ Program'''
**In collaboration with UMass Lowell Honors Program, this concerted effort to embed elements of social entrepreneurship in our Honors Program includes coursework and community-based student efforts that have specific focus on innovation and entrepreneurial practices.
*'''Introduction to Engineering Extra Credit Project'''
**This activity was a collaboration effort between the DifferenceMaker™ Program and The Francis College of Engineering to introduce freshman engineering majors to the DifferenceMaker™ Program, innovation, and entrepreneurship. In this introductory activity, the students’ innovative ideas were explored and presented in a format which would enable their projects to be candidates for both the DifferenceMaker™ Program Idea Challenge and Campus Catalyst program.
*'''Creative Venture Competition'''
**This contest held in October of 2013 hosted by DifferenceMaker™ focused on innovation from Arts, Humanities, and Social Science students. $2500 was awarded to the best entrepreneurial business a proposal, and $250 to each finalist team was also awarded.
*'''Digital Federal Credit Union Innovation Contest''' 
**In November of 2013, DifferenceMaker™ along with DCU hosted an Innovation Contest focusing on banking and financial innovation in the industry. With a grand prize of $500 per team member and peripheral prizes of $100 per team member, the contest gave thousands to innovative teams and cutting edge ideas.
*'''DifferenceMaker™ Reverse Pitch'''
**This pitch event was debuted on November 19, 2013. This event was a spin-off of “normal” idea challenges and hackathons. Instead of students pitching their ideas to funding sources or judges, businesses and community partners actually pitched their existing problems to a student audience in the hopes that they can develop a solution.
*'''DifferenceMaker™ Idea Challenge'''
**''''''DifferenceMaker™ is hosting its fourth annual Idea Challenge; this challenge is for student entrepreneurial teams to come up with sustainable ideas that will make some sort of impact on the world or their community. Help in the form of various workshops in the months leading up to the Idea Challenge is available, teaching students how to properly pitch their ideas and how to flesh out their business plans. There are various subcategories for each team to have a chance at winning spread out across over many different disciplines, encouraging all students to participate and welcoming all ideas.
*'''DifferenceMaker™ Workshops'''
**Team Building Mixer
**Identifying Problems and Opportunities
**Developing Solutions
**Identifying Resources
**Rocket Pitch Coaching
*'''Campus Catalyst Program'''
**''''''The DifferenceMaker™ Program works closely with 'E For All', a community business accelerator funded by the Deshpande Foundation, in order to encourage students to generate and develop their entrepreneurial ideas. The Sandbox Campus Catalyst program provided seed funding for student social and business solutions with potential. 

=== '''DifferenceMaker™ Program Available Resources''' ===

*'''DifferenceMaker™ Central'''
**Large open office collaboration space equipped with Wi-Fi, 3 Mac computers, printer/copier, 2 46” LCD TV monitors with projection capabilities, 6 white boards, 10 tables with chairs all equipped with wheels that can be easily rearranged for optimal use and collaboration, refrigerator, sink, cabinet space, coffee maker and other necessary office supplies.
*'''Hawk  Hatch'''
**Philanthropic Crowd Funding Source
*'''Grants'''
*'''Networking'''
**Mentors
**Faculty Fellows and DifferenceMaker™ Staff
*'''Events'''
**Series of Educational Entrepreneurial Workshops including materials
**Problem, Opportunity, Solution, Resources, Pitch Coaching
**Team Building Assistance
**TeamMaker Platform, Team Building Mixer

Through the Center for Innovation & Entrepreneurship, along with affiliated faculty and other campus programs, the University has introduced a range of activities that help students make a difference in the world.

=== '''DifferenceMaker™ Inaugural Year Statistics''' ===

*72 DifferenceMaker™ events held in inaugural year
*3,500  students who participates in a DifferenceMaker™ event this past year
*$25,000  of funds awarded to 10 IdeaChallenge finalist teams
*1,265  freshman participating in summer rapid ideation workshops
*112  students who participated in the First Annual IdeaChallenge
*22  cross discipline relationships notes between students among IdeaChallenge teams
*24  academic disciplines represented by students in the IdeaChallenge teams

=== '''2015 DifferenceMaker™ Idea Challenge Finalists''' ===

'''Campus-Wide DifferenceMaker'''

'''Hydraulic Walker ($5,000)'''

*Ryan Andrews - Physical Therapy Graduate
*Peter Klausmeyer - Physical Therapy Graduate



'''Significant Social Impact'''

'''1st Place'''- '''L''''''ove of the Game ($4,000)'''

*Jessica Dion - Exercise Physiology '16
*Dylan Doucette - Exercise Physiology '16
*Lucas Parsons - Exercise Physiology '16
*Rachel Silk - Business Marketing '16
*Daniel Schmith - Business Entrepreneurship '18
*Jennie Pisarik - Exercise Physiology '16



'''2nd Place - Buddies Without Borders ($2,500)'''

*Tugba Arsava - Community Social Psychology Graduate
*Burhan Colak - Civil Engineering Graduate
*Katherine Cox - Psychology '18
*Madeline Ormazza - Business '17
*Shashank Raghuveer - Computer Science Graduate
*Fang Zhang - Chemistry Graduate



'''Contribution to a Healthier Lifestyle'''

'''1st Place - Playable Therapy ($4,000)'''

*Suhaib Alfageeh - Computer Science '16
*Lucas Brown - English and Math '16
*Chelsea Hayes - Business '16
*Damir Ismagilove - Math '16
*Anthony Pitaro - Exercise Physiology '15
*Mark Mcgrotty - Computer Science '16



'''2nd Place - Solar Electric Vehicles ($2,500)'''

*Suhaib Alfageeh - Computer Science '16
*Chukwuma Azubuine - Entrepreneurship Graduate
*Richard Asirifi - Electrical Engineering '16
*Anas Dahany - Electrical Engineering '15
*David Jenkins - Mechanical Engineering '15
*Oliver Kayego - Electrical Engineering '17
*Chris Leger - Electrical Engineering '15
*Jared Mrvos - Computer Engineering '17
*Charles Reid - Mechanical Engineering '15
*Kenneth Sanders - Computer Science '18
*Mukhammaddin Zinaddinov - Electrical Engineering '18



'''Innovative Technology Solution'''

'''1st Place - Masela Dentures ($4,000)'''

*Cormac Hondros-McCarthy - Plastics Engineering '15
*Casey McRae - Plastics Engineering '15



'''2nd Place - KEnDERS Athletic Body Armor($2,500)'''

*Elizabeth Kender - Plastics Engineering '16
*Laura Kender - Plastics Engineering '16
*Stephen Kender - Plastics Engineering '18



'''First to Market'''

'''1st Place - Mayday ($4,000)'''

*Cibhi SelVan-  Business Graduate
*Alessandro Agnello-  Computer Science PhD



'''2nd Place''' - '''Word Builder '''('''$2,500)'''

*Sergio Coronado - Computer Engineering '16
*Ian Copithorne - Computer Engineering '16



'''Honorable Mention'''

'''Low-Income Community Homework Center ($1,500)'''

*Arnaldo Rivera - Psychology '15
*Hector Rivera  - Psychology '15



'''Fan Favorite'''

'''Indoor Hydroponic System ($2,500)'''

*Rapheeporn Aungaphinant - Business Graduate
*Katherine Cain - Business Graduate
*Tucker Holladay - Business Graduate
*Shu-Wei Hsu - Business Graduate
*Alima Shamuratova - Business Graduate



=== '''DifferenceMaker™ Future Efforts:''' ===

The DifferenceMaker™ Program plans to continue many of the activities and events initiated in the first year of the program.  Some of these programs will be revised and they intend to launch several new initiatives, including a DifferenceMaker™ Passport Program, a DifferenceMaker™ Mentor Program and a seed grant program to encourage faculty participation in the DifferenceMaker™ program. They also plan to expand our collaboration with several University colleges. 

This year they plan to increase the role of DifferenceMaker™ Living Learning Community students in the DifferenceMaker™ program by training the members to become DifferenceMaker™ ambassadors once they transition into their sophomore year  through weekly meetings and monthly events. The training will allow LLC members to learn more about entrepreneurship and the DifferenceMaker™ Program so they can promote it to student clubs and campus classes.  Once the LLC students become sophomores they will transition into a DifferenceMaker™ Ambassador role, and hopefully will form the nucleus of a yet-to-be-formed DifferenceMaker™ student club.  

In order to assist students to both record and encourage their participation in DifferenceMaker™ events, they are planning the development and implementation of a DifferenceMaker™ Passport Program. Consistent with the goals of the UMass Lowell DifferenceMaker™ Program, the Passport Program will assist students to identify, record and collect experiences meant to: 

*Develop individual entrepreneurial identity
*Develop entrepreneurial skills and self-confidence
*Develop creative and sustainable solutions to complex problems
*Connect with the University, E For All and community entrepreneurial ecosystems

They anticipate that the number of students engaged in the DifferenceMaker™ Program and related activities will increase each year. As they encourage and reward the formation of various types of student ventures and projects, the need for mentors who can consult with student teams will increase. They plan to guide these students and track their progress through a professional Mentor Program. The UMass Lowell Mentor Program will provide a committed network of mentors with a broad set of skills and professional experiences, who can assist UMass Lowell entrepreneurs in developing the knowledge and skills, needed to grow an idea into a successful, new venture.

The DM UMass Lowell Mentor Program will seek to connect DifferenceMaker™ students with successful experienced entrepreneurs and alumnus, as well as faculty and staff.  The Mentor Program will focus on assisting students to further develop solutions as part of the DifferenceMaker™ Program. Mentors will provide guidance in further refining student team objectives and help them in building their entrepreneurial skillsets.

They are planning to offer DifferenceMaker™ Faculty Workshops to help faculty consider how they might engage their own students in DifferenceMaker™ activities through course related activities and through co-curricular activities. Our hope is that by engaging more faculty, they in turn will serve as both mentors and catalysts for students, encouraging and guiding student project selection and development. They have also observed that student teams often need support and guidance from faculty from different disciplines, these workshops and an accompanying seed grant program are meant as catalysts to encourage interdisciplinary engagement among faculty,

While the overarching goal of the DifferenceMaker™ program is to encourage UMass Lowell students to develop sustainable and entrepreneurial solutions to the challenges and opportunities they will confront in this world, they anticipate another, potentially significant impact on the University community itself. Our students will only be successful if they have the support of faculty, alumni, business and community members. During our first year of program activities, they have found these constituents to be most supportive and willing to mentor and work with our students.  Alumni are mentoring and investing in student ventures.  Faculty are working across disciplines to ensure their student teams make progress. Local profit and non-profit businesses are eager to work with student teams, providing real-world problems and opportunities for student projects. In one short year, the DifferenceMaker™ program has been embraced by the greater University community. Our hope and plan is to anchor this program in the curriculum and culture of the University, so all UMass Lowell students have an opportunity to make a difference in this world.

  

== '''Commercial Venture and Intellectual Property Office (CVIP)''' ==

Commercial Ventures and Intellectual Property (CVIP) is responsible for the protection and commercialization of intellectual property at UMass Lowell. 

==== '''CVIP Mission''' ====

The mission of UMass Lowell’s Office of Commercial Ventures and Intellectual Property (CVIP) is to facilitate the transfer of technology arising from government, foundation and industrial sponsored university research to the private sector. They facilitate development of inventions toward commercial relevance and utility, nurture mutually beneficial and sustainable relationships between the University and industry, promote an innovative and entrepreneurial culture at the University and contribute to the economic vibrancy and well-being of the Commonwealth. CVIP’s activities enable the successful transfer of commercially viable technology from the laboratory to the marketplace for public use and benefit. 

==== '''CVIP Functions''' ====

The main objectives of CVIP are:

*to license patents and other protections to industry in order to promote the development of inventions toward practical application;
*to foster a culture of innovation, facilitate commercially promising endeavors, and positively contribute to the University’s entrepreneurial ecosystem;
*to seek new business opportunities and form productive collaborations with industry in an effort to increase research and licensing revenue to the University;
*to generate income for inventors and the University as a whole for use in supporting further research, technology development and transfer;
*to advocate for the research community and seek to create incentives, provide rewards and obtain resources to advance commercialization of the technologies they generate.

== New Venture Initiative ==

New Venture Initiative (NVI) is a mix of university resources and equity investment designed to provide a path to and facilitate more start-up activity at UMass Lowell.  As part of the larger Commercial Venture and Intellectual Property Office (CVIP), the NVI fund focuses on inventions, discoveries, products and services that have been developed in whole or in part at UMass Lowell, have achieved proof of concept (or an early prototype) and are ready for commercial product development, rather than those requiring further basic research.  

== '''Massachusetts Medical Device Development Center (M2D2):''' ==

The Massachusetts Medical Device Development Center (M2D2) is a lifeline for the state’s smaller medical device companies, offering inventors and executives easy, affordable, and coordinated access to world-class researchers and resources at the Lowell and Worcester campuses of the University of Massachusetts.

==== '''M2D2 Available Resources''' ====

*9000 square feet of space on second floor including:
**6 wet laboratory suites
**Two office suites
**Large open office collaboration area
**Board room
**Reception area
**Break Room equipped with a table and chairs, full size refrigerator, microwave, sink, dishwasher, and coffee maker
*5000 square feet of space on first floor including:
**Six individual offices 
**Bright shared kitchen space equipped with a table and chairs, full size refrigerator and sink
**One large state of the art conference room with full pull down screen, computer with web access and a projector  
**All conference rooms contain a 46" Aquos LCD screen, as well as computer with web access and a projector
**Business and medical feasibility assessments
**Product development space
**Medical and clinical pathway assistance
**Connection to additional services such as laboratory use, incubator space for start-ups and clinical trial support through the product life cycle
**SBIR and STTR research
**Access to capital
**Networking events
**New Venture Competitions

== '''Entrepreneurship For All''' ==

'E for All' is a project of the Deshpande Foundation, which has encouraged the use of entrepreneurship and innovation as catalysts for sustainable change in the United States, India and Canada since 1996. Deshpande supported centers including the MIT Deshpande Center for Technological Innovation, the Deshpande Center for Social Innovation in Hubli, India, the Pond-Deshpande Centre at the University of New Brunswick, and our own 'E For All'  at the University of Massachusetts Lowell. 'E for All' includes higher education partners (Middlesex Community College, Merrimack College and Northern Essex Community College) and a host of regional community and business partners.

=== '''E for All Mission''' ===

The mission of 'E For All' is to connect and strengthen the ecosystem in Lowell and Lawrence, Massachusetts, around entrepreneurship and leadership. This mission is supported by the following three principle 'E For All' programs:

·       Catalysts-The Catalyst program provides seed funding and mentoring support to foster initiative around new ideas and programs among local high school and college students.

·       Entrepreneurship-The Entrepreneur Program is a community-wide initiative supporting entrepreneurship. More than 30 partner organizations and institutions are participating in this initiative, which gives entrepreneurs a greater chance at success through pitch contests, workshops and intensive programs. 

·       Leadership-The 'E For All' Leadership Institute (SLI) offers leadership development for individuals that live, work or are interested in the communities of Lawrence and Lowell. 

== Other Organizations ==

'''Entrepreneurial Ventures Association''': EVA is an interdisciplinary organization that is open to all majors; they share resources, advice, and interests with other COM and UML clubs to help students turn their entrepreneurial ideas into reality.  

'''Honors Ambassador Program: '''Students participate in the Honors Ambassador Program to gain valuable experience through courses tailored for higher development and to foster relationships with communities and organizations that the program is involved with.

= '''University Entrepreneurship''' =

== Creative New Academic Programs ==

==== '''The Manning School of Business'''  ====

==== '''Undergraduate - Entrepreneurship Concentration''': Prepares students to be "outside-of-the-box" thinkers and innovators in today's complex global economy. ====

*The '''entrepreneurship concentration''' prepares students to be an "outside of the box" thinker and innovator in today's complex global economy. Using an interdisciplinary focus, students who complete the concentration will:
**Develop the management skills required to identify and launch new business ventures around innovative products, services and technologies. 
**Develop an understanding of the concepts and activities associated with entrepreneurship and innovation. 
**Understand the financial aspects of an entrepreneurial venture from start-up to "harvest". 
**Discover their individual "entrepreneurial spirit" through experiential learning in interdisciplinary classes and the College's Venture Lab.

'''Graduate - Master of Science in Innovation and Technological Entrepreneurship (MSITE)''': Provides engineers, business majors and scientists with the skills and knowledge required to drive innovation in today's collaborative, global workforce.

'''Graduate - Master of Science in Innovation and Technological Entrepreneurship (MSITE) Healthcare Innovation & Entrepreneurship (HI+E) Option''': This option is targeted towards healthcare professionals, such as hospital managers/administrators, clinicians, physicians and other medical professionals who need to understand and manage the impact of emerging technologies and innovations in the healthcare industry. The Program will also benefit recent graduates who wish to enter the healthcare industries as a career choice.

'''Graduate Certificate - New Venture Creation''': This program is focused specifically on the creation of technology-based ventures and is designed to assist professionals with undergraduate and career experience in science, engineering, technology or business fields in better understanding how to develop and launch a technology-based business.

==== '''College of Sciences, Computer Science Department''' ====

The Computer Science Department offers an entrepreneurship option in their master's degree. It is directed at those with a strong undergraduate background in Computer Science who are interested in both deepening their technical knowledge and in understanding the tools required for developing a company directed towards software services and products.

==== '''College of Engineering, Electrical and Computer Engineering Department, Assistive Technology Program''' ====

A component of the undergraduate Electrical and Computer Engineering program, senior ECE students complete a senior capstone project aimed at designing and producing an assistive technology device for a person with a disability. Engineering students can apply the knowledge they have learned from their courses and help solve problems for disabled people through creating technological advances. 

== Entrepreneurial Capital Projects and Acquisitions ==

=== '''The Mark and Elisia Saab Emerging Technologies and Innovation Center''' ===

This new UMass Lowell 2012-13 construction is a building developed for bringing innovation and industry together. Faculty and student researchers use the resources available in this building to meet industry challenges and improve lives using UMass Lowell technologies and patents. Core facilities for use in fundamental and translational research are available to faculty and students; it contains class 100, 1,000, and 10,000 cleanroom spaces, wet lab and engineering lab space, and a plastics processing high bay. The ETIC is has LEED Gold Certification, and is considered green. The construction of this building also is estimated to supporting at least 130 new jobs.

 

=== '''Health and Social Sciences Building'''  ===

This new building that houses criminal justice and criminology, nursing, and psychology provides classrooms, simulation laboratories, observation facilities, a demonstration hospital wing, and ample meeting space for community projects. The construction of this new building supported more than 800 construction and related jobs, and provided the much needed resources and space for UMass Lowell’s growing social science population.

= '''University-Industry Collaboration''' =

'''Research Activities'''

UMass Lowell places a large focus on professional research, as evidenced by the ample lab space professors have to work with in buildings such as the ETIC. A comprehensive list of all research areas and information about them can be found on the UMass Lowell website. [http://www.uml.edu/Research/Centers/default.aspx http://www.uml.edu/Research/Centers/default.aspx]

==== Center for Industrial Competitiveness ====

For nearly 20 years, UMass Lowell’s Center for Industrial Competitiveness has conducted research on industrial innovation, regional development, corporate governance, financialization, and sustainable prosperity. Resources available stretch all around the world through collaborative networks and relationships, providing ample information and a global understanding on development. Research also includes local industrial development in Massachusetts. 

UMass Lowell has a page dedicated to the CIC researchers and their work, which can be found here: [http://www.uml.edu/centers/cic/Research/Research.html http://www.uml.edu/centers/cic/Research/Research.html]

= '''Regional and Local Economic Development''' =

'''Economic and Social Development of Regions Department:'''

This graduate program focuses on giving an interdisciplinary education that is tailored to fit the needs of the individual. By educating both the private and public sectors of economic and social development, this program aims to create work ready individuals that can bring innovation and change to shifting social and economic environment.

'''Lowell Makes''' 

“A membership‐driven collaborative space equipped with a wide variety of tools, machines, materials, computers and other resources where individuals can gain and practice modern skills with state‐of‐the‐art technology, access to resources they could not otherwise, and a community of creative minded people who make all kinds of things. “Art is the Handmaid of Human Good” is both the City of Lowell’s motto, and a reminder of Lowell’s rich industrial and artistic history as our inspiration.” - [http://www.lowellmakes.com/proposal/ http://www.lowellmakes.com/proposal/]

Lowell makes was founded to be a space where those who do not have access to certain equipment to bring their ideas to life will have that access they need and have the support they need to push their innovation to the next level. It is a space that has resources tailored for budding entrepreneurs, and can be rented out by anyone with a plan. 

'''Mill No.5'''

Mill No.5 is one of the few non-UML entrepreneurial constructs in the Lowell urban environment. Like many mills in Lowell, it has been renovated and repurposed. Being subdivided and updated to proper code, there are rooms available for offices and start-ups looking to have an office space to centralize their resources. 

= '''Conclusion''' =

Entrepreneurship is a strategic objective at the University of Massachusetts Lowell.  During the last five years, UMass Lowell has re-positioned itself with students, faculty, staff, and the community as a true public enterprise committed to taking an entrepreneurial approach to innovation in all aspects of its structure.   A rapidly expanding innovation ecosystem encourages and guides entrepreneurial action, whether academically or commercially, amongst its faculty and student body -- fostering an entrepreneurial approach to economic development through a variety of programs and activities. UMass Lowell will continue to thrive in all aspects of entrepreneurship and innovation.  

= Related Links =

University Innovation Fellows:
[http://universityinnovation.org/wiki/Stephen_Kender Stephen Kender][[Ana Gouveia|Ana Gouveia]][[James Abdallah|James Abdallah]][[KevinMDesjardins|Kevin Desjardins]][[Jacob Hulme|Jacob Hulme]][[UMass Lowell Student Priorities|UMass Lowell Student Priorities]]
[[Category:Universities]]

School:University of Massachusetts Lowell

2015-10-12T19:22:22Z

Ephenstephen:

<div style="float: right; clear: right;">[[File:UMass-Lowell-logo.png]]</div>
The University of Massachusetts Lowell (also known as UMass Lowell or UML) is a [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Public_university public] [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_research_universities_in_the_United_States doctoral/research] university in [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lowell,_Massachusetts Lowell], [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Massachusetts Massachusetts], [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_States United States],and part of the [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/University_of_Massachusetts University of Massachusetts] system. With more than 1,100 faculty members and more than 16,000 students, it is the largest university in the [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Merrimack_Valley Merrimack Valley] and the second-largest public institution in the state behind UMass Amherst. The university offers more than 120 degree choices, internships, bachelor’s to master’s programs and doctoral studies in the College of Fine Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences; College of Health Sciences; College of Sciences; the Francis College of Engineering; the Graduate School of Education; and the Manning School of Business.

= '''Overview - A Campus On The Move''' =

UMass Lowell has been evolving in every aspect; upgraded classrooms, libraries and labs; new and renovated student living and activity spaces; and enhanced parking facilities are a few on the list of what has been updated and changed over the past decade of campus improvement.

*University Crossing
**Officially completed and operating, this new building hosts student services and activities, bookstore, dining, University police, transportation services, and senior administration offices.
*Pulichino Tong Building
**The University’s current construction project, the Tong Building will replace the now-relocated Honor’s Eames Dorm building on UMass Lowell’s North Campus and will house the entirety of the Robert J. Manning School of Business.
*University Suites
**This brand new dorm on UMass Lowell’s East campus provides housing for 472 students in four- and six-bed suites. There is a ground-floor common area with a café - Hawk's Nest - featuring fresh bakery, grab & go items and a late night Asian menu, in addition to delicious Red Mango frozen yogurt & smoothies and "We proudly serve" Starbucks Coffee. A multi-purpose room is open to the UMass Lowell community. Each residential floor has two common kitchen/lounge areas, two quiet study rooms and a group study room.
*Riverview Suites
**The other half of the two-dorm addition to UMass Lowell in 2013, Riverview Suites has either two or three bedroom suites complete with a live-in kitchen, classroom and meeting rooms inside the building, and a gym inside the facility. The University leases the property from Soho Development, who also built the $42 million facility.
*New Garages
**In the past three years, UMass Lowell has added two large parking garages to each of its largest parking lots, greatly increasing the parking capacity for the strong commuter presence attending the school.
*Health and Social Sciences Building
**In 2013, this new criminal justice and criminology, nursing and psychology building had its grand opening. The construction of this building marked the first new construction in 30 years on the University’s South Campus, including all campuses in the University’s recent wave of evolution.

Since 2009, the University has also been heavily updating the existing buildings while acquiring and renovating new ones. UMass Lowell renovated the newly acquired Inn and Conference Center, added Taco Bell and Subway to the University’s dining partners, renovated the newly acquired Tsongas Center, and heavily updated their Dining Hall in the tallest UMass Lowell building, Fox Hall 

== 2015 Innovation Fellows Plans ==

[https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1ZwhfzohFPyuM4Vutiho8ZAuV8Jmq-JxBJ2vNaGZe-kY/edit?usp=sharing Landscape Canvas]

[https://docs.google.com/presentation/d/1o3F2IN8YoWKMk83r0SoAfr5NH_qUw7RFa2ZxjslksQM/edit?usp=sharing Lean Startup Presentation]

= '''Student Entrepreneurship''' =

==== '''NonSpec ''' ====

[http://www.nonspec.org/ NonSpec] participated in the 2013 first annual DifferenceMaker™ Idea Challenge where they showed dedication and enthusiasm by attending each educational workshop and event throughout the process which aided in their success.  At the Idea Challenge they received the prestigious title of “Campus Wide DifferenceMaker™” and the top award of $5,000. This prize represents the project most likely to make a significant difference in the community, region and the world.

The $5,000 award has allowed Nonspec to move their initiative forward by creating their first batch of prosthetic limbs. With a projected 15% market share in the next five years, Nonspec plans to use this market presence to launch a foundation called “Give a Hand”. The purpose of this foundation would be to spread their mission, goals, charitable cause, and products around the world in order to make a difference in developing nations.

Since Nonspec’s success at the Idea Challenge they have gained great publicity in other arenas.  They were recently named one of the top 10 semi-finalists in Entrepreneur® Magazine’s “College Entrepreneur of 2013 Contest”.  In addition, they were invited to attend [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ppnzNSnxi-g IAPD Plastics Application Design Competition], which was held on October 2, 2013 in Miami, Florida.  Lastly, the team was utilized as a role model by being featured in a [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aLwLg4XHrck video] that was shown at all DifferenceMaker™ freshman orientation sessions throughout the summer due to their motivation and high entrepreneurial spirits.

= Departments and Programs =

== '''Center for Innovation and Entrepreneurship''' ==

The Center for Innovation and Entrepreneurship offers students and faculty of all disciplines the opportunity to work together to develop innovative and entrepreneurial solutions to the major problems facing our community, the region and the world. The Center hosts several programs that encourage social innovation and entrepreneurship among UMass Lowell students as well as the broader community in which we live. The DifferenceMaker program provides training, mentoring and other resources to UMass Lowell students and faculty who wish to address social, environmental and economic problems in our community.

== '''DifferenceMaker™''' ==

The DifferenceMaker™ Program sponsors specific events and activities that support students in solving big problems through innovation and entrepreneurship. The Program is highly experiential by offering students a series of workshops that they can engage in to better understand innovation, entrepreneurship and launching a start-up of their interest.

Students of all majors and disciplines are welcome to join this Program and make a difference at UMass Lowell, in the community or in the world through innovative and entrepreneurial action.

=== Goals of DifferenceMaker™ ===

*Introduce all UMass students to creative problem solving, innovation and entrepreneurship
*Accelerate purpose in each students education
*Connect current students to alumni experience
*Encourage a social responsibility ethos

=== DifferenceMaker™ Available Activities ===

*'''DifferenceMaker™ Enterprise Co-op'''
**Throughout each year, DifferenceMaker™ will hire several students from various majors to participate in paid co-op experiences. Student co-ops assist in conducting and summarizing entrepreneurial research, developing and distributing marketing materials for various center initiatives, and provide center support for faculty and innovation fellows affiliate with the center. 
*'''Freshman Make A Difference Orientation'''
**During the summer sessions, DifferenceMaker™ has a large presence in the Freshman Orientation days. Through the Office of Orientation, Student Activities and Leadership, and ResLife, DifferenceMaker™ was able to present to every attending freshman and gain exposure to all of the new students at UMass Lowell.
*'''Freshman DifferenceMaker™ Convocation'''
**At the beginning of each academic year, we present DifferenceMaker™ to every incoming freshman at Convocation. Each year we perform a fun activity to engage students in our program.
*'''Introduction to DifferenceMaker™'''
**Freshman Seminars-A series of in-class discussions in collaboration with the Manning School of Business, The Francis College of Engineering, The College of Fine Arts, Humanities, and Social Sciences, and The College of Health Sciences in order to introduce the DifferenceMaker™ Program to students of all disciplines and to inspire them to explore their passions through creative problem solving.
*'''Introduction to the DifferenceMaker™ Program'''
**A series of events were held on both the north and south campuses to introduce students to DifferenceMaker™ Program concepts, allow them to share their ideas and interests, explore possible projects and solution, and to connected with each other to form teams. These events included the DifferenceMaker™ Convocation Pitch, the Climate Change Teach-in, a DifferenceMaker™ Team Building Dinner, and others.
*'''DifferenceMaker™ LLC'''
**Having a presence in the student residence halls as well as the classroom is important to motivate students and discover new ideas waiting to happen. The DifferenceMaker™ Living/Learning Community brings new students together in the ResLife environment for innovation and brainstorming outside of the classroom.
*'''Honors DifferenceMaker™ Program'''
**In collaboration with UMass Lowell Honors Program, this concerted effort to embed elements of social entrepreneurship in our Honors Program includes coursework and community-based student efforts that have specific focus on innovation and entrepreneurial practices.
*'''Introduction to Engineering Extra Credit Project'''
**This activity was a collaboration effort between the DifferenceMaker™ Program and The Francis College of Engineering to introduce freshman engineering majors to the DifferenceMaker™ Program, innovation, and entrepreneurship. In this introductory activity, the students’ innovative ideas were explored and presented in a format which would enable their projects to be candidates for both the DifferenceMaker™ Program Idea Challenge and Campus Catalyst program.
*'''Creative Venture Competition'''
**This contest held in October of 2013 hosted by DifferenceMaker™ focused on innovation from Arts, Humanities, and Social Science students. $2500 was awarded to the best entrepreneurial business a proposal, and $250 to each finalist team was also awarded.
*'''Digital Federal Credit Union Innovation Contest''' 
**In November of 2013, DifferenceMaker™ along with DCU hosted an Innovation Contest focusing on banking and financial innovation in the industry. With a grand prize of $500 per team member and peripheral prizes of $100 per team member, the contest gave thousands to innovative teams and cutting edge ideas.
*'''DifferenceMaker™ Reverse Pitch'''
**This pitch event was debuted on November 19, 2013. This event was a spin-off of “normal” idea challenges and hackathons. Instead of students pitching their ideas to funding sources or judges, businesses and community partners actually pitched their existing problems to a student audience in the hopes that they can develop a solution.
*'''DifferenceMaker™ Idea Challenge'''
**''''''DifferenceMaker™ is hosting its fourth annual Idea Challenge; this challenge is for student entrepreneurial teams to come up with sustainable ideas that will make some sort of impact on the world or their community. Help in the form of various workshops in the months leading up to the Idea Challenge is available, teaching students how to properly pitch their ideas and how to flesh out their business plans. There are various subcategories for each team to have a chance at winning spread out across over many different disciplines, encouraging all students to participate and welcoming all ideas.
*'''DifferenceMaker™ Workshops'''
**Team Building Mixer
**Identifying Problems and Opportunities
**Developing Solutions
**Identifying Resources
**Rocket Pitch Coaching
*'''Campus Catalyst Program'''
**''''''The DifferenceMaker™ Program works closely with 'E For All', a community business accelerator funded by the Deshpande Foundation, in order to encourage students to generate and develop their entrepreneurial ideas. The Sandbox Campus Catalyst program provided seed funding for student social and business solutions with potential. 

=== '''DifferenceMaker™ Program Available Resources''' ===

*'''DifferenceMaker™ Central'''
**Large open office collaboration space equipped with Wi-Fi, 3 Mac computers, printer/copier, 2 46” LCD TV monitors with projection capabilities, 6 white boards, 10 tables with chairs all equipped with wheels that can be easily rearranged for optimal use and collaboration, refrigerator, sink, cabinet space, coffee maker and other necessary office supplies.
*'''Hawk  Hatch'''
**Philanthropic Crowd Funding Source
*'''Grants'''
*'''Networking'''
**Mentors
**Faculty Fellows and DifferenceMaker™ Staff
*'''Events'''
**Series of Educational Entrepreneurial Workshops including materials
**Problem, Opportunity, Solution, Resources, Pitch Coaching
**Team Building Assistance
**TeamMaker Platform, Team Building Mixer

Through the Center for Innovation & Entrepreneurship, along with affiliated faculty and other campus programs, the University has introduced a range of activities that help students make a difference in the world.

=== '''DifferenceMaker™ Inaugural Year Statistics''' ===

*72 DifferenceMaker™ events held in inaugural year
*3,500  students who participates in a DifferenceMaker™ event this past year
*$25,000  of funds awarded to 10 IdeaChallenge finalist teams
*1,265  freshman participating in summer rapid ideation workshops
*112  students who participated in the First Annual IdeaChallenge
*22  cross discipline relationships notes between students among IdeaChallenge teams
*24  academic disciplines represented by students in the IdeaChallenge teams

=== '''2015 DifferenceMaker™ Idea Challenge Finalists''' ===

'''Campus-Wide DifferenceMaker'''

'''Hydraulic Walker ($5,000)'''

*Ryan Andrews - Physical Therapy Graduate
*Peter Klausmeyer - Physical Therapy Graduate



'''Significant Social Impact'''

'''1st Place'''- '''L''''''ove of the Game ($4,000)'''

*Jessica Dion - Exercise Physiology '16
*Dylan Doucette - Exercise Physiology '16
*Lucas Parsons - Exercise Physiology '16
*Rachel Silk - Business Marketing '16
*Daniel Schmith - Business Entrepreneurship '18
*Jennie Pisarik - Exercise Physiology '16



'''2nd Place - Buddies Without Borders ($2,500)'''

*Tugba Arsava - Community Social Psychology Graduate
*Burhan Colak - Civil Engineering Graduate
*Katherine Cox - Psychology '18
*Madeline Ormazza - Business '17
*Shashank Raghuveer - Computer Science Graduate
*Fang Zhang - Chemistry Graduate



'''Contribution to a Healthier Lifestyle'''

'''1st Place - Playable Therapy ($4,000)'''

*Suhaib Alfageeh - Computer Science '16
*Lucas Brown - English and Math '16
*Chelsea Hayes - Business '16
*Damir Ismagilove - Math '16
*Anthony Pitaro - Exercise Physiology '15
*Mark Mcgrotty - Computer Science '16



'''2nd Place - Solar Electric Vehicles ($2,500)'''

*Suhaib Alfageeh - Computer Science '16
*Chukwuma Azubuine - Entrepreneurship Graduate
*Richard Asirifi - Electrical Engineering '16
*Anas Dahany - Electrical Engineering '15
*David Jenkins - Mechanical Engineering '15
*Oliver Kayego - Electrical Engineering '17
*Chris Leger - Electrical Engineering '15
*Jared Mrvos - Computer Engineering '17
*Charles Reid - Mechanical Engineering '15
*Kenneth Sanders - Computer Science '18
*Mukhammaddin Zinaddinov - Electrical Engineering '18



'''Innovative Technology Solution'''

'''1st Place - Masela Dentures ($4,000)'''

*Cormac Hondros-McCarthy - Plastics Engineering '15
*Casey McRae - Plastics Engineering '15



'''2nd Place - KEnDERS Athletic Body Armor($2,500)'''

*Elizabeth Kender - Plastics Engineering '16
*Laura Kender - Plastics Engineering '16
*Stephen Kender - Plastics Engineering '18



'''First to Market'''

'''1st Place - Mayday ($4,000)'''

*Cibhi SelVan-  Business Graduate
*Alessandro Agnello-  Computer Science PhD



'''2nd Place''' - '''Word Builder '''('''$2,500)'''

*Sergio Coronado - Computer Engineering '16
*Ian Copithorne - Computer Engineering '16



'''Honorable Mention'''

'''Low-Income Community Homework Center ($1,500)'''

*Arnaldo Rivera - Psychology '15
*Hector Rivera  - Psychology '15



'''Fan Favorite'''

'''Indoor Hydroponic System ($2,500)'''

*Rapheeporn Aungaphinant - Business Graduate
*Katherine Cain - Business Graduate
*Tucker Holladay - Business Graduate
*Shu-Wei Hsu - Business Graduate
*Alima Shamuratova - Business Graduate



=== '''DifferenceMaker™ Future Efforts:''' ===

The DifferenceMaker™ Program plans to continue many of the activities and events initiated in the first year of the program.  Some of these programs will be revised and they intend to launch several new initiatives, including a DifferenceMaker™ Passport Program, a DifferenceMaker™ Mentor Program and a seed grant program to encourage faculty participation in the DifferenceMaker™ program. They also plan to expand our collaboration with several University colleges. 

This year they plan to increase the role of DifferenceMaker™ Living Learning Community students in the DifferenceMaker™ program by training the members to become DifferenceMaker™ ambassadors once they transition into their sophomore year  through weekly meetings and monthly events. The training will allow LLC members to learn more about entrepreneurship and the DifferenceMaker™ Program so they can promote it to student clubs and campus classes.  Once the LLC students become sophomores they will transition into a DifferenceMaker™ Ambassador role, and hopefully will form the nucleus of a yet-to-be-formed DifferenceMaker™ student club.  

In order to assist students to both record and encourage their participation in DifferenceMaker™ events, they are planning the development and implementation of a DifferenceMaker™ Passport Program. Consistent with the goals of the UMass Lowell DifferenceMaker™ Program, the Passport Program will assist students to identify, record and collect experiences meant to: 

*Develop individual entrepreneurial identity
*Develop entrepreneurial skills and self-confidence
*Develop creative and sustainable solutions to complex problems
*Connect with the University, E For All and community entrepreneurial ecosystems

They anticipate that the number of students engaged in the DifferenceMaker™ Program and related activities will increase each year. As they encourage and reward the formation of various types of student ventures and projects, the need for mentors who can consult with student teams will increase. They plan to guide these students and track their progress through a professional Mentor Program. The UMass Lowell Mentor Program will provide a committed network of mentors with a broad set of skills and professional experiences, who can assist UMass Lowell entrepreneurs in developing the knowledge and skills, needed to grow an idea into a successful, new venture.

The DM UMass Lowell Mentor Program will seek to connect DifferenceMaker™ students with successful experienced entrepreneurs and alumnus, as well as faculty and staff.  The Mentor Program will focus on assisting students to further develop solutions as part of the DifferenceMaker™ Program. Mentors will provide guidance in further refining student team objectives and help them in building their entrepreneurial skillsets.

They are planning to offer DifferenceMaker™ Faculty Workshops to help faculty consider how they might engage their own students in DifferenceMaker™ activities through course related activities and through co-curricular activities. Our hope is that by engaging more faculty, they in turn will serve as both mentors and catalysts for students, encouraging and guiding student project selection and development. They have also observed that student teams often need support and guidance from faculty from different disciplines, these workshops and an accompanying seed grant program are meant as catalysts to encourage interdisciplinary engagement among faculty,

While the overarching goal of the DifferenceMaker™ program is to encourage UMass Lowell students to develop sustainable and entrepreneurial solutions to the challenges and opportunities they will confront in this world, they anticipate another, potentially significant impact on the University community itself. Our students will only be successful if they have the support of faculty, alumni, business and community members. During our first year of program activities, they have found these constituents to be most supportive and willing to mentor and work with our students.  Alumni are mentoring and investing in student ventures.  Faculty are working across disciplines to ensure their student teams make progress. Local profit and non-profit businesses are eager to work with student teams, providing real-world problems and opportunities for student projects. In one short year, the DifferenceMaker™ program has been embraced by the greater University community. Our hope and plan is to anchor this program in the curriculum and culture of the University, so all UMass Lowell students have an opportunity to make a difference in this world.

  

== '''Commercial Venture and Intellectual Property Office (CVIP)''' ==

Commercial Ventures and Intellectual Property (CVIP) is responsible for the protection and commercialization of intellectual property at UMass Lowell. 

==== '''CVIP Mission''' ====

The mission of UMass Lowell’s Office of Commercial Ventures and Intellectual Property (CVIP) is to facilitate the transfer of technology arising from government, foundation and industrial sponsored university research to the private sector. They facilitate development of inventions toward commercial relevance and utility, nurture mutually beneficial and sustainable relationships between the University and industry, promote an innovative and entrepreneurial culture at the University and contribute to the economic vibrancy and well-being of the Commonwealth. CVIP’s activities enable the successful transfer of commercially viable technology from the laboratory to the marketplace for public use and benefit. 

==== '''CVIP Functions''' ====

The main objectives of CVIP are:

*to license patents and other protections to industry in order to promote the development of inventions toward practical application;
*to foster a culture of innovation, facilitate commercially promising endeavors, and positively contribute to the University’s entrepreneurial ecosystem;
*to seek new business opportunities and form productive collaborations with industry in an effort to increase research and licensing revenue to the University;
*to generate income for inventors and the University as a whole for use in supporting further research, technology development and transfer;
*to advocate for the research community and seek to create incentives, provide rewards and obtain resources to advance commercialization of the technologies they generate.

== New Venture Initiative ==

New Venture Initiative (NVI) is a mix of university resources and equity investment designed to provide a path to and facilitate more start-up activity at UMass Lowell.  As part of the larger Commercial Venture and Intellectual Property Office (CVIP), the NVI fund focuses on inventions, discoveries, products and services that have been developed in whole or in part at UMass Lowell, have achieved proof of concept (or an early prototype) and are ready for commercial product development, rather than those requiring further basic research.  

== '''Massachusetts Medical Device Development Center (M2D2):''' ==

The Massachusetts Medical Device Development Center (M2D2) is a lifeline for the state’s smaller medical device companies, offering inventors and executives easy, affordable, and coordinated access to world-class researchers and resources at the Lowell and Worcester campuses of the University of Massachusetts.

==== '''M2D2 Available Resources''' ====

*9000 square feet of space on second floor including:
**6 wet laboratory suites
**Two office suites
**Large open office collaboration area
**Board room
**Reception area
**Break Room equipped with a table and chairs, full size refrigerator, microwave, sink, dishwasher, and coffee maker
*5000 square feet of space on first floor including:
**Six individual offices 
**Bright shared kitchen space equipped with a table and chairs, full size refrigerator and sink
**One large state of the art conference room with full pull down screen, computer with web access and a projector  
**All conference rooms contain a 46" Aquos LCD screen, as well as computer with web access and a projector
**Business and medical feasibility assessments
**Product development space
**Medical and clinical pathway assistance
**Connection to additional services such as laboratory use, incubator space for start-ups and clinical trial support through the product life cycle
**SBIR and STTR research
**Access to capital
**Networking events
**New Venture Competitions

== '''Entrepreneurship For All''' ==

'E for All' is a project of the Deshpande Foundation, which has encouraged the use of entrepreneurship and innovation as catalysts for sustainable change in the United States, India and Canada since 1996. Deshpande supported centers including the MIT Deshpande Center for Technological Innovation, the Deshpande Center for Social Innovation in Hubli, India, the Pond-Deshpande Centre at the University of New Brunswick, and our own 'E For All'  at the University of Massachusetts Lowell. 'E for All' includes higher education partners (Middlesex Community College, Merrimack College and Northern Essex Community College) and a host of regional community and business partners.

=== '''E for All Mission''' ===

The mission of 'E For All' is to connect and strengthen the ecosystem in Lowell and Lawrence, Massachusetts, around entrepreneurship and leadership. This mission is supported by the following three principle 'E For All' programs:

·       Catalysts-The Catalyst program provides seed funding and mentoring support to foster initiative around new ideas and programs among local high school and college students.

·       Entrepreneurship-The Entrepreneur Program is a community-wide initiative supporting entrepreneurship. More than 30 partner organizations and institutions are participating in this initiative, which gives entrepreneurs a greater chance at success through pitch contests, workshops and intensive programs. 

·       Leadership-The 'E For All' Leadership Institute (SLI) offers leadership development for individuals that live, work or are interested in the communities of Lawrence and Lowell. 

== Other Organizations ==

'''Entrepreneurial Ventures Association''': EVA is an interdisciplinary organization that is open to all majors; they share resources, advice, and interests with other COM and UML clubs to help students turn their entrepreneurial ideas into reality.  

'''Honors Ambassador Program: '''Students participate in the Honors Ambassador Program to gain valuable experience through courses tailored for higher development and to foster relationships with communities and organizations that the program is involved with.

= '''University Entrepreneurship''' =

== Creative New Academic Programs ==

'''The Manning School of Business'''  The Manning School of Business offers two academic programs focused on entrepreneurship:

[http://www.uml.edu/MSB/management/Entrepreneurship.aspx Undergraduate - Entrepreneurship Concentration]: Prepares students to be "outside-of-the-box" thinkers and innovators in today's complex global economy.

*The '''entrepreneurship concentration''' prepares students to be an "outside of the box" thinker and innovator in today's complex global economy. Using an interdisciplinary focus, students who complete the concentration will:
**Develop the management skills required to identify and launch new business ventures around innovative products, services and technologies. 
**Develop an understanding of the concepts and activities associated with entrepreneurship and innovation. 
**Understand the financial aspects of an entrepreneurial venture from start-up to "harvest". 
**Discover their individual "entrepreneurial spirit" through experiential learning in interdisciplinary classes and the College's Venture Lab.

[http://www.uml.edu/MSB/Graduate-Programs/MSITE.aspx Graduate - Master of Science in Innovation and Technological Entrepreneurship (MSITE)]: Provides engineers, business majors and scientists with the skills and knowledge required to drive innovation in today's collaborative, global workforce.

[http://www.uml.edu/MSB/Graduate-Programs/MSITEhealthcare.aspx Graduate - Master of Science in Innovation and Technological Entrepreneurship (MSITE) Healthcare Innovation & Entrepreneurship (HI+E) Option]: This option is targeted towards healthcare professionals, such as hospital managers/administrators, clinicians, physicians and other medical professionals who need to understand and manage the impact of emerging technologies and innovations in the healthcare industry. The Program will also benefit recent graduates who wish to enter the healthcare industries as a career choice.

[http://www.uml.edu/MSB/Program-of-study/New-Venture-Creation.aspx Graduate Certificate - New Venture Creation]: This program is focused specifically on the creation of technology-based ventures and is designed to assist professionals with undergraduate and career experience in science, engineering, technology or business fields in better understanding how to develop and launch a technology-based business.

'''College of Sciences, Computer Science Department'''

The Computer Science Department offers an [http://www.uml.edu/Catalog/Graduate/Sciences/Computer-Science/MS-in-Computer-Science-Entrepreneurship-Option.aspx entrepreneurship option] in their master's degree. It is directed at those with a strong undergraduate background in Computer Science who are interested in both deepening their technical knowledge and in understanding the tools required for developing a company directed towards software services and products.

'''College of Engineering, Electrical and Computer Engineering Department, Assistive Technology Program'''

A component of the undergraduate Electrical and Computer Engineering program, senior ECE students complete a [http://atp.caeds.eng.uml.edu/index.html senior capstone project] aimed at designing and producing an assistive technology device for a person with a disability. Engineering students can apply the knowledge they have learned from their courses and help solve problems for disabled people through creating technological advances. 

== Entrepreneurial Capital Projects and Acquisitions ==

=== '''The Mark and Elisia Saab Emerging Technologies and Innovation Center''' ===

This new UMass Lowell 2012-13 construction is a building developed for bringing innovation and industry together. Faculty and student researchers use the resources available in this building to meet industry challenges and improve lives using UMass Lowell technologies and patents. Core facilities for use in fundamental and translational research are available to faculty and students; it contains class 100, 1,000, and 10,000 cleanroom spaces, wet lab and engineering lab space, and a plastics processing high bay. The ETIC is has LEED Gold Certification, and is considered green. The construction of this building also is estimated to supporting at least 130 new jobs.

 

=== '''Health and Social Sciences Building'''  ===

This new building that houses criminal justice and criminology, nursing, and psychology provides classrooms, simulation laboratories, observation facilities, a demonstration hospital wing, and ample meeting space for community projects. The construction of this new building supported more than 800 construction and related jobs, and provided the much needed resources and space for UMass Lowell’s growing social science population.

= '''University-Industry Collaboration''' =

'''Research Activities'''

UMass Lowell places a large focus on professional research, as evidenced by the ample lab space professors have to work with in buildings such as the ETIC. A comprehensive list of all research areas and information about them can be found on the UMass Lowell website. [http://www.uml.edu/Research/Centers/default.aspx http://www.uml.edu/Research/Centers/default.aspx]

==== Center for Industrial Competitiveness ====

For nearly 20 years, UMass Lowell’s Center for Industrial Competitiveness has conducted research on industrial innovation, regional development, corporate governance, financialization, and sustainable prosperity. Resources available stretch all around the world through collaborative networks and relationships, providing ample information and a global understanding on development. Research also includes local industrial development in Massachusetts. 

UMass Lowell has a page dedicated to the CIC researchers and their work, which can be found here: [http://www.uml.edu/centers/cic/Research/Research.html http://www.uml.edu/centers/cic/Research/Research.html]

= '''Regional and Local Economic Development''' =

'''Economic and Social Development of Regions Department:'''

This graduate program focuses on giving an interdisciplinary education that is tailored to fit the needs of the individual. By educating both the private and public sectors of economic and social development, this program aims to create work ready individuals that can bring innovation and change to shifting social and economic environment.

'''Lowell Makes''' 

“A membership‐driven collaborative space equipped with a wide variety of tools, machines, materials, computers and other resources where individuals can gain and practice modern skills with state‐of‐the‐art technology, access to resources they could not otherwise, and a community of creative minded people who make all kinds of things. “Art is the Handmaid of Human Good” is both the City of Lowell’s motto, and a reminder of Lowell’s rich industrial and artistic history as our inspiration.” - [http://www.lowellmakes.com/proposal/ http://www.lowellmakes.com/proposal/]

Lowell makes was founded to be a space where those who do not have access to certain equipment to bring their ideas to life will have that access they need and have the support they need to push their innovation to the next level. It is a space that has resources tailored for budding entrepreneurs, and can be rented out by anyone with a plan. 

'''Mill No.5'''

Mill No.5 is one of the few non-UML entrepreneurial constructs in the Lowell urban environment. Like many mills in Lowell, it has been renovated and repurposed. Being subdivided and updated to proper code, there are rooms available for offices and start-ups looking to have an office space to centralize their resources. 

= '''Conclusion''' =

Entrepreneurship is a strategic objective at the University of Massachusetts Lowell.  During the last five years, UMass Lowell has re-positioned itself with students, faculty, staff, and the community as a true public enterprise committed to taking an entrepreneurial approach to innovation in all aspects of its structure.   A rapidly expanding innovation ecosystem encourages and guides entrepreneurial action, whether academically or commercially, amongst its faculty and student body -- fostering an entrepreneurial approach to economic development through a variety of programs and activities. UMass Lowell will continue to thrive in all aspects of entrepreneurship and innovation.  

= Related Links =

University Innovation Fellows:
[http://universityinnovation.org/wiki/Stephen_Kender Stephen Kender][[Ana Gouveia|Ana Gouveia]][[James Abdallah|James Abdallah]][[KevinMDesjardins|Kevin Desjardins]][[Jacob Hulme|Jacob Hulme]][[UMass Lowell Student Priorities|UMass Lowell Student Priorities]]
[[Category:Universities]]

School:University of Massachusetts Lowell

2015-10-12T19:21:08Z

Ephenstephen:

<div style="float: right; clear: right;">[[File:UMass-Lowell-logo.png]]</div>
The University of Massachusetts Lowell (also known as UMass Lowell or UML) is a [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Public_university public] [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_research_universities_in_the_United_States doctoral/research] university in [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lowell,_Massachusetts Lowell], [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Massachusetts Massachusetts], [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_States United States],and part of the [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/University_of_Massachusetts University of Massachusetts] system. With more than 1,100 faculty members and more than 16,000 students, it is the largest university in the [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Merrimack_Valley Merrimack Valley] and the second-largest public institution in the state behind UMass Amherst. The university offers more than 120 degree choices, internships, bachelor’s to master’s programs and doctoral studies in the College of Fine Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences; College of Health Sciences; College of Sciences; the Francis College of Engineering; the Graduate School of Education; and the Manning School of Business.

= '''Overview - A Campus On The Move''' =

UMass Lowell has been evolving in every aspect; upgraded classrooms, libraries and labs; new and renovated student living and activity spaces; and enhanced parking facilities are a few on the list of what has been updated and changed over the past decade of campus improvement.

*University Crossing
**Officially completed and operating, this new building hosts student services and activities, bookstore, dining, University police, transportation services, and senior administration offices.
*Pulichino Tong Building
**The University’s current construction project, the Tong Building will replace the now-relocated Honor’s Eames Dorm building on UMass Lowell’s North Campus and will house the entirety of the Robert J. Manning School of Business.
*University Suites
**This brand new dorm on UMass Lowell’s East campus provides housing for 472 students in four- and six-bed suites. There is a ground-floor common area with a café - Hawk's Nest - featuring fresh bakery, grab & go items and a late night Asian menu, in addition to delicious Red Mango frozen yogurt & smoothies and "We proudly serve" Starbucks Coffee. A multi-purpose room is open to the UMass Lowell community. Each residential floor has two common kitchen/lounge areas, two quiet study rooms and a group study room.
*Riverview Suites
**The other half of the two-dorm addition to UMass Lowell in 2013, Riverview Suites has either two or three bedroom suites complete with a live-in kitchen, classroom and meeting rooms inside the building, and a gym inside the facility. The University leases the property from Soho Development, who also built the $42 million facility.
*New Garages
**In the past three years, UMass Lowell has added two large parking garages to each of its largest parking lots, greatly increasing the parking capacity for the strong commuter presence attending the school.
*Health and Social Sciences Building
**In 2013, this new criminal justice and criminology, nursing and psychology building had its grand opening. The construction of this building marked the first new construction in 30 years on the University’s South Campus, including all campuses in the University’s recent wave of evolution.

Since 2009, the University has also been heavily updating the existing buildings while acquiring and renovating new ones. UMass Lowell renovated the newly acquired Inn and Conference Center, added Taco Bell and Subway to the University’s dining partners, renovated the newly acquired Tsongas Center, and heavily updated their Dining Hall in the tallest UMass Lowell building, Fox Hall 

== 2015 Innovation Fellows Plans ==

[https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1ZwhfzohFPyuM4Vutiho8ZAuV8Jmq-JxBJ2vNaGZe-kY/edit?usp=sharing Landscape Canvas]

[https://docs.google.com/presentation/d/1o3F2IN8YoWKMk83r0SoAfr5NH_qUw7RFa2ZxjslksQM/edit?usp=sharing Lean Startup Presentation]

= '''Student Entrepreneurship''' =

==== '''NonSpec ''' ====

[http://www.nonspec.org/ NonSpec] participated in the 2013 first annual DifferenceMaker™ Idea Challenge where they showed dedication and enthusiasm by attending each educational workshop and event throughout the process which aided in their success.  At the Idea Challenge they received the prestigious title of “Campus Wide DifferenceMaker™” and the top award of $5,000. This prize represents the project most likely to make a significant difference in the community, region and the world.

The $5,000 award has allowed Nonspec to move their initiative forward by creating their first batch of prosthetic limbs. With a projected 15% market share in the next five years, Nonspec plans to use this market presence to launch a foundation called “Give a Hand”. The purpose of this foundation would be to spread their mission, goals, charitable cause, and products around the world in order to make a difference in developing nations.

Since Nonspec’s success at the Idea Challenge they have gained great publicity in other arenas.  They were recently named one of the top 10 semi-finalists in Entrepreneur® Magazine’s “College Entrepreneur of 2013 Contest”.  In addition, they were invited to attend [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ppnzNSnxi-g IAPD Plastics Application Design Competition], which was held on October 2, 2013 in Miami, Florida.  Lastly, the team was utilized as a role model by being featured in a [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aLwLg4XHrck video] that was shown at all DifferenceMaker™ freshman orientation sessions throughout the summer due to their motivation and high entrepreneurial spirits.

= Departments and Programs =

== '''Center for Innovation and Entrepreneurship''' ==

The Center for Innovation and Entrepreneurship offers students and faculty of all disciplines the opportunity to work together to develop innovative and entrepreneurial solutions to the major problems facing our community, the region and the world. The Center hosts several programs that encourage social innovation and entrepreneurship among UMass Lowell students as well as the broader community in which we live. The DifferenceMaker program provides training, mentoring and other resources to UMass Lowell students and faculty who wish to address social, environmental and economic problems in our community.

== '''DifferenceMaker™''' ==

The DifferenceMaker™ Program sponsors specific events and activities that support students in solving big problems through innovation and entrepreneurship. The Program is highly experiential by offering students a series of workshops that they can engage in to better understand innovation, entrepreneurship and launching a start-up of their interest.

Students of all majors and disciplines are welcome to join this Program and make a difference at UMass Lowell, in the community or in the world through innovative and entrepreneurial action.

=== Goals of DifferenceMaker™ ===

*Introduce all UMass students to creative problem solving, innovation and entrepreneurship
*Accelerate purpose in each students education
*Connect current students to alumni experience
*Encourage a social responsibility ethos

=== DifferenceMaker™ Available Activities ===

*'''DifferenceMaker™ Enterprise Co-op'''
**Throughout each year, DifferenceMaker™ will hire several students from various majors to participate in paid co-op experiences. Student co-ops assist in conducting and summarizing entrepreneurial research, developing and distributing marketing materials for various center initiatives, and provide center support for faculty and innovation fellows affiliate with the center. 
*'''Freshman Make A Difference Orientation'''
**During the summer sessions, DifferenceMaker™ has a large presence in the Freshman Orientation days. Through the Office of Orientation, Student Activities and Leadership, and ResLife, DifferenceMaker™ was able to present to every attending freshman and gain exposure to all of the new students at UMass Lowell.
*'''Freshman DifferenceMaker™ Convocation'''
**At the beginning of each academic year, we present DifferenceMaker™ to every incoming freshman at Convocation. Each year we perform a fun activity to engage students in our program.
*'''Introduction to DifferenceMaker™'''
**Freshman Seminars-A series of in-class discussions in collaboration with the Manning School of Business, The Francis College of Engineering, The College of Fine Arts, Humanities, and Social Sciences, and The College of Health Sciences in order to introduce the DifferenceMaker™ Program to students of all disciplines and to inspire them to explore their passions through creative problem solving.
*'''Introduction to the DifferenceMaker™ Program'''
**A series of events were held on both the north and south campuses to introduce students to DifferenceMaker™ Program concepts, allow them to share their ideas and interests, explore possible projects and solution, and to connected with each other to form teams. These events included the DifferenceMaker™ Convocation Pitch, the Climate Change Teach-in, a DifferenceMaker™ Team Building Dinner, and others.
*'''DifferenceMaker™ LLC'''
**Having a presence in the student residence halls as well as the classroom is important to motivate students and discover new ideas waiting to happen. The DifferenceMaker™ Living/Learning Community brings new students together in the ResLife environment for innovation and brainstorming outside of the classroom.
*'''Honors DifferenceMaker™ Program'''
**In collaboration with UMass Lowell Honors Program, this concerted effort to embed elements of social entrepreneurship in our Honors Program includes coursework and community-based student efforts that have specific focus on innovation and entrepreneurial practices.
*'''Introduction to Engineering Extra Credit Project'''
**This activity was a collaboration effort between the DifferenceMaker™ Program and The Francis College of Engineering to introduce freshman engineering majors to the DifferenceMaker™ Program, innovation, and entrepreneurship. In this introductory activity, the students’ innovative ideas were explored and presented in a format which would enable their projects to be candidates for both the DifferenceMaker™ Program Idea Challenge and Campus Catalyst program.
*'''Creative Venture Competition'''
**This contest held in October of 2013 hosted by DifferenceMaker™ focused on innovation from Arts, Humanities, and Social Science students. $2500 was awarded to the best entrepreneurial business a proposal, and $250 to each finalist team was also awarded.
*'''Digital Federal Credit Union Innovation Contest''' 
**In November of 2013, DifferenceMaker™ along with DCU hosted an Innovation Contest focusing on banking and financial innovation in the industry. With a grand prize of $500 per team member and peripheral prizes of $100 per team member, the contest gave thousands to innovative teams and cutting edge ideas.
*'''DifferenceMaker™ Reverse Pitch'''
**This pitch event was debuted on November 19, 2013. This event was a spin-off of “normal” idea challenges and hackathons. Instead of students pitching their ideas to funding sources or judges, businesses and community partners actually pitched their existing problems to a student audience in the hopes that they can develop a solution.
*'''DifferenceMaker™ Idea Challenge'''
**''''''DifferenceMaker™ is hosting its fourth annual Idea Challenge; this challenge is for student entrepreneurial teams to come up with sustainable ideas that will make some sort of impact on the world or their community. Help in the form of various workshops in the months leading up to the Idea Challenge is available, teaching students how to properly pitch their ideas and how to flesh out their business plans. There are various subcategories for each team to have a chance at winning spread out across over many different disciplines, encouraging all students to participate and welcoming all ideas.
*'''DifferenceMaker™ Workshops'''
**Team Building Mixer
**Identifying Problems and Opportunities
**Developing Solutions
**Identifying Resources
**Rocket Pitch Coaching
*'''Campus Catalyst Program'''
**''''''The DifferenceMaker™ Program works closely with 'E For All', a community business accelerator funded by the Deshpande Foundation, in order to encourage students to generate and develop their entrepreneurial ideas. The Sandbox Campus Catalyst program provided seed funding for student social and business solutions with potential. 

=== '''DifferenceMaker™ Program Available Resources''' ===

*'''DifferenceMaker™ Central'''
**Large open office collaboration space equipped with Wi-Fi, 3 Mac computers, printer/copier, 2 46” LCD TV monitors with projection capabilities, 6 white boards, 10 tables with chairs all equipped with wheels that can be easily rearranged for optimal use and collaboration, refrigerator, sink, cabinet space, coffee maker and other necessary office supplies.
*'''Hawk  Hatch'''
**Philanthropic Crowd Funding Source
*'''Grants'''
*'''Networking'''
**Mentors
**Faculty Fellows and DifferenceMaker™ Staff
*'''Events'''
**Series of Educational Entrepreneurial Workshops including materials
**Problem, Opportunity, Solution, Resources, Pitch Coaching
**Team Building Assistance
**TeamMaker Platform, Team Building Mixer

Through the Center for Innovation & Entrepreneurship, along with affiliated faculty and other campus programs, the University has introduced a range of activities that help students make a difference in the world.

=== '''DifferenceMaker™ Inaugural Year Statistics''' ===

*72 DifferenceMaker™ events held in inaugural year
*3,500  students who participates in a DifferenceMaker™ event this past year
*$25,000  of funds awarded to 10 IdeaChallenge finalist teams
*1,265  freshman participating in summer rapid ideation workshops
*112  students who participated in the First Annual IdeaChallenge
*22  cross discipline relationships notes between students among IdeaChallenge teams
*24  academic disciplines represented by students in the IdeaChallenge teams

=== '''2015 DifferenceMaker™ Idea Challenge Finalists''' ===

'''Campus-Wide DifferenceMaker'''

'''Hydraulic Walker ($5,000)'''

*Ryan Andrews - Physical Therapy Graduate
*Peter Klausmeyer - Physical Therapy Graduate



'''Significant Social Impact'''

'''1st Place'''- '''L''''''ove of the Game ($4,000)'''

*Jessica Dion - Exercise Physiology '16
*Dylan Doucette - Exercise Physiology '16
*Lucas Parsons - Exercise Physiology '16
*Rachel Silk - Business Marketing '16
*Daniel Schmith - Business Entrepreneurship '18
*Jennie Pisarik - Exercise Physiology '16



'''2nd Place - Buddies Without Borders ($2,500)'''

*Tugba Arsava - Community Social Psychology Graduate
*Burhan Colak - Civil Engineering Graduate
*Katherine Cox - Psychology '18
*Madeline Ormazza - Business '17
*Shashank Raghuveer - Computer Science Graduate
*Fang Zhang - Chemistry Graduate



'''Contribution to a Healthier Lifestyle'''

'''1st Place - Playable Therapy ($4,000)'''

*Suhaib Alfageeh - Computer Science '16
*Lucas Brown - English and Math '16
*Chelsea Hayes - Business '16
*Damir Ismagilove - Math '16
*Anthony Pitaro - Exercise Physiology '15
*Mark Mcgrotty - Computer Science '16



'''2nd Place - Solar Electric Vehicles ($2,500)'''

*Suhaib Alfageeh - Computer Science '16
*Chukwuma Azubuine - Entrepreneurship Graduate
*Richard Asirifi - Electrical Engineering '16
*Anas Dahany - Electrical Engineering '15
*David Jenkins - Mechanical Engineering '15
*Oliver Kayego - Electrical Engineering '17
*Chris Leger - Electrical Engineering '15
*Jared Mrvos - Computer Engineering '17
*Charles Reid - Mechanical Engineering '15
*Kenneth Sanders - Computer Science '18
*Mukhammaddin Zinaddinov - Electrical Engineering '18



'''Innovative Technology Solution'''

'''1st Place - Masela Dentures ($4,000)'''

*Cormac Hondros-McCarthy - Plastics Engineering '15
*Casey McRae - Plastics Engineering '15



'''2nd Place - KEnDERS Athletic Body Armor($2,500)'''

*Elizabeth Kender - Plastics Engineering '16
*Laura Kender - Plastics Engineering '16
*Stephen Kender - Plastics Engineering '18



'''First to Market'''

'''1st Place - Mayday ($4,000)'''

*Cibhi SelVan-  Business Graduate
*Alessandro Agnello-  Computer Science PhD



'''2nd Place''' - '''Word Builder '''('''$2,500)'''

*Sergio Coronado - Computer Engineering '16
*Ian Copithorne - Computer Engineering '16



'''Honorable Mention'''

'''Low-Income Community Homework Center ($1,500)'''

*Arnaldo Rivera - Psychology '15
*Hector Rivera  - Psychology '15



'''Fan Favorite'''

'''Indoor Hydroponic System ($2,500)'''

*Rapheeporn Aungaphinant - Business Graduate
*Katherine Cain - Business Graduate
*Tucker Holladay - Business Graduate
*Shu-Wei Hsu - Business Graduate
*Alima Shamuratova - Business Graduate



=== '''DifferenceMaker™ Future Efforts:''' ===

The DifferenceMaker™ Program plans to continue many of the activities and events initiated in the first year of the program.  Some of these programs will be revised and they intend to launch several new initiatives, including a DifferenceMaker™ Passport Program, a DifferenceMaker™ Mentor Program and a seed grant program to encourage faculty participation in the DifferenceMaker™ program. They also plan to expand our collaboration with several University colleges. 

This year they plan to increase the role of DifferenceMaker™ Living Learning Community students in the DifferenceMaker™ program by training the members to become DifferenceMaker™ ambassadors once they transition into their sophomore year  through weekly meetings and monthly events. The training will allow LLC members to learn more about entrepreneurship and the DifferenceMaker™ Program so they can promote it to student clubs and campus classes.  Once the LLC students become sophomores they will transition into a DifferenceMaker™ Ambassador role, and hopefully will form the nucleus of a yet-to-be-formed DifferenceMaker™ student club.  

In order to assist students to both record and encourage their participation in DifferenceMaker™ events, they are planning the development and implementation of a DifferenceMaker™ Passport Program. Consistent with the goals of the UMass Lowell DifferenceMaker™ Program, the Passport Program will assist students to identify, record and collect experiences meant to: 

*Develop individual entrepreneurial identity
*Develop entrepreneurial skills and self-confidence
*Develop creative and sustainable solutions to complex problems
*Connect with the University, E For All and community entrepreneurial ecosystems

They anticipate that the number of students engaged in the DifferenceMaker™ Program and related activities will increase each year. As they encourage and reward the formation of various types of student ventures and projects, the need for mentors who can consult with student teams will increase. They plan to guide these students and track their progress through a professional Mentor Program. The UMass Lowell Mentor Program will provide a committed network of mentors with a broad set of skills and professional experiences, who can assist UMass Lowell entrepreneurs in developing the knowledge and skills, needed to grow an idea into a successful, new venture.

The DM UMass Lowell Mentor Program will seek to connect DifferenceMaker™ students with successful experienced entrepreneurs and alumnus, as well as faculty and staff.  The Mentor Program will focus on assisting students to further develop solutions as part of the DifferenceMaker™ Program. Mentors will provide guidance in further refining student team objectives and help them in building their entrepreneurial skillsets.

They are planning to offer DifferenceMaker™ Faculty Workshops to help faculty consider how they might engage their own students in DifferenceMaker™ activities through course related activities and through co-curricular activities. Our hope is that by engaging more faculty, they in turn will serve as both mentors and catalysts for students, encouraging and guiding student project selection and development. They have also observed that student teams often need support and guidance from faculty from different disciplines, these workshops and an accompanying seed grant program are meant as catalysts to encourage interdisciplinary engagement among faculty,

While the overarching goal of the DifferenceMaker™ program is to encourage UMass Lowell students to develop sustainable and entrepreneurial solutions to the challenges and opportunities they will confront in this world, they anticipate another, potentially significant impact on the University community itself. Our students will only be successful if they have the support of faculty, alumni, business and community members. During our first year of program activities, they have found these constituents to be most supportive and willing to mentor and work with our students.  Alumni are mentoring and investing in student ventures.  Faculty are working across disciplines to ensure their student teams make progress. Local profit and non-profit businesses are eager to work with student teams, providing real-world problems and opportunities for student projects. In one short year, the DifferenceMaker™ program has been embraced by the greater University community. Our hope and plan is to anchor this program in the curriculum and culture of the University, so all UMass Lowell students have an opportunity to make a difference in this world.

  

== '''Commercial Venture and Intellectual Property Office (CVIP)''' ==

Commercial Ventures and Intellectual Property (CVIP) is responsible for the protection and commercialization of intellectual property at UMass Lowell. 

==== '''CVIP Mission''' ====

The mission of UMass Lowell’s Office of Commercial Ventures and Intellectual Property (CVIP) is to facilitate the transfer of technology arising from government, foundation and industrial sponsored university research to the private sector. They facilitate development of inventions toward commercial relevance and utility, nurture mutually beneficial and sustainable relationships between the University and industry, promote an innovative and entrepreneurial culture at the University and contribute to the economic vibrancy and well-being of the Commonwealth. CVIP’s activities enable the successful transfer of commercially viable technology from the laboratory to the marketplace for public use and benefit. 

==== '''CVIP Functions''' ====

The main objectives of CVIP are:

*to license patents and other protections to industry in order to promote the development of inventions toward practical application;
*to foster a culture of innovation, facilitate commercially promising endeavors, and positively contribute to the University’s entrepreneurial ecosystem;
*to seek new business opportunities and form productive collaborations with industry in an effort to increase research and licensing revenue to the University;
*to generate income for inventors and the University as a whole for use in supporting further research, technology development and transfer;
*to advocate for the research community and seek to create incentives, provide rewards and obtain resources to advance commercialization of the technologies they generate.

== New Venture Initiative ==

New Venture Initiative (NVI) is a mix of university resources and equity investment designed to provide a path to and facilitate more start-up activity at UMass Lowell.  As part of the larger Commercial Venture and Intellectual Property Office (CVIP), the NVI fund focuses on inventions, discoveries, products and services that have been developed in whole or in part at UMass Lowell, have achieved proof of concept (or an early prototype) and are ready for commercial product development, rather than those requiring further basic research.  

== '''Massachusetts Medical Device Development Center (M2D2):''' ==

The Massachusetts Medical Device Development Center (M2D2) is a lifeline for the state’s smaller medical device companies, offering inventors and executives easy, affordable, and coordinated access to world-class researchers and resources at the Lowell and Worcester campuses of the University of Massachusetts.

==== '''M2D2 Available Resources''' ====

*9000 square feet of space on second floor including:
**6 wet laboratory suites
**Two office suites
**Large open office collaboration area
**Board room
**Reception area
**Break Room equipped with a table and chairs, full size refrigerator, microwave, sink, dishwasher, and coffee maker
*5000 square feet of space on first floor including:
**Six individual offices 
**Bright shared kitchen space equipped with a table and chairs, full size refrigerator and sink
**One large state of the art conference room with full pull down screen, computer with web access and a projector  
**All conference rooms contain a 46" Aquos LCD screen, as well as computer with web access and a projector
**Business and medical feasibility assessments
**Product development space
**Medical and clinical pathway assistance
**Connection to additional services such as laboratory use, incubator space for start-ups and clinical trial support through the product life cycle
**SBIR and STTR research
**Access to capital
**Networking events
**New Venture Competitions

== '''Entrepreneurship For All''' ==

'E for All' is a project of the Deshpande Foundation, which has encouraged the use of entrepreneurship and innovation as catalysts for sustainable change in the United States, India and Canada since 1996. Deshpande supported centers including the MIT Deshpande Center for Technological Innovation, the Deshpande Center for Social Innovation in Hubli, India, the Pond-Deshpande Centre at the University of New Brunswick, and our own 'E For All'  at the University of Massachusetts Lowell. 'E for All' includes higher education partners (Middlesex Community College, Merrimack College and Northern Essex Community College) and a host of regional community and business partners.

=== '''E for All Mission''' ===

The mission of 'E For All' is to connect and strengthen the ecosystem in Lowell and Lawrence, Massachusetts, around entrepreneurship and leadership. This mission is supported by the following three principle 'E For All' programs:

·       Catalysts-The Catalyst program provides seed funding and mentoring support to foster initiative around new ideas and programs among local high school and college students.

·       Entrepreneurship-The Entrepreneur Program is a community-wide initiative supporting entrepreneurship. More than 30 partner organizations and institutions are participating in this initiative, which gives entrepreneurs a greater chance at success through pitch contests, workshops and intensive programs. 

·       Leadership-The 'E For All' Leadership Institute (SLI) offers leadership development for individuals that live, work or are interested in the communities of Lawrence and Lowell. 

== Other Organizations ==

'''Entrepreneurial Ventures Association''': EVA is an interdisciplinary organization that is open to all majors; they share resources, advice, and interests with other COM and UML clubs to help students turn their entrepreneurial ideas into reality.  

'''Honors Ambassador Program: '''Students participate in the Honors Ambassador Program to gain valuable experience through courses tailored for higher development and to foster relationships with communities and organizations that the program is involved with.

= '''University Entrepreneurship''' =

=== Creative New Academic Programs ===

'''The Manning School of Business'''  The Manning School of Business offers two academic programs focused on entrepreneurship:

*[http://www.uml.edu/MSB/management/Entrepreneurship.aspx Undergraduate - Entrepreneurship Concentration]: Prepares students to be "outside-of-the-box" thinkers and innovators in today's complex global economy.

The '''entrepreneurship concentration''' prepares students to be an "outside of the box" thinker and innovator in today's complex global economy. Using an interdisciplinary focus, students who complete the concentration will:

*Develop the management skills required to identify and launch new business ventures around innovative products, services and technologies. 
*Develop an understanding of the concepts and activities associated with entrepreneurship and innovation. 
*Understand the financial aspects of an entrepreneurial venture from start-up to "harvest". 
*Discover their individual "entrepreneurial spirit" through experiential learning in interdisciplinary classes and the College's Venture Lab.

The required courses within the Entrepreneurship concentration consist of:

#Starting a New Venture 
#Corporate Entrepreneurship 
#Managing Innovation 
#Finance for Emerging Business Enterprises
#Entrepreneurial Strategy & Implementation (Fall '14 not yet required)
#Study Abroad in India (not required, entrepreneurship focused)

[http://www.uml.edu/MSB/Graduate-Programs/MSITE.aspx Graduate - Master of Science in Innovation and Technological Entrepreneurship (MSITE)]: Provides engineers, business majors and scientists with the skills and knowledge required to drive innovation in today's collaborative, global workforce.

[http://www.uml.edu/MSB/Graduate-Programs/MSITEhealthcare.aspx Graduate - Master of Science in Innovation and Technological Entrepreneurship (MSITE) Healthcare Innovation & Entrepreneurship (HI+E) Option]: This option is targeted towards healthcare professionals, such as hospital managers/administrators, clinicians, physicians and other medical professionals who need to understand and manage the impact of emerging technologies and innovations in the healthcare industry. The Program will also benefit recent graduates who wish to enter the healthcare industries as a career choice.

[http://www.uml.edu/MSB/Program-of-study/New-Venture-Creation.aspx Graduate Certificate - New Venture Creation]: This program is focused specifically on the creation of technology-based ventures and is designed to assist professionals with undergraduate and career experience in science, engineering, technology or business fields in better understanding how to develop and launch a technology-based business.

'''College of Sciences, Computer Science Department'''

The Computer Science Department offers an [http://www.uml.edu/Catalog/Graduate/Sciences/Computer-Science/MS-in-Computer-Science-Entrepreneurship-Option.aspx entrepreneurship option] in their master's degree. It is directed at those with a strong undergraduate background in Computer Science who are interested in both deepening their technical knowledge and in understanding the tools required for developing a company directed towards software services and products.

'''College of Engineering, Electrical and Computer Engineering Department, Assistive Technology Program'''

A component of the undergraduate Electrical and Computer Engineering program, senior ECE students complete a [http://atp.caeds.eng.uml.edu/index.html senior capstone project] aimed at designing and producing an assistive technology device for a person with a disability. Engineering students can apply the knowledge they have learned from their courses and help solve problems for disabled people through creating technological advances. 

== Entrepreneurial Capital Projects and Acquisitions ==

=== '''The Mark and Elisia Saab Emerging Technologies and Innovation Center''' ===

This new UMass Lowell 2012-13 construction is a building developed for bringing innovation and industry together. Faculty and student researchers use the resources available in this building to meet industry challenges and improve lives using UMass Lowell technologies and patents. Core facilities for use in fundamental and translational research are available to faculty and students; it contains class 100, 1,000, and 10,000 cleanroom spaces, wet lab and engineering lab space, and a plastics processing high bay. The ETIC is has LEED Gold Certification, and is considered green. The construction of this building also is estimated to supporting at least 130 new jobs.

 

=== '''Health and Social Sciences Building'''  ===

This new building that houses criminal justice and criminology, nursing, and psychology provides classrooms, simulation laboratories, observation facilities, a demonstration hospital wing, and ample meeting space for community projects. The construction of this new building supported more than 800 construction and related jobs, and provided the much needed resources and space for UMass Lowell’s growing social science population.

= '''University-Industry Collaboration''' =

'''Research Activities'''

UMass Lowell places a large focus on professional research, as evidenced by the ample lab space professors have to work with in buildings such as the ETIC. A comprehensive list of all research areas and information about them can be found on the UMass Lowell website. [http://www.uml.edu/Research/Centers/default.aspx http://www.uml.edu/Research/Centers/default.aspx]

==== Center for Industrial Competitiveness ====

For nearly 20 years, UMass Lowell’s Center for Industrial Competitiveness has conducted research on industrial innovation, regional development, corporate governance, financialization, and sustainable prosperity. Resources available stretch all around the world through collaborative networks and relationships, providing ample information and a global understanding on development. Research also includes local industrial development in Massachusetts. 

UMass Lowell has a page dedicated to the CIC researchers and their work, which can be found here: [http://www.uml.edu/centers/cic/Research/Research.html http://www.uml.edu/centers/cic/Research/Research.html]

= '''Regional and Local Economic Development''' =

'''Economic and Social Development of Regions Department:'''

This graduate program focuses on giving an interdisciplinary education that is tailored to fit the needs of the individual. By educating both the private and public sectors of economic and social development, this program aims to create work ready individuals that can bring innovation and change to shifting social and economic environment.

'''Lowell Makes''' 

“A membership‐driven collaborative space equipped with a wide variety of tools, machines, materials, computers and other resources where individuals can gain and practice modern skills with state‐of‐the‐art technology, access to resources they could not otherwise, and a community of creative minded people who make all kinds of things. “Art is the Handmaid of Human Good” is both the City of Lowell’s motto, and a reminder of Lowell’s rich industrial and artistic history as our inspiration.” - [http://www.lowellmakes.com/proposal/ http://www.lowellmakes.com/proposal/]

Lowell makes was founded to be a space where those who do not have access to certain equipment to bring their ideas to life will have that access they need and have the support they need to push their innovation to the next level. It is a space that has resources tailored for budding entrepreneurs, and can be rented out by anyone with a plan. 

'''Mill No.5'''

Mill No.5 is one of the few non-UML entrepreneurial constructs in the Lowell urban environment. Like many mills in Lowell, it has been renovated and repurposed. Being subdivided and updated to proper code, there are rooms available for offices and start-ups looking to have an office space to centralize their resources. 

= '''Conclusion''' =

Entrepreneurship is a strategic objective at the University of Massachusetts Lowell.  During the last five years, UMass Lowell has re-positioned itself with students, faculty, staff, and the community as a true public enterprise committed to taking an entrepreneurial approach to innovation in all aspects of its structure.   A rapidly expanding innovation ecosystem encourages and guides entrepreneurial action, whether academically or commercially, amongst its faculty and student body -- fostering an entrepreneurial approach to economic development through a variety of programs and activities. UMass Lowell will continue to thrive in all aspects of entrepreneurship and innovation.  

= Related Links =

University Innovation Fellows:
[http://universityinnovation.org/wiki/Stephen_Kender Stephen Kender][[Ana Gouveia|Ana Gouveia]][[James Abdallah|James Abdallah]][[KevinMDesjardins|Kevin Desjardins]][[Jacob Hulme|Jacob Hulme]][[UMass Lowell Student Priorities|UMass Lowell Student Priorities]]
[[Category:Universities]]

School:University of Massachusetts Lowell

2015-10-12T19:20:00Z

Ephenstephen:

<div style="float: right; clear: right;">[[File:UMass-Lowell-logo.png]]</div>
The University of Massachusetts Lowell (also known as UMass Lowell or UML) is a [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Public_university public] [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_research_universities_in_the_United_States doctoral/research] university in [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lowell,_Massachusetts Lowell], [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Massachusetts Massachusetts], [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_States United States],and part of the [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/University_of_Massachusetts University of Massachusetts] system. With more than 1,100 faculty members and more than 16,000 students, it is the largest university in the [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Merrimack_Valley Merrimack Valley] and the second-largest public institution in the state behind UMass Amherst. The university offers more than 120 degree choices, internships, bachelor’s to master’s programs and doctoral studies in the College of Fine Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences; College of Health Sciences; College of Sciences; the Francis College of Engineering; the Graduate School of Education; and the Manning School of Business.

= '''Overview - A Campus On The Move''' =

UMass Lowell has been evolving in every aspect; upgraded classrooms, libraries and labs; new and renovated student living and activity spaces; and enhanced parking facilities are a few on the list of what has been updated and changed over the past decade of campus improvement.

*University Crossing
**Officially completed and operating, this new building hosts student services and activities, bookstore, dining, University police, transportation services, and senior administration offices.
*Pulichino Tong Building
**The University’s current construction project, the Tong Building will replace the now-relocated Honor’s Eames Dorm building on UMass Lowell’s North Campus and will house the entirety of the Robert J. Manning School of Business.
*University Suites
**This brand new dorm on UMass Lowell’s East campus provides housing for 472 students in four- and six-bed suites. There is a ground-floor common area with a café - Hawk's Nest - featuring fresh bakery, grab & go items and a late night Asian menu, in addition to delicious Red Mango frozen yogurt & smoothies and "We proudly serve" Starbucks Coffee. A multi-purpose room is open to the UMass Lowell community. Each residential floor has two common kitchen/lounge areas, two quiet study rooms and a group study room.
*Riverview Suites
**The other half of the two-dorm addition to UMass Lowell in 2013, Riverview Suites has either two or three bedroom suites complete with a live-in kitchen, classroom and meeting rooms inside the building, and a gym inside the facility. The University leases the property from Soho Development, who also built the $42 million facility.
*New Garages
**In the past three years, UMass Lowell has added two large parking garages to each of its largest parking lots, greatly increasing the parking capacity for the strong commuter presence attending the school.
*Health and Social Sciences Building
**In 2013, this new criminal justice and criminology, nursing and psychology building had its grand opening. The construction of this building marked the first new construction in 30 years on the University’s South Campus, including all campuses in the University’s recent wave of evolution.

Since 2009, the University has also been heavily updating the existing buildings while acquiring and renovating new ones. UMass Lowell renovated the newly acquired Inn and Conference Center, added Taco Bell and Subway to the University’s dining partners, renovated the newly acquired Tsongas Center, and heavily updated their Dining Hall in the tallest UMass Lowell building, Fox Hall 

== 2015 Innovation Fellows Plans ==

[https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1ZwhfzohFPyuM4Vutiho8ZAuV8Jmq-JxBJ2vNaGZe-kY/edit?usp=sharing Landscape Canvas]

[https://docs.google.com/presentation/d/1o3F2IN8YoWKMk83r0SoAfr5NH_qUw7RFa2ZxjslksQM/edit?usp=sharing Lean Startup Presentation]

= '''Student Entrepreneurship''' =

==== '''NonSpec ''' ====

[http://www.nonspec.org/ NonSpec] participated in the 2013 first annual DifferenceMaker™ Idea Challenge where they showed dedication and enthusiasm by attending each educational workshop and event throughout the process which aided in their success.  At the Idea Challenge they received the prestigious title of “Campus Wide DifferenceMaker™” and the top award of $5,000. This prize represents the project most likely to make a significant difference in the community, region and the world.

The $5,000 award has allowed Nonspec to move their initiative forward by creating their first batch of prosthetic limbs. With a projected 15% market share in the next five years, Nonspec plans to use this market presence to launch a foundation called “Give a Hand”. The purpose of this foundation would be to spread their mission, goals, charitable cause, and products around the world in order to make a difference in developing nations.

Since Nonspec’s success at the Idea Challenge they have gained great publicity in other arenas.  They were recently named one of the top 10 semi-finalists in Entrepreneur® Magazine’s “College Entrepreneur of 2013 Contest”.  In addition, they were invited to attend [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ppnzNSnxi-g IAPD Plastics Application Design Competition], which was held on October 2, 2013 in Miami, Florida.  Lastly, the team was utilized as a role model by being featured in a [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aLwLg4XHrck video] that was shown at all DifferenceMaker™ freshman orientation sessions throughout the summer due to their motivation and high entrepreneurial spirits.

= Departments and Programs =

== '''Center for Innovation and Entrepreneurship''' ==

The Center for Innovation and Entrepreneurship offers students and faculty of all disciplines the opportunity to work together to develop innovative and entrepreneurial solutions to the major problems facing our community, the region and the world. The Center hosts several programs that encourage social innovation and entrepreneurship among UMass Lowell students as well as the broader community in which we live. The DifferenceMaker program provides training, mentoring and other resources to UMass Lowell students and faculty who wish to address social, environmental and economic problems in our community.

== '''DifferenceMaker™''' ==

The DifferenceMaker™ Program sponsors specific events and activities that support students in solving big problems through innovation and entrepreneurship. The Program is highly experiential by offering students a series of workshops that they can engage in to better understand innovation, entrepreneurship and launching a start-up of their interest.

Students of all majors and disciplines are welcome to join this Program and make a difference at UMass Lowell, in the community or in the world through innovative and entrepreneurial action.

=== Goals of DifferenceMaker™ ===

*Introduce all UMass students to creative problem solving, innovation and entrepreneurship
*Accelerate purpose in each students education
*Connect current students to alumni experience
*Encourage a social responsibility ethos

=== DifferenceMaker™ Available Activities ===

*'''DifferenceMaker™ Enterprise Co-op'''
**Throughout each year, DifferenceMaker™ will hire several students from various majors to participate in paid co-op experiences. Student co-ops assist in conducting and summarizing entrepreneurial research, developing and distributing marketing materials for various center initiatives, and provide center support for faculty and innovation fellows affiliate with the center. 
*'''Freshman Make A Difference Orientation'''
**During the summer sessions, DifferenceMaker™ has a large presence in the Freshman Orientation days. Through the Office of Orientation, Student Activities and Leadership, and ResLife, DifferenceMaker™ was able to present to every attending freshman and gain exposure to all of the new students at UMass Lowell.
*'''Freshman DifferenceMaker™ Convocation'''
**At the beginning of each academic year, we present DifferenceMaker™ to every incoming freshman at Convocation. Each year we perform a fun activity to engage students in our program.
*'''Introduction to DifferenceMaker™'''
**Freshman Seminars-A series of in-class discussions in collaboration with the Manning School of Business, The Francis College of Engineering, The College of Fine Arts, Humanities, and Social Sciences, and The College of Health Sciences in order to introduce the DifferenceMaker™ Program to students of all disciplines and to inspire them to explore their passions through creative problem solving.
*'''Introduction to the DifferenceMaker™ Program'''
**A series of events were held on both the north and south campuses to introduce students to DifferenceMaker™ Program concepts, allow them to share their ideas and interests, explore possible projects and solution, and to connected with each other to form teams. These events included the DifferenceMaker™ Convocation Pitch, the Climate Change Teach-in, a DifferenceMaker™ Team Building Dinner, and others.
*'''DifferenceMaker™ LLC'''
**Having a presence in the student residence halls as well as the classroom is important to motivate students and discover new ideas waiting to happen. The DifferenceMaker™ Living/Learning Community brings new students together in the ResLife environment for innovation and brainstorming outside of the classroom.
*'''Honors DifferenceMaker™ Program'''
**In collaboration with UMass Lowell Honors Program, this concerted effort to embed elements of social entrepreneurship in our Honors Program includes coursework and community-based student efforts that have specific focus on innovation and entrepreneurial practices.
*'''Introduction to Engineering Extra Credit Project'''
**This activity was a collaboration effort between the DifferenceMaker™ Program and The Francis College of Engineering to introduce freshman engineering majors to the DifferenceMaker™ Program, innovation, and entrepreneurship. In this introductory activity, the students’ innovative ideas were explored and presented in a format which would enable their projects to be candidates for both the DifferenceMaker™ Program Idea Challenge and Campus Catalyst program.
*'''Creative Venture Competition'''
**This contest held in October of 2013 hosted by DifferenceMaker™ focused on innovation from Arts, Humanities, and Social Science students. $2500 was awarded to the best entrepreneurial business a proposal, and $250 to each finalist team was also awarded.
*'''Digital Federal Credit Union Innovation Contest''' 
**In November of 2013, DifferenceMaker™ along with DCU hosted an Innovation Contest focusing on banking and financial innovation in the industry. With a grand prize of $500 per team member and peripheral prizes of $100 per team member, the contest gave thousands to innovative teams and cutting edge ideas.
*'''DifferenceMaker™ Reverse Pitch'''
**This pitch event was debuted on November 19, 2013. This event was a spin-off of “normal” idea challenges and hackathons. Instead of students pitching their ideas to funding sources or judges, businesses and community partners actually pitched their existing problems to a student audience in the hopes that they can develop a solution.
*'''DifferenceMaker™ Idea Challenge'''
**''''''DifferenceMaker™ is hosting its fourth annual Idea Challenge; this challenge is for student entrepreneurial teams to come up with sustainable ideas that will make some sort of impact on the world or their community. Help in the form of various workshops in the months leading up to the Idea Challenge is available, teaching students how to properly pitch their ideas and how to flesh out their business plans. There are various subcategories for each team to have a chance at winning spread out across over many different disciplines, encouraging all students to participate and welcoming all ideas.
*'''DifferenceMaker™ Workshops'''
**Team Building Mixer
**Identifying Problems and Opportunities
**Developing Solutions
**Identifying Resources
**Rocket Pitch Coaching
*'''Campus Catalyst Program'''
**''''''The DifferenceMaker™ Program works closely with 'E For All', a community business accelerator funded by the Deshpande Foundation, in order to encourage students to generate and develop their entrepreneurial ideas. The Sandbox Campus Catalyst program provided seed funding for student social and business solutions with potential. 

=== '''DifferenceMaker™ Program Available Resources''' ===

*DifferenceMaker™ Central
**Large open office collaboration space equipped with Wi-Fi, 3 Mac computers, printer/copier, 2 46” LCD TV monitors with projection capabilities, 6 white boards, 10 tables with chairs all equipped with wheels that can be easily rearranged for optimal use and collaboration, refrigerator, sink, cabinet space, coffee maker and other necessary office supplies.
*Hawk  Hatch
**Philanthropic Crowd Funding Source
*Grants
*Networking
**Mentors
**Faculty Fellows and DifferenceMaker™ Staff
*Events
**Series of Educational Entrepreneurial Workshops including materials
**Problem, Opportunity, Solution, Resources, Pitch Coaching
**Team Building Assistance
**TeamMaker Platform, Team Building Mixer

Through the Center for Innovation & Entrepreneurship, along with affiliated faculty and other campus programs, the University has introduced a range of activities that help students make a difference in the world.

=== '''DifferenceMaker™ Inaugural Year Statistics''' ===

*72 DifferenceMaker™ events held in inaugural year
*3,500  students who participates in a DifferenceMaker™ event this past year
*$25,000  of funds awarded to 10 IdeaChallenge finalist teams
*1,265  freshman participating in summer rapid ideation workshops
*112  students who participated in the First Annual IdeaChallenge
*22  cross discipline relationships notes between students among IdeaChallenge teams
*24  academic disciplines represented by students in the IdeaChallenge teams

=== '''2015 DifferenceMaker™ Idea Challenge Finalists''' ===

'''Campus-Wide DifferenceMaker'''

'''Hydraulic Walker ($5,000)'''

They have designed and built a walker that utilizes hydraulics, allowing for the legs of the walker to be quickly adjusted, so that it can be used on stairs.

*Ryan Andrews - Physical Therapy Graduate
*Peter Klausmeyer - Physical Therapy Graduate



'''Significant Social Impact'''

'''1st Place'''- L'''ove of the Game ($4,000)'''

Love of the Game is a community outreach program aiming to integrate universities and people with physical and cognitive disabilities through sports.

*Jessica Dion - Exercise Physiology '16
*Dylan Doucette - Exercise Physiology '16
*Lucas Parsons - Exercise Physiology '16
*Rachel Silk - Business Marketing '16
*Daniel Schmith - Business Entrepreneurship '18
*Jennie Pisarik - Exercise Physiology '16



'''2nd Place - Buddies Without Borders ($2,500)'''

Buddies without Borders aims to bridge the gap between domestic students and international students starting with an in-person pair up then followed by a comprehensive website that allows members to define their profiles and micro-blog by text, photo, and video sharing.

*Tugba Arsava - Community Social Psychology Graduate
*Burhan Colak - Civil Engineering Graduate
*Katherine Cox - Psychology '18
*Madeline Ormazza - Business '17
*Shashank Raghuveer - Computer Science Graduate
*Fang Zhang - Chemistry Graduate



'''Contribution to a Healthier Lifestyle'''

'''1st Place - Playable Therapy ($4,000)'''

This project's goal is to create a platform of exercises and games that, with the Microsoft Kinect, will allow for motion tracking of a physical therapy (PT) patient during their exercise routine at home.

*Suhaib Alfageeh - Computer Science '16
*Lucas Brown - English and Math '16
*Chelsea Hayes - Business '16
*Damir Ismagilove - Math '16
*Anthony Pitaro - Exercise Physiology '15
*Mark Mcgrotty - Computer Science '16



'''2nd Place - Solar Electric Vehicles ($2,500)'''

This team is designing a series of low speed and high efficiency commuter vehicles that utilize hub motor technology to allow people to travel using purely the energy of the sun.

*Suhaib Alfageeh - Computer Science '16
*Chukwuma Azubuine - Entrepreneurship Graduate
*Richard Asirifi - Electrical Engineering '16
*Anas Dahany - Electrical Engineering '15
*David Jenkins - Mechanical Engineering '15
*Oliver Kayego - Electrical Engineering '17
*Chris Leger - Electrical Engineering '15
*Jared Mrvos - Computer Engineering '17
*Charles Reid - Mechanical Engineering '15
*Kenneth Sanders - Computer Science '18
*Mukhammaddin Zinaddinov - Electrical Engineering '18



'''Innovative Technology Solution'''

'''1st Place - Masela Dentures ($4,000)'''

Their project aims to develop a fully 3D printable denture system as an alternative solution to expensive dentures manufactured using traditional casting and milling methods.

*Cormac Hondros-McCarthy - Plastics Engineering '15
*Casey McRae - Plastics Engineering '15



'''2nd Place - KEnDERS Athletic Body Armor($2,500)'''

They created a novel and revolutionary sports equipment construction centered around an innovative shear-thickening material

*Elizabeth Kender - Plastics Engineering '16
*Laura Kender - Plastics Engineering '16
*Stephen Kender - Plastics Engineering '18



'''First to Market'''

'''1st Place - Mayday ($4,000)'''

This project aims to develop a wearable device connected via Bluetooth technology to a mobile phone, that, when activated, sends emergency alert signals to a list of emergency contacts.

*Cibhi SelVan-  Business Graduate
*Alessandro Agnello-  Computer Science PhD



'''2nd Place''' - '''Word Builder '''('''$2,500)'''

Word Builder is an interactive toy designed to help children build the foundations of reading at an early age.

*Sergio Coronado - Computer Engineering '16
*Ian Copithorne - Computer Engineering '16



'''Honorable Mention'''

'''Low-Income Community Homework Center ($1,500)'''

Their goal is to open a homework center for students from low-income families in a poverty stricken town/city such as Lawrence, Massachusetts.

*Arnaldo Rivera - Psychology '15
*Hector Rivera  - Psychology '15



'''Fan Favorite'''

'''Indoor Hydroponic System ($2,500)'''

Their project is a hydroponic garden that is equipped with an environment monitoring system that ensures optimal growing conditions for plants and requires little to no maintenance.

*Rapheeporn Aungaphinant - Business Graduate
*Katherine Cain - Business Graduate
*Tucker Holladay - Business Graduate
*Shu-Wei Hsu - Business Graduate
*Alima Shamuratova - Business Graduate



=== '''DifferenceMaker™ Future Efforts:''' ===

The DifferenceMaker™ Program plans to continue many of the activities and events initiated in the first year of the program.  Some of these programs will be revised and they intend to launch several new initiatives, including a DifferenceMaker™ Passport Program, a DifferenceMaker™ Mentor Program and a seed grant program to encourage faculty participation in the DifferenceMaker™ program. They also plan to expand our collaboration with several University colleges. 

This year they plan to increase the role of DifferenceMaker™ Living Learning Community students in the DifferenceMaker™ program by training the members to become DifferenceMaker™ ambassadors once they transition into their sophomore year  through weekly meetings and monthly events. The training will allow LLC members to learn more about entrepreneurship and the DifferenceMaker™ Program so they can promote it to student clubs and campus classes.  Once the LLC students become sophomores they will transition into a DifferenceMaker™ Ambassador role, and hopefully will form the nucleus of a yet-to-be-formed DifferenceMaker™ student club.  

In order to assist students to both record and encourage their participation in DifferenceMaker™ events, they are planning the development and implementation of a DifferenceMaker™ Passport Program. Consistent with the goals of the UMass Lowell DifferenceMaker™ Program, the Passport Program will assist students to identify, record and collect experiences meant to: 

*Develop individual entrepreneurial identity
*Develop entrepreneurial skills and self-confidence
*Develop creative and sustainable solutions to complex problems
*Connect with the University, E For All and community entrepreneurial ecosystems

They anticipate that the number of students engaged in the DifferenceMaker™ Program and related activities will increase each year. As they encourage and reward the formation of various types of student ventures and projects, the need for mentors who can consult with student teams will increase. They plan to guide these students and track their progress through a professional Mentor Program. The UMass Lowell Mentor Program will provide a committed network of mentors with a broad set of skills and professional experiences, who can assist UMass Lowell entrepreneurs in developing the knowledge and skills, needed to grow an idea into a successful, new venture.

The DM UMass Lowell Mentor Program will seek to connect DifferenceMaker™ students with successful experienced entrepreneurs and alumnus, as well as faculty and staff.  The Mentor Program will focus on assisting students to further develop solutions as part of the DifferenceMaker™ Program. Mentors will provide guidance in further refining student team objectives and help them in building their entrepreneurial skillsets.

They are planning to offer DifferenceMaker™ Faculty Workshops to help faculty consider how they might engage their own students in DifferenceMaker™ activities through course related activities and through co-curricular activities. Our hope is that by engaging more faculty, they in turn will serve as both mentors and catalysts for students, encouraging and guiding student project selection and development. They have also observed that student teams often need support and guidance from faculty from different disciplines, these workshops and an accompanying seed grant program are meant as catalysts to encourage interdisciplinary engagement among faculty,

While the overarching goal of the DifferenceMaker™ program is to encourage UMass Lowell students to develop sustainable and entrepreneurial solutions to the challenges and opportunities they will confront in this world, they anticipate another, potentially significant impact on the University community itself. Our students will only be successful if they have the support of faculty, alumni, business and community members. During our first year of program activities, they have found these constituents to be most supportive and willing to mentor and work with our students.  Alumni are mentoring and investing in student ventures.  Faculty are working across disciplines to ensure their student teams make progress. Local profit and non-profit businesses are eager to work with student teams, providing real-world problems and opportunities for student projects. In one short year, the DifferenceMaker™ program has been embraced by the greater University community. Our hope and plan is to anchor this program in the curriculum and culture of the University, so all UMass Lowell students have an opportunity to make a difference in this world.

  

== '''Commercial Venture and Intellectual Property Office (CVIP)''' ==

Commercial Ventures and Intellectual Property (CVIP) is responsible for the protection and commercialization of intellectual property at UMass Lowell. 

==== '''CVIP Mission''' ====

The mission of UMass Lowell’s Office of Commercial Ventures and Intellectual Property (CVIP) is to facilitate the transfer of technology arising from government, foundation and industrial sponsored university research to the private sector. They facilitate development of inventions toward commercial relevance and utility, nurture mutually beneficial and sustainable relationships between the University and industry, promote an innovative and entrepreneurial culture at the University and contribute to the economic vibrancy and well-being of the Commonwealth. CVIP’s activities enable the successful transfer of commercially viable technology from the laboratory to the marketplace for public use and benefit. 

==== '''CVIP Functions''' ====

The main objectives of CVIP are:

*to license patents and other protections to industry in order to promote the development of inventions toward practical application;
*to foster a culture of innovation, facilitate commercially promising endeavors, and positively contribute to the University’s entrepreneurial ecosystem;
*to seek new business opportunities and form productive collaborations with industry in an effort to increase research and licensing revenue to the University;
*to generate income for inventors and the University as a whole for use in supporting further research, technology development and transfer;
*to advocate for the research community and seek to create incentives, provide rewards and obtain resources to advance commercialization of the technologies they generate.

== New Venture Initiative ==

New Venture Initiative (NVI) is a mix of university resources and equity investment designed to provide a path to and facilitate more start-up activity at UMass Lowell.  As part of the larger Commercial Venture and Intellectual Property Office (CVIP), the NVI fund focuses on inventions, discoveries, products and services that have been developed in whole or in part at UMass Lowell, have achieved proof of concept (or an early prototype) and are ready for commercial product development, rather than those requiring further basic research.  

== '''Massachusetts Medical Device Development Center (M2D2):''' ==

The Massachusetts Medical Device Development Center (M2D2) is a lifeline for the state’s smaller medical device companies, offering inventors and executives easy, affordable, and coordinated access to world-class researchers and resources at the Lowell and Worcester campuses of the University of Massachusetts.

==== '''M2D2 Available Resources''' ====

*9000 square feet of space on second floor including:
**6 wet laboratory suites
**Two office suites
**Large open office collaboration area
**Board room
**Reception area
**Break Room equipped with a table and chairs, full size refrigerator, microwave, sink, dishwasher, and coffee maker
*5000 square feet of space on first floor including:
**Six individual offices 
**Bright shared kitchen space equipped with a table and chairs, full size refrigerator and sink
**One large state of the art conference room with full pull down screen, computer with web access and a projector  
**All conference rooms contain a 46" Aquos LCD screen, as well as computer with web access and a projector
**Business and medical feasibility assessments
**Product development space
**Medical and clinical pathway assistance
**Connection to additional services such as laboratory use, incubator space for start-ups and clinical trial support through the product life cycle
**SBIR and STTR research
**Access to capital
**Networking events
**New Venture Competitions

== '''Entrepreneurship For All''' ==

'E for All' is a project of the Deshpande Foundation, which has encouraged the use of entrepreneurship and innovation as catalysts for sustainable change in the United States, India and Canada since 1996. Deshpande supported centers including the MIT Deshpande Center for Technological Innovation, the Deshpande Center for Social Innovation in Hubli, India, the Pond-Deshpande Centre at the University of New Brunswick, and our own 'E For All'  at the University of Massachusetts Lowell. 'E for All' includes higher education partners (Middlesex Community College, Merrimack College and Northern Essex Community College) and a host of regional community and business partners.

=== '''E for All Mission''' ===

The mission of 'E For All' is to connect and strengthen the ecosystem in Lowell and Lawrence, Massachusetts, around entrepreneurship and leadership. This mission is supported by the following three principle 'E For All' programs:

·       Catalysts-The Catalyst program provides seed funding and mentoring support to foster initiative around new ideas and programs among local high school and college students.

·       Entrepreneurship-The Entrepreneur Program is a community-wide initiative supporting entrepreneurship. More than 30 partner organizations and institutions are participating in this initiative, which gives entrepreneurs a greater chance at success through pitch contests, workshops and intensive programs. 

·       Leadership-The 'E For All' Leadership Institute (SLI) offers leadership development for individuals that live, work or are interested in the communities of Lawrence and Lowell. 

== Other Organizations ==

'''Entrepreneurial Ventures Association''': EVA is an interdisciplinary organization that is open to all majors; they share resources, advice, and interests with other COM and UML clubs to help students turn their entrepreneurial ideas into reality.  

'''Honors Ambassador Program: '''Students participate in the Honors Ambassador Program to gain valuable experience through courses tailored for higher development and to foster relationships with communities and organizations that the program is involved with.

= '''University Entrepreneurship''' =

=== Creative New Academic Programs ===

'''The Manning School of Business'''  The Manning School of Business offers two academic programs focused on entrepreneurship:

*[http://www.uml.edu/MSB/management/Entrepreneurship.aspx Undergraduate - Entrepreneurship Concentration]: Prepares students to be "outside-of-the-box" thinkers and innovators in today's complex global economy.

The '''entrepreneurship concentration''' prepares students to be an "outside of the box" thinker and innovator in today's complex global economy. Using an interdisciplinary focus, students who complete the concentration will:

*Develop the management skills required to identify and launch new business ventures around innovative products, services and technologies. 
*Develop an understanding of the concepts and activities associated with entrepreneurship and innovation. 
*Understand the financial aspects of an entrepreneurial venture from start-up to "harvest". 
*Discover their individual "entrepreneurial spirit" through experiential learning in interdisciplinary classes and the College's Venture Lab.

The required courses within the Entrepreneurship concentration consist of:

#Starting a New Venture 
#Corporate Entrepreneurship 
#Managing Innovation 
#Finance for Emerging Business Enterprises
#Entrepreneurial Strategy & Implementation (Fall '14 not yet required)
#Study Abroad in India (not required, entrepreneurship focused)

[http://www.uml.edu/MSB/Graduate-Programs/MSITE.aspx Graduate - Master of Science in Innovation and Technological Entrepreneurship (MSITE)]: Provides engineers, business majors and scientists with the skills and knowledge required to drive innovation in today's collaborative, global workforce.

[http://www.uml.edu/MSB/Graduate-Programs/MSITEhealthcare.aspx Graduate - Master of Science in Innovation and Technological Entrepreneurship (MSITE) Healthcare Innovation & Entrepreneurship (HI+E) Option]: This option is targeted towards healthcare professionals, such as hospital managers/administrators, clinicians, physicians and other medical professionals who need to understand and manage the impact of emerging technologies and innovations in the healthcare industry. The Program will also benefit recent graduates who wish to enter the healthcare industries as a career choice.

[http://www.uml.edu/MSB/Program-of-study/New-Venture-Creation.aspx Graduate Certificate - New Venture Creation]: This program is focused specifically on the creation of technology-based ventures and is designed to assist professionals with undergraduate and career experience in science, engineering, technology or business fields in better understanding how to develop and launch a technology-based business.

'''College of Sciences, Computer Science Department'''

The Computer Science Department offers an [http://www.uml.edu/Catalog/Graduate/Sciences/Computer-Science/MS-in-Computer-Science-Entrepreneurship-Option.aspx entrepreneurship option] in their master's degree. It is directed at those with a strong undergraduate background in Computer Science who are interested in both deepening their technical knowledge and in understanding the tools required for developing a company directed towards software services and products.

'''College of Engineering, Electrical and Computer Engineering Department, Assistive Technology Program'''

A component of the undergraduate Electrical and Computer Engineering program, senior ECE students complete a [http://atp.caeds.eng.uml.edu/index.html senior capstone project] aimed at designing and producing an assistive technology device for a person with a disability. Engineering students can apply the knowledge they have learned from their courses and help solve problems for disabled people through creating technological advances. 

== Entrepreneurial Capital Projects and Acquisitions ==

=== '''The Mark and Elisia Saab Emerging Technologies and Innovation Center''' ===

This new UMass Lowell 2012-13 construction is a building developed for bringing innovation and industry together. Faculty and student researchers use the resources available in this building to meet industry challenges and improve lives using UMass Lowell technologies and patents. Core facilities for use in fundamental and translational research are available to faculty and students; it contains class 100, 1,000, and 10,000 cleanroom spaces, wet lab and engineering lab space, and a plastics processing high bay. The ETIC is has LEED Gold Certification, and is considered green. The construction of this building also is estimated to supporting at least 130 new jobs.

 

=== '''Health and Social Sciences Building'''  ===

This new building that houses criminal justice and criminology, nursing, and psychology provides classrooms, simulation laboratories, observation facilities, a demonstration hospital wing, and ample meeting space for community projects. The construction of this new building supported more than 800 construction and related jobs, and provided the much needed resources and space for UMass Lowell’s growing social science population.

= '''University-Industry Collaboration''' =

'''Research Activities'''

UMass Lowell places a large focus on professional research, as evidenced by the ample lab space professors have to work with in buildings such as the ETIC. A comprehensive list of all research areas and information about them can be found on the UMass Lowell website. [http://www.uml.edu/Research/Centers/default.aspx http://www.uml.edu/Research/Centers/default.aspx]

==== Center for Industrial Competitiveness ====

For nearly 20 years, UMass Lowell’s Center for Industrial Competitiveness has conducted research on industrial innovation, regional development, corporate governance, financialization, and sustainable prosperity. Resources available stretch all around the world through collaborative networks and relationships, providing ample information and a global understanding on development. Research also includes local industrial development in Massachusetts. 

UMass Lowell has a page dedicated to the CIC researchers and their work, which can be found here: [http://www.uml.edu/centers/cic/Research/Research.html http://www.uml.edu/centers/cic/Research/Research.html]

= '''Regional and Local Economic Development''' =

'''Economic and Social Development of Regions Department:'''

This graduate program focuses on giving an interdisciplinary education that is tailored to fit the needs of the individual. By educating both the private and public sectors of economic and social development, this program aims to create work ready individuals that can bring innovation and change to shifting social and economic environment.

'''Lowell Makes''' 

“A membership‐driven collaborative space equipped with a wide variety of tools, machines, materials, computers and other resources where individuals can gain and practice modern skills with state‐of‐the‐art technology, access to resources they could not otherwise, and a community of creative minded people who make all kinds of things. “Art is the Handmaid of Human Good” is both the City of Lowell’s motto, and a reminder of Lowell’s rich industrial and artistic history as our inspiration.” - [http://www.lowellmakes.com/proposal/ http://www.lowellmakes.com/proposal/]

Lowell makes was founded to be a space where those who do not have access to certain equipment to bring their ideas to life will have that access they need and have the support they need to push their innovation to the next level. It is a space that has resources tailored for budding entrepreneurs, and can be rented out by anyone with a plan. 

'''Mill No.5'''

Mill No.5 is one of the few non-UML entrepreneurial constructs in the Lowell urban environment. Like many mills in Lowell, it has been renovated and repurposed. Being subdivided and updated to proper code, there are rooms available for offices and start-ups looking to have an office space to centralize their resources. 

= '''Conclusion''' =

Entrepreneurship is a strategic objective at the University of Massachusetts Lowell.  During the last five years, UMass Lowell has re-positioned itself with students, faculty, staff, and the community as a true public enterprise committed to taking an entrepreneurial approach to innovation in all aspects of its structure.   A rapidly expanding innovation ecosystem encourages and guides entrepreneurial action, whether academically or commercially, amongst its faculty and student body -- fostering an entrepreneurial approach to economic development through a variety of programs and activities. UMass Lowell will continue to thrive in all aspects of entrepreneurship and innovation.  

= Related Links =

University Innovation Fellows:
[http://universityinnovation.org/wiki/Stephen_Kender Stephen Kender][[Ana Gouveia|Ana Gouveia]][[James Abdallah|James Abdallah]][[KevinMDesjardins|Kevin Desjardins]][[Jacob Hulme|Jacob Hulme]][[UMass Lowell Student Priorities|UMass Lowell Student Priorities]]
[[Category:Universities]]

School:University of Massachusetts Lowell

2015-10-12T19:19:44Z

Ephenstephen:

<div style="float: right; clear: right;">[[File:UMass-Lowell-logo.png]]</div>
The University of Massachusetts Lowell (also known as UMass Lowell or UML) is a [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Public_university public] [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_research_universities_in_the_United_States doctoral/research] university in [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lowell,_Massachusetts Lowell], [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Massachusetts Massachusetts], [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_States United States],and part of the [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/University_of_Massachusetts University of Massachusetts] system. With more than 1,100 faculty members and more than 16,000 students, it is the largest university in the [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Merrimack_Valley Merrimack Valley] and the second-largest public institution in the state behind UMass Amherst. The university offers more than 120 degree choices, internships, bachelor’s to master’s programs and doctoral studies in the College of Fine Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences; College of Health Sciences; College of Sciences; the Francis College of Engineering; the Graduate School of Education; and the Manning School of Business.

= '''Overview - A Campus On The Move''' =

UMass Lowell has been evolving in every aspect; upgraded classrooms, libraries and labs; new and renovated student living and activity spaces; and enhanced parking facilities are a few on the list of what has been updated and changed over the past decade of campus improvement.

*University Crossing
**Officially completed and operating, this new building hosts student services and activities, bookstore, dining, University police, transportation services, and senior administration offices.
*Pulichino Tong Building
**The University’s current construction project, the Tong Building will replace the now-relocated Honor’s Eames Dorm building on UMass Lowell’s North Campus and will house the entirety of the Robert J. Manning School of Business.
*University Suites
**This brand new dorm on UMass Lowell’s East campus provides housing for 472 students in four- and six-bed suites. There is a ground-floor common area with a café - Hawk's Nest - featuring fresh bakery, grab & go items and a late night Asian menu, in addition to delicious Red Mango frozen yogurt & smoothies and "We proudly serve" Starbucks Coffee. A multi-purpose room is open to the UMass Lowell community. Each residential floor has two common kitchen/lounge areas, two quiet study rooms and a group study room.
*Riverview Suites
**The other half of the two-dorm addition to UMass Lowell in 2013, Riverview Suites has either two or three bedroom suites complete with a live-in kitchen, classroom and meeting rooms inside the building, and a gym inside the facility. The University leases the property from Soho Development, who also built the $42 million facility.
*New Garages
**In the past three years, UMass Lowell has added two large parking garages to each of its largest parking lots, greatly increasing the parking capacity for the strong commuter presence attending the school.
*Health and Social Sciences Building
**In 2013, this new criminal justice and criminology, nursing and psychology building had its grand opening. The construction of this building marked the first new construction in 30 years on the University’s South Campus, including all campuses in the University’s recent wave of evolution.

Since 2009, the University has also been heavily updating the existing buildings while acquiring and renovating new ones. UMass Lowell renovated the newly acquired Inn and Conference Center, added Taco Bell and Subway to the University’s dining partners, renovated the newly acquired Tsongas Center, and heavily updated their Dining Hall in the tallest UMass Lowell building, Fox Hall 

== 2015 Innovation Fellows Plans ==

[https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1ZwhfzohFPyuM4Vutiho8ZAuV8Jmq-JxBJ2vNaGZe-kY/edit?usp=sharing Landscape Canvas]

[https://docs.google.com/presentation/d/1o3F2IN8YoWKMk83r0SoAfr5NH_qUw7RFa2ZxjslksQM/edit?usp=sharing Lean Startup Presentation]

= '''Student Entrepreneurship''' =

==== '''NonSpec ''' ====

[http://www.nonspec.org/ NonSpec] participated in the 2013 first annual DifferenceMaker™ Idea Challenge where they showed dedication and enthusiasm by attending each educational workshop and event throughout the process which aided in their success.  At the Idea Challenge they received the prestigious title of “Campus Wide DifferenceMaker™” and the top award of $5,000. This prize represents the project most likely to make a significant difference in the community, region and the world.

The $5,000 award has allowed Nonspec to move their initiative forward by creating their first batch of prosthetic limbs. With a projected 15% market share in the next five years, Nonspec plans to use this market presence to launch a foundation called “Give a Hand”. The purpose of this foundation would be to spread their mission, goals, charitable cause, and products around the world in order to make a difference in developing nations.

Since Nonspec’s success at the Idea Challenge they have gained great publicity in other arenas.  They were recently named one of the top 10 semi-finalists in Entrepreneur® Magazine’s “College Entrepreneur of 2013 Contest”.  In addition, they were invited to attend [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ppnzNSnxi-g IAPD Plastics Application Design Competition], which was held on October 2, 2013 in Miami, Florida.  Lastly, the team was utilized as a role model by being featured in a [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aLwLg4XHrck video] that was shown at all DifferenceMaker™ freshman orientation sessions throughout the summer due to their motivation and high entrepreneurial spirits.

= Departments and Programs =

== '''Center for Innovation and Entrepreneurship''' ==

The Center for Innovation and Entrepreneurship offers students and faculty of all disciplines the opportunity to work together to develop innovative and entrepreneurial solutions to the major problems facing our community, the region and the world. The Center hosts several programs that encourage social innovation and entrepreneurship among UMass Lowell students as well as the broader community in which we live. The DifferenceMaker program provides training, mentoring and other resources to UMass Lowell students and faculty who wish to address social, environmental and economic problems in our community.

== '''DifferenceMaker™''' ==

The DifferenceMaker™ Program sponsors specific events and activities that support students in solving big problems through innovation and entrepreneurship. The Program is highly experiential by offering students a series of workshops that they can engage in to better understand innovation, entrepreneurship and launching a start-up of their interest.

Students of all majors and disciplines are welcome to join this Program and make a difference at UMass Lowell, in the community or in the world through innovative and entrepreneurial action.

=== Goals of DifferenceMaker™ ===

*Introduce all UMass students to creative problem solving, innovation and entrepreneurship
*Accelerate purpose in each students education
*Connect current students to alumni experience
*Encourage a social responsibility ethos

=== DifferenceMaker™ Available Activities ===

*'''DifferenceMaker™ Enterprise Co-op'''
**Throughout each year, DifferenceMaker™ will hire several students from various majors to participate in paid co-op experiences. Student co-ops assist in conducting and summarizing entrepreneurial research, developing and distributing marketing materials for various center initiatives, and provide center support for faculty and innovation fellows affiliate with the center. 
*'''Freshman Make A Difference Orientation'''
**During the summer sessions, DifferenceMaker™ has a large presence in the Freshman Orientation days. Through the Office of Orientation, Student Activities and Leadership, and ResLife, DifferenceMaker™ was able to present to every attending freshman and gain exposure to all of the new students at UMass Lowell.
*'''Freshman DifferenceMaker™ Convocation'''
**At the beginning of each academic year, we present DifferenceMaker™ to every incoming freshman at Convocation. Each year we perform a fun activity to engage students in our program.
*'''Introduction to DifferenceMaker™'''
**Freshman Seminars-A series of in-class discussions in collaboration with the Manning School of Business, The Francis College of Engineering, The College of Fine Arts, Humanities, and Social Sciences, and The College of Health Sciences in order to introduce the DifferenceMaker™ Program to students of all disciplines and to inspire them to explore their passions through creative problem solving.
*'''Introduction to the DifferenceMaker™ Program'''
**A series of events were held on both the north and south campuses to introduce students to DifferenceMaker™ Program concepts, allow them to share their ideas and interests, explore possible projects and solution, and to connected with each other to form teams. These events included the DifferenceMaker™ Convocation Pitch, the Climate Change Teach-in, a DifferenceMaker™ Team Building Dinner, and others.
*'''DifferenceMaker™ LLC'''
**Having a presence in the student residence halls as well as the classroom is important to motivate students and discover new ideas waiting to happen. The DifferenceMaker™ Living/Learning Community brings new students together in the ResLife environment for innovation and brainstorming outside of the classroom.
*'''Honors DifferenceMaker™ Program'''
**In collaboration with UMass Lowell Honors Program, this concerted effort to embed elements of social entrepreneurship in our Honors Program includes coursework and community-based student efforts that have specific focus on innovation and entrepreneurial practices.
*'''Introduction to Engineering Extra Credit Project'''
**This activity was a collaboration effort between the DifferenceMaker™ Program and The Francis College of Engineering to introduce freshman engineering majors to the DifferenceMaker™ Program, innovation, and entrepreneurship. In this introductory activity, the students’ innovative ideas were explored and presented in a format which would enable their projects to be candidates for both the DifferenceMaker™ Program Idea Challenge and Campus Catalyst program.
*'''Creative Venture Competition'''
**This contest held in October of 2013 hosted by DifferenceMaker™ focused on innovation from Arts, Humanities, and Social Science students. $2500 was awarded to the best entrepreneurial business a proposal, and $250 to each finalist team was also awarded.
*'''Digital Federal Credit Union Innovation Contest''' 
**In November of 2013, DifferenceMaker™ along with DCU hosted an Innovation Contest focusing on banking and financial innovation in the industry. With a grand prize of $500 per team member and peripheral prizes of $100 per team member, the contest gave thousands to innovative teams and cutting edge ideas.
*'''DifferenceMaker™ Reverse Pitch'''
**This pitch event was debuted on November 19, 2013. This event was a spin-off of “normal” idea challenges and hackathons. Instead of students pitching their ideas to funding sources or judges, businesses and community partners actually pitched their existing problems to a student audience in the hopes that they can develop a solution.
*'''DifferenceMaker™ Idea Challenge'''
**''''''DifferenceMaker™ is hosting its fourth annual Idea Challenge; this challenge is for student entrepreneurial teams to come up with sustainable ideas that will make some sort of impact on the world or their community. Help in the form of various workshops in the months leading up to the Idea Challenge is available, teaching students how to properly pitch their ideas and how to flesh out their business plans. There are various subcategories for each team to have a chance at winning spread out across over many different disciplines, encouraging all students to participate and welcoming all ideas.
*'''DifferenceMaker™ Workshops'''
**Team Building Mixer
**Identifying Problems and Opportunities
**Developing Solutions
**Identifying Resources
**Rocket Pitch Coaching
*'''Campus Catalyst Program'''
**''''''The DifferenceMaker™ Program works closely with 'E For All', a community business accelerator funded by the Deshpande Foundation, in order to encourage students to generate and develop their entrepreneurial ideas. The Sandbox Campus Catalyst program provided seed funding for student social and business solutions with potential. 

=== '''DifferenceMaker™ Program Available Resources''' ===

*DifferenceMaker™ Central
**Large open office collaboration space equipped with Wi-Fi, 3 Mac computers, printer/copier, 2 46” LCD TV monitors with projection capabilities, 6 white boards, 10 tables with chairs all equipped with wheels that can be easily rearranged for optimal use and collaboration, refrigerator, sink, cabinet space, coffee maker and other necessary office supplies.
*Hawk  Hatch
**Philanthropic Crowd Funding Source
*Grants
*Networking
**Mentors
**Faculty Fellows and DifferenceMaker™ Staff
*Events
**Series of Educational Entrepreneurial Workshops including materials
**Problem, Opportunity, Solution, Resources, Pitch Coaching
**Team Building Assistance
**TeamMaker Platform, Team Building Mixer

Through the Center for Innovation & Entrepreneurship, along with affiliated faculty and other campus programs, the University has introduced a range of activities that help students make a difference in the world.

=== '''DifferenceMaker™ Inaugural Year Statistics''' ===

*72 DifferenceMaker™ events held in inaugural year
*3,500  students who participates in a DifferenceMaker™ event this past year
*$25,000  of funds awarded to 10 IdeaChallenge finalist teams
*1,265  freshman participating in summer rapid ideation workshops
*112  students who participated in the First Annual IdeaChallenge
*22  cross discipline relationships notes between students among IdeaChallenge teams
*24  academic disciplines represented by students in the IdeaChallenge teams

=== '''2015 DifferenceMaker™ Idea Challenge Finalists''' ===

'''Campus-Wide DifferenceMaker'''

'''Hydraulic Walker ($5,000)'''

They have designed and built a walker that utilizes hydraulics, allowing for the legs of the walker to be quickly adjusted, so that it can be used on stairs.

*Ryan Andrews - Physical Therapy Graduate
*Peter Klausmeyer - Physical Therapy Graduate



'''Significant Social Impact'''

'''1st Place'''- L'''ove of the Game ($4,000)'''

Love of the Game is a community outreach program aiming to integrate universities and people with physical and cognitive disabilities through sports.

*Jessica Dion - Exercise Physiology '16
*Dylan Doucette - Exercise Physiology '16
*Lucas Parsons - Exercise Physiology '16
*Rachel Silk - Business Marketing '16
*Daniel Schmith - Business Entrepreneurship '18
*Jennie Pisarik - Exercise Physiology '16



'''2nd Place - Buddies Without Borders ($2,500)'''

Buddies without Borders aims to bridge the gap between domestic students and international students starting with an in-person pair up then followed by a comprehensive website that allows members to define their profiles and micro-blog by text, photo, and video sharing.

*Tugba Arsava - Community Social Psychology Graduate
*Burhan Colak - Civil Engineering Graduate
*Katherine Cox - Psychology '18
*Madeline Ormazza - Business '17
*Shashank Raghuveer - Computer Science Graduate
*Fang Zhang - Chemistry Graduate



'''Contribution to a Healthier Lifestyle'''

'''1st Place - Playable Therapy ($4,000)'''

This project's goal is to create a platform of exercises and games that, with the Microsoft Kinect, will allow for motion tracking of a physical therapy (PT) patient during their exercise routine at home.

*Suhaib Alfageeh - Computer Science '16
*Lucas Brown - English and Math '16
*Chelsea Hayes - Business '16
*Damir Ismagilove - Math '16
*Anthony Pitaro - Exercise Physiology '15
*Mark Mcgrotty - Computer Science '16



'''2nd Place - Solar Electric Vehicles ($2,500)'''

This team is designing a series of low speed and high efficiency commuter vehicles that utilize hub motor technology to allow people to travel using purely the energy of the sun.

*Suhaib Alfageeh - Computer Science '16
*Chukwuma Azubuine - Entrepreneurship Graduate
*Richard Asirifi - Electrical Engineering '16
*Anas Dahany - Electrical Engineering '15
*David Jenkins - Mechanical Engineering '15
*Oliver Kayego - Electrical Engineering '17
*Chris Leger - Electrical Engineering '15
*Jared Mrvos - Computer Engineering '17
*Charles Reid - Mechanical Engineering '15
*Kenneth Sanders - Computer Science '18
*Mukhammaddin Zinaddinov - Electrical Engineering '18



'''Innovative Technology Solution'''

'''1st Place - Masela Dentures ($4,000)'''

Their project aims to develop a fully 3D printable denture system as an alternative solution to expensive dentures manufactured using traditional casting and milling methods.

*Cormac Hondros-McCarthy - Plastics Engineering '15
*Casey McRae - Plastics Engineering '15



'''2nd Place - KEnDERS Athletic Body Armor($2,500)'''

They created a novel and revolutionary sports equipment construction centered around an innovative shear-thickening material

*Elizabeth Kender - Plastics Engineering '16
*Laura Kender - Plastics Engineering '16
*Stephen Kender - Plastics Engineering '18



'''First to Market'''

'''1st Place - Mayday ($4,000)'''

This project aims to develop a wearable device connected via Bluetooth technology to a mobile phone, that, when activated, sends emergency alert signals to a list of emergency contacts.

*Cibhi SelVan-  Business Graduate
*Alessandro Agnello-  Computer Science PhD



'''2nd Place''' - '''Word Builder '''('''$2,500)'''

Word Builder is an interactive toy designed to help children build the foundations of reading at an early age.

*Sergio Coronado - Computer Engineering '16
*Ian Copithorne - Computer Engineering '16



'''Honorable Mention'''

'''Low-Income Community Homework Center ($1,500)'''

Their goal is to open a homework center for students from low-income families in a poverty stricken town/city such as Lawrence, Massachusetts.

*Arnaldo Rivera - Psychology '15
*Hector Rivera  - Psychology '15



'''Fan Favorite'''

'''Indoor Hydroponic System ($2,500)'''

Their project is a hydroponic garden that is equipped with an environment monitoring system that ensures optimal growing conditions for plants and requires little to no maintenance.

*Rapheeporn Aungaphinant - Business Graduate
*Katherine Cain - Business Graduate
*Tucker Holladay - Business Graduate
*Shu-Wei Hsu - Business Graduate
*Alima Shamuratova - Business Graduate



=== '''DifferenceMaker™ Future Efforts:''' ===

The DifferenceMaker™ Program plans to continue many of the activities and events initiated in the first year of the program.  Some of these programs will be revised and they intend to launch several new initiatives, including a DifferenceMaker™ Passport Program, a DifferenceMaker™ Mentor Program and a seed grant program to encourage faculty participation in the DifferenceMaker™ program. They also plan to expand our collaboration with several University colleges. 

This year they plan to increase the role of DifferenceMaker™ Living Learning Community students in the DifferenceMaker™ program by training the members to become DifferenceMaker™ ambassadors once they transition into their sophomore year  through weekly meetings and monthly events. The training will allow LLC members to learn more about entrepreneurship and the DifferenceMaker™ Program so they can promote it to student clubs and campus classes.  Once the LLC students become sophomores they will transition into a DifferenceMaker™ Ambassador role, and hopefully will form the nucleus of a yet-to-be-formed DifferenceMaker™ student club.  

In order to assist students to both record and encourage their participation in DifferenceMaker™ events, they are planning the development and implementation of a DifferenceMaker™ Passport Program. Consistent with the goals of the UMass Lowell DifferenceMaker™ Program, the Passport Program will assist students to identify, record and collect experiences meant to: 

*Develop individual entrepreneurial identity
*Develop entrepreneurial skills and self-confidence
*Develop creative and sustainable solutions to complex problems
*Connect with the University, E For All and community entrepreneurial ecosystems

They anticipate that the number of students engaged in the DifferenceMaker™ Program and related activities will increase each year. As they encourage and reward the formation of various types of student ventures and projects, the need for mentors who can consult with student teams will increase. They plan to guide these students and track their progress through a professional Mentor Program. The UMass Lowell Mentor Program will provide a committed network of mentors with a broad set of skills and professional experiences, who can assist UMass Lowell entrepreneurs in developing the knowledge and skills, needed to grow an idea into a successful, new venture.

The DM UMass Lowell Mentor Program will seek to connect DifferenceMaker™ students with successful experienced entrepreneurs and alumnus, as well as faculty and staff.  The Mentor Program will focus on assisting students to further develop solutions as part of the DifferenceMaker™ Program. Mentors will provide guidance in further refining student team objectives and help them in building their entrepreneurial skillsets.

They are planning to offer DifferenceMaker™ Faculty Workshops to help faculty consider how they might engage their own students in DifferenceMaker™ activities through course related activities and through co-curricular activities. Our hope is that by engaging more faculty, they in turn will serve as both mentors and catalysts for students, encouraging and guiding student project selection and development. They have also observed that student teams often need support and guidance from faculty from different disciplines, these workshops and an accompanying seed grant program are meant as catalysts to encourage interdisciplinary engagement among faculty,

While the overarching goal of the DifferenceMaker™ program is to encourage UMass Lowell students to develop sustainable and entrepreneurial solutions to the challenges and opportunities they will confront in this world, they anticipate another, potentially significant impact on the University community itself. Our students will only be successful if they have the support of faculty, alumni, business and community members. During our first year of program activities, they have found these constituents to be most supportive and willing to mentor and work with our students.  Alumni are mentoring and investing in student ventures.  Faculty are working across disciplines to ensure their student teams make progress. Local profit and non-profit businesses are eager to work with student teams, providing real-world problems and opportunities for student projects. In one short year, the DifferenceMaker™ program has been embraced by the greater University community. Our hope and plan is to anchor this program in the curriculum and culture of the University, so all UMass Lowell students have an opportunity to make a difference in this world.

  

== '''Commercial Venture and Intellectual Property Office (CVIP):''' ==

Commercial Ventures and Intellectual Property (CVIP) is responsible for the protection and commercialization of intellectual property at UMass Lowell. 

=== '''CVIP Mission''' ===

The mission of UMass Lowell’s Office of Commercial Ventures and Intellectual Property (CVIP) is to facilitate the transfer of technology arising from government, foundation and industrial sponsored university research to the private sector. They facilitate development of inventions toward commercial relevance and utility, nurture mutually beneficial and sustainable relationships between the University and industry, promote an innovative and entrepreneurial culture at the University and contribute to the economic vibrancy and well-being of the Commonwealth. CVIP’s activities enable the successful transfer of commercially viable technology from the laboratory to the marketplace for public use and benefit. 

=== '''CVIP Functions''' ===

The main objectives of CVIP are:

*to license patents and other protections to industry in order to promote the development of inventions toward practical application;
*to foster a culture of innovation, facilitate commercially promising endeavors, and positively contribute to the University’s entrepreneurial ecosystem;
*to seek new business opportunities and form productive collaborations with industry in an effort to increase research and licensing revenue to the University;
*to generate income for inventors and the University as a whole for use in supporting further research, technology development and transfer;
*to advocate for the research community and seek to create incentives, provide rewards and obtain resources to advance commercialization of the technologies they generate.

== New Venture Initiative ==

New Venture Initiative (NVI) is a mix of university resources and equity investment designed to provide a path to and facilitate more start-up activity at UMass Lowell.  As part of the larger Commercial Venture and Intellectual Property Office (CVIP), the NVI fund focuses on inventions, discoveries, products and services that have been developed in whole or in part at UMass Lowell, have achieved proof of concept (or an early prototype) and are ready for commercial product development, rather than those requiring further basic research.  

== '''Massachusetts Medical Device Development Center (M2D2):''' ==

The Massachusetts Medical Device Development Center (M2D2) is a lifeline for the state’s smaller medical device companies, offering inventors and executives easy, affordable, and coordinated access to world-class researchers and resources at the Lowell and Worcester campuses of the University of Massachusetts.

==== '''M2D2 Available Resources''' ====

*9000 square feet of space on second floor including:
**6 wet laboratory suites
**Two office suites
**Large open office collaboration area
**Board room
**Reception area
**Break Room equipped with a table and chairs, full size refrigerator, microwave, sink, dishwasher, and coffee maker
*5000 square feet of space on first floor including:
**Six individual offices 
**Bright shared kitchen space equipped with a table and chairs, full size refrigerator and sink
**One large state of the art conference room with full pull down screen, computer with web access and a projector  
**All conference rooms contain a 46" Aquos LCD screen, as well as computer with web access and a projector
**Business and medical feasibility assessments
**Product development space
**Medical and clinical pathway assistance
**Connection to additional services such as laboratory use, incubator space for start-ups and clinical trial support through the product life cycle
**SBIR and STTR research
**Access to capital
**Networking events
**New Venture Competitions

== '''Entrepreneurship For All''' ==

'E for All' is a project of the Deshpande Foundation, which has encouraged the use of entrepreneurship and innovation as catalysts for sustainable change in the United States, India and Canada since 1996. Deshpande supported centers including the MIT Deshpande Center for Technological Innovation, the Deshpande Center for Social Innovation in Hubli, India, the Pond-Deshpande Centre at the University of New Brunswick, and our own 'E For All'  at the University of Massachusetts Lowell. 'E for All' includes higher education partners (Middlesex Community College, Merrimack College and Northern Essex Community College) and a host of regional community and business partners.

=== '''E for All Mission''' ===

The mission of 'E For All' is to connect and strengthen the ecosystem in Lowell and Lawrence, Massachusetts, around entrepreneurship and leadership. This mission is supported by the following three principle 'E For All' programs:

·       Catalysts-The Catalyst program provides seed funding and mentoring support to foster initiative around new ideas and programs among local high school and college students.

·       Entrepreneurship-The Entrepreneur Program is a community-wide initiative supporting entrepreneurship. More than 30 partner organizations and institutions are participating in this initiative, which gives entrepreneurs a greater chance at success through pitch contests, workshops and intensive programs. 

·       Leadership-The 'E For All' Leadership Institute (SLI) offers leadership development for individuals that live, work or are interested in the communities of Lawrence and Lowell. 

== Other Organizations ==

'''Entrepreneurial Ventures Association''': EVA is an interdisciplinary organization that is open to all majors; they share resources, advice, and interests with other COM and UML clubs to help students turn their entrepreneurial ideas into reality.  

'''Honors Ambassador Program: '''Students participate in the Honors Ambassador Program to gain valuable experience through courses tailored for higher development and to foster relationships with communities and organizations that the program is involved with.

= '''University Entrepreneurship''' =

=== Creative New Academic Programs ===

'''The Manning School of Business'''  The Manning School of Business offers two academic programs focused on entrepreneurship:

*[http://www.uml.edu/MSB/management/Entrepreneurship.aspx Undergraduate - Entrepreneurship Concentration]: Prepares students to be "outside-of-the-box" thinkers and innovators in today's complex global economy.

The '''entrepreneurship concentration''' prepares students to be an "outside of the box" thinker and innovator in today's complex global economy. Using an interdisciplinary focus, students who complete the concentration will:

*Develop the management skills required to identify and launch new business ventures around innovative products, services and technologies. 
*Develop an understanding of the concepts and activities associated with entrepreneurship and innovation. 
*Understand the financial aspects of an entrepreneurial venture from start-up to "harvest". 
*Discover their individual "entrepreneurial spirit" through experiential learning in interdisciplinary classes and the College's Venture Lab.

The required courses within the Entrepreneurship concentration consist of:

#Starting a New Venture 
#Corporate Entrepreneurship 
#Managing Innovation 
#Finance for Emerging Business Enterprises
#Entrepreneurial Strategy & Implementation (Fall '14 not yet required)
#Study Abroad in India (not required, entrepreneurship focused)

[http://www.uml.edu/MSB/Graduate-Programs/MSITE.aspx Graduate - Master of Science in Innovation and Technological Entrepreneurship (MSITE)]: Provides engineers, business majors and scientists with the skills and knowledge required to drive innovation in today's collaborative, global workforce.

[http://www.uml.edu/MSB/Graduate-Programs/MSITEhealthcare.aspx Graduate - Master of Science in Innovation and Technological Entrepreneurship (MSITE) Healthcare Innovation & Entrepreneurship (HI+E) Option]: This option is targeted towards healthcare professionals, such as hospital managers/administrators, clinicians, physicians and other medical professionals who need to understand and manage the impact of emerging technologies and innovations in the healthcare industry. The Program will also benefit recent graduates who wish to enter the healthcare industries as a career choice.

[http://www.uml.edu/MSB/Program-of-study/New-Venture-Creation.aspx Graduate Certificate - New Venture Creation]: This program is focused specifically on the creation of technology-based ventures and is designed to assist professionals with undergraduate and career experience in science, engineering, technology or business fields in better understanding how to develop and launch a technology-based business.

'''College of Sciences, Computer Science Department'''

The Computer Science Department offers an [http://www.uml.edu/Catalog/Graduate/Sciences/Computer-Science/MS-in-Computer-Science-Entrepreneurship-Option.aspx entrepreneurship option] in their master's degree. It is directed at those with a strong undergraduate background in Computer Science who are interested in both deepening their technical knowledge and in understanding the tools required for developing a company directed towards software services and products.

'''College of Engineering, Electrical and Computer Engineering Department, Assistive Technology Program'''

A component of the undergraduate Electrical and Computer Engineering program, senior ECE students complete a [http://atp.caeds.eng.uml.edu/index.html senior capstone project] aimed at designing and producing an assistive technology device for a person with a disability. Engineering students can apply the knowledge they have learned from their courses and help solve problems for disabled people through creating technological advances. 

== Entrepreneurial Capital Projects and Acquisitions ==

=== '''The Mark and Elisia Saab Emerging Technologies and Innovation Center''' ===

This new UMass Lowell 2012-13 construction is a building developed for bringing innovation and industry together. Faculty and student researchers use the resources available in this building to meet industry challenges and improve lives using UMass Lowell technologies and patents. Core facilities for use in fundamental and translational research are available to faculty and students; it contains class 100, 1,000, and 10,000 cleanroom spaces, wet lab and engineering lab space, and a plastics processing high bay. The ETIC is has LEED Gold Certification, and is considered green. The construction of this building also is estimated to supporting at least 130 new jobs.

 

=== '''Health and Social Sciences Building'''  ===

This new building that houses criminal justice and criminology, nursing, and psychology provides classrooms, simulation laboratories, observation facilities, a demonstration hospital wing, and ample meeting space for community projects. The construction of this new building supported more than 800 construction and related jobs, and provided the much needed resources and space for UMass Lowell’s growing social science population.

= '''University-Industry Collaboration''' =

'''Research Activities'''

UMass Lowell places a large focus on professional research, as evidenced by the ample lab space professors have to work with in buildings such as the ETIC. A comprehensive list of all research areas and information about them can be found on the UMass Lowell website. [http://www.uml.edu/Research/Centers/default.aspx http://www.uml.edu/Research/Centers/default.aspx]

==== Center for Industrial Competitiveness ====

For nearly 20 years, UMass Lowell’s Center for Industrial Competitiveness has conducted research on industrial innovation, regional development, corporate governance, financialization, and sustainable prosperity. Resources available stretch all around the world through collaborative networks and relationships, providing ample information and a global understanding on development. Research also includes local industrial development in Massachusetts. 

UMass Lowell has a page dedicated to the CIC researchers and their work, which can be found here: [http://www.uml.edu/centers/cic/Research/Research.html http://www.uml.edu/centers/cic/Research/Research.html]

= '''Regional and Local Economic Development''' =

'''Economic and Social Development of Regions Department:'''

This graduate program focuses on giving an interdisciplinary education that is tailored to fit the needs of the individual. By educating both the private and public sectors of economic and social development, this program aims to create work ready individuals that can bring innovation and change to shifting social and economic environment.

'''Lowell Makes''' 

“A membership‐driven collaborative space equipped with a wide variety of tools, machines, materials, computers and other resources where individuals can gain and practice modern skills with state‐of‐the‐art technology, access to resources they could not otherwise, and a community of creative minded people who make all kinds of things. “Art is the Handmaid of Human Good” is both the City of Lowell’s motto, and a reminder of Lowell’s rich industrial and artistic history as our inspiration.” - [http://www.lowellmakes.com/proposal/ http://www.lowellmakes.com/proposal/]

Lowell makes was founded to be a space where those who do not have access to certain equipment to bring their ideas to life will have that access they need and have the support they need to push their innovation to the next level. It is a space that has resources tailored for budding entrepreneurs, and can be rented out by anyone with a plan. 

'''Mill No.5'''

Mill No.5 is one of the few non-UML entrepreneurial constructs in the Lowell urban environment. Like many mills in Lowell, it has been renovated and repurposed. Being subdivided and updated to proper code, there are rooms available for offices and start-ups looking to have an office space to centralize their resources. 

= '''Conclusion''' =

Entrepreneurship is a strategic objective at the University of Massachusetts Lowell.  During the last five years, UMass Lowell has re-positioned itself with students, faculty, staff, and the community as a true public enterprise committed to taking an entrepreneurial approach to innovation in all aspects of its structure.   A rapidly expanding innovation ecosystem encourages and guides entrepreneurial action, whether academically or commercially, amongst its faculty and student body -- fostering an entrepreneurial approach to economic development through a variety of programs and activities. UMass Lowell will continue to thrive in all aspects of entrepreneurship and innovation.  

= Related Links =

University Innovation Fellows:
[http://universityinnovation.org/wiki/Stephen_Kender Stephen Kender][[Ana Gouveia|Ana Gouveia]][[James Abdallah|James Abdallah]][[KevinMDesjardins|Kevin Desjardins]][[Jacob Hulme|Jacob Hulme]][[UMass Lowell Student Priorities|UMass Lowell Student Priorities]]
[[Category:Universities]]

School:University of Massachusetts Lowell

2015-10-12T19:19:26Z

Ephenstephen:

<div style="float: right; clear: right;">[[File:UMass-Lowell-logo.png]]</div>
The University of Massachusetts Lowell (also known as UMass Lowell or UML) is a [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Public_university public] [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_research_universities_in_the_United_States doctoral/research] university in [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lowell,_Massachusetts Lowell], [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Massachusetts Massachusetts], [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_States United States],and part of the [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/University_of_Massachusetts University of Massachusetts] system. With more than 1,100 faculty members and more than 16,000 students, it is the largest university in the [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Merrimack_Valley Merrimack Valley] and the second-largest public institution in the state behind UMass Amherst. The university offers more than 120 degree choices, internships, bachelor’s to master’s programs and doctoral studies in the College of Fine Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences; College of Health Sciences; College of Sciences; the Francis College of Engineering; the Graduate School of Education; and the Manning School of Business.

= '''Overview - A Campus On The Move''' =

UMass Lowell has been evolving in every aspect; upgraded classrooms, libraries and labs; new and renovated student living and activity spaces; and enhanced parking facilities are a few on the list of what has been updated and changed over the past decade of campus improvement.

*University Crossing
**Officially completed and operating, this new building hosts student services and activities, bookstore, dining, University police, transportation services, and senior administration offices.
*Pulichino Tong Building
**The University’s current construction project, the Tong Building will replace the now-relocated Honor’s Eames Dorm building on UMass Lowell’s North Campus and will house the entirety of the Robert J. Manning School of Business.
*University Suites
**This brand new dorm on UMass Lowell’s East campus provides housing for 472 students in four- and six-bed suites. There is a ground-floor common area with a café - Hawk's Nest - featuring fresh bakery, grab & go items and a late night Asian menu, in addition to delicious Red Mango frozen yogurt & smoothies and "We proudly serve" Starbucks Coffee. A multi-purpose room is open to the UMass Lowell community. Each residential floor has two common kitchen/lounge areas, two quiet study rooms and a group study room.
*Riverview Suites
**The other half of the two-dorm addition to UMass Lowell in 2013, Riverview Suites has either two or three bedroom suites complete with a live-in kitchen, classroom and meeting rooms inside the building, and a gym inside the facility. The University leases the property from Soho Development, who also built the $42 million facility.
*New Garages
**In the past three years, UMass Lowell has added two large parking garages to each of its largest parking lots, greatly increasing the parking capacity for the strong commuter presence attending the school.
*Health and Social Sciences Building
**In 2013, this new criminal justice and criminology, nursing and psychology building had its grand opening. The construction of this building marked the first new construction in 30 years on the University’s South Campus, including all campuses in the University’s recent wave of evolution.

Since 2009, the University has also been heavily updating the existing buildings while acquiring and renovating new ones. UMass Lowell renovated the newly acquired Inn and Conference Center, added Taco Bell and Subway to the University’s dining partners, renovated the newly acquired Tsongas Center, and heavily updated their Dining Hall in the tallest UMass Lowell building, Fox Hall 

== 2015 Innovation Fellows Plans ==

[https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1ZwhfzohFPyuM4Vutiho8ZAuV8Jmq-JxBJ2vNaGZe-kY/edit?usp=sharing Landscape Canvas]

[https://docs.google.com/presentation/d/1o3F2IN8YoWKMk83r0SoAfr5NH_qUw7RFa2ZxjslksQM/edit?usp=sharing Lean Startup Presentation]

= '''Student Entrepreneurship''' =

==== '''NonSpec ''' ====

[http://www.nonspec.org/ NonSpec] participated in the 2013 first annual DifferenceMaker™ Idea Challenge where they showed dedication and enthusiasm by attending each educational workshop and event throughout the process which aided in their success.  At the Idea Challenge they received the prestigious title of “Campus Wide DifferenceMaker™” and the top award of $5,000. This prize represents the project most likely to make a significant difference in the community, region and the world.

The $5,000 award has allowed Nonspec to move their initiative forward by creating their first batch of prosthetic limbs. With a projected 15% market share in the next five years, Nonspec plans to use this market presence to launch a foundation called “Give a Hand”. The purpose of this foundation would be to spread their mission, goals, charitable cause, and products around the world in order to make a difference in developing nations.

Since Nonspec’s success at the Idea Challenge they have gained great publicity in other arenas.  They were recently named one of the top 10 semi-finalists in Entrepreneur® Magazine’s “College Entrepreneur of 2013 Contest”.  In addition, they were invited to attend [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ppnzNSnxi-g IAPD Plastics Application Design Competition], which was held on October 2, 2013 in Miami, Florida.  Lastly, the team was utilized as a role model by being featured in a [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aLwLg4XHrck video] that was shown at all DifferenceMaker™ freshman orientation sessions throughout the summer due to their motivation and high entrepreneurial spirits.

= Departments and Programs =

== '''Center for Innovation and Entrepreneurship''' ==

The Center for Innovation and Entrepreneurship offers students and faculty of all disciplines the opportunity to work together to develop innovative and entrepreneurial solutions to the major problems facing our community, the region and the world. The Center hosts several programs that encourage social innovation and entrepreneurship among UMass Lowell students as well as the broader community in which we live. The DifferenceMaker program provides training, mentoring and other resources to UMass Lowell students and faculty who wish to address social, environmental and economic problems in our community.

== '''DifferenceMaker™''' ==

The DifferenceMaker™ Program sponsors specific events and activities that support students in solving big problems through innovation and entrepreneurship. The Program is highly experiential by offering students a series of workshops that they can engage in to better understand innovation, entrepreneurship and launching a start-up of their interest.

Students of all majors and disciplines are welcome to join this Program and make a difference at UMass Lowell, in the community or in the world through innovative and entrepreneurial action.

=== Goals of DifferenceMaker™ ===

*Introduce all UMass students to creative problem solving, innovation and entrepreneurship
*Accelerate purpose in each students education
*Connect current students to alumni experience
*Encourage a social responsibility ethos

=== DifferenceMaker™ Available Activities ===

*'''DifferenceMaker™ Enterprise Co-op'''
**Throughout each year, DifferenceMaker™ will hire several students from various majors to participate in paid co-op experiences. Student co-ops assist in conducting and summarizing entrepreneurial research, developing and distributing marketing materials for various center initiatives, and provide center support for faculty and innovation fellows affiliate with the center. 
*'''Freshman Make A Difference Orientation'''
**During the summer sessions, DifferenceMaker™ has a large presence in the Freshman Orientation days. Through the Office of Orientation, Student Activities and Leadership, and ResLife, DifferenceMaker™ was able to present to every attending freshman and gain exposure to all of the new students at UMass Lowell.
*'''Freshman DifferenceMaker™ Convocation'''
**At the beginning of each academic year, we present DifferenceMaker™ to every incoming freshman at Convocation. Each year we perform a fun activity to engage students in our program.
*'''Introduction to DifferenceMaker™'''
**Freshman Seminars-A series of in-class discussions in collaboration with the Manning School of Business, The Francis College of Engineering, The College of Fine Arts, Humanities, and Social Sciences, and The College of Health Sciences in order to introduce the DifferenceMaker™ Program to students of all disciplines and to inspire them to explore their passions through creative problem solving.
*'''Introduction to the DifferenceMaker™ Program'''
**A series of events were held on both the north and south campuses to introduce students to DifferenceMaker™ Program concepts, allow them to share their ideas and interests, explore possible projects and solution, and to connected with each other to form teams. These events included the DifferenceMaker™ Convocation Pitch, the Climate Change Teach-in, a DifferenceMaker™ Team Building Dinner, and others.
*'''DifferenceMaker™ LLC'''
**Having a presence in the student residence halls as well as the classroom is important to motivate students and discover new ideas waiting to happen. The DifferenceMaker™ Living/Learning Community brings new students together in the ResLife environment for innovation and brainstorming outside of the classroom.
*'''Honors DifferenceMaker™ Program'''
**In collaboration with UMass Lowell Honors Program, this concerted effort to embed elements of social entrepreneurship in our Honors Program includes coursework and community-based student efforts that have specific focus on innovation and entrepreneurial practices.
*'''Introduction to Engineering Extra Credit Project'''
**This activity was a collaboration effort between the DifferenceMaker™ Program and The Francis College of Engineering to introduce freshman engineering majors to the DifferenceMaker™ Program, innovation, and entrepreneurship. In this introductory activity, the students’ innovative ideas were explored and presented in a format which would enable their projects to be candidates for both the DifferenceMaker™ Program Idea Challenge and Campus Catalyst program.
*'''Creative Venture Competition'''
**This contest held in October of 2013 hosted by DifferenceMaker™ focused on innovation from Arts, Humanities, and Social Science students. $2500 was awarded to the best entrepreneurial business a proposal, and $250 to each finalist team was also awarded.
*'''Digital Federal Credit Union Innovation Contest''' 
**In November of 2013, DifferenceMaker™ along with DCU hosted an Innovation Contest focusing on banking and financial innovation in the industry. With a grand prize of $500 per team member and peripheral prizes of $100 per team member, the contest gave thousands to innovative teams and cutting edge ideas.
*'''DifferenceMaker™ Reverse Pitch'''
**This pitch event was debuted on November 19, 2013. This event was a spin-off of “normal” idea challenges and hackathons. Instead of students pitching their ideas to funding sources or judges, businesses and community partners actually pitched their existing problems to a student audience in the hopes that they can develop a solution.
*'''DifferenceMaker™ Idea Challenge'''
**''''''DifferenceMaker™ is hosting its fourth annual Idea Challenge; this challenge is for student entrepreneurial teams to come up with sustainable ideas that will make some sort of impact on the world or their community. Help in the form of various workshops in the months leading up to the Idea Challenge is available, teaching students how to properly pitch their ideas and how to flesh out their business plans. There are various subcategories for each team to have a chance at winning spread out across over many different disciplines, encouraging all students to participate and welcoming all ideas.
*'''DifferenceMaker™ Workshops'''
**Team Building Mixer
**Identifying Problems and Opportunities
**Developing Solutions
**Identifying Resources
**Rocket Pitch Coaching
*'''Campus Catalyst Program'''
**''''''The DifferenceMaker™ Program works closely with 'E For All', a community business accelerator funded by the Deshpande Foundation, in order to encourage students to generate and develop their entrepreneurial ideas. The Sandbox Campus Catalyst program provided seed funding for student social and business solutions with potential. 

=== '''DifferenceMaker™ Program Available Resources''' ===

*DifferenceMaker™ Central
**Large open office collaboration space equipped with Wi-Fi, 3 Mac computers, printer/copier, 2 46” LCD TV monitors with projection capabilities, 6 white boards, 10 tables with chairs all equipped with wheels that can be easily rearranged for optimal use and collaboration, refrigerator, sink, cabinet space, coffee maker and other necessary office supplies.
*Hawk  Hatch
**Philanthropic Crowd Funding Source
*Grants
*Networking
**Mentors
**Faculty Fellows and DifferenceMaker™ Staff
*Events
**Series of Educational Entrepreneurial Workshops including materials
**Problem, Opportunity, Solution, Resources, Pitch Coaching
**Team Building Assistance
**TeamMaker Platform, Team Building Mixer

Through the Center for Innovation & Entrepreneurship, along with affiliated faculty and other campus programs, the University has introduced a range of activities that help students make a difference in the world.

=== '''DifferenceMaker™ Inaugural Year Statistics''' ===

*72 DifferenceMaker™ events held in inaugural year
*3,500  students who participates in a DifferenceMaker™ event this past year
*$25,000  of funds awarded to 10 IdeaChallenge finalist teams
*1,265  freshman participating in summer rapid ideation workshops
*112  students who participated in the First Annual IdeaChallenge
*22  cross discipline relationships notes between students among IdeaChallenge teams
*24  academic disciplines represented by students in the IdeaChallenge teams

=== '''2015 DifferenceMaker™ Idea Challenge Finalists''' ===

'''Campus-Wide DifferenceMaker'''

'''Hydraulic Walker ($5,000)'''

They have designed and built a walker that utilizes hydraulics, allowing for the legs of the walker to be quickly adjusted, so that it can be used on stairs.

*Ryan Andrews - Physical Therapy Graduate
*Peter Klausmeyer - Physical Therapy Graduate



'''Significant Social Impact'''

'''1st Place'''- L'''ove of the Game ($4,000)'''

Love of the Game is a community outreach program aiming to integrate universities and people with physical and cognitive disabilities through sports.

*Jessica Dion - Exercise Physiology '16
*Dylan Doucette - Exercise Physiology '16
*Lucas Parsons - Exercise Physiology '16
*Rachel Silk - Business Marketing '16
*Daniel Schmith - Business Entrepreneurship '18
*Jennie Pisarik - Exercise Physiology '16



'''2nd Place - Buddies Without Borders ($2,500)'''

Buddies without Borders aims to bridge the gap between domestic students and international students starting with an in-person pair up then followed by a comprehensive website that allows members to define their profiles and micro-blog by text, photo, and video sharing.

*Tugba Arsava - Community Social Psychology Graduate
*Burhan Colak - Civil Engineering Graduate
*Katherine Cox - Psychology '18
*Madeline Ormazza - Business '17
*Shashank Raghuveer - Computer Science Graduate
*Fang Zhang - Chemistry Graduate



'''Contribution to a Healthier Lifestyle'''

'''1st Place - Playable Therapy ($4,000)'''

This project's goal is to create a platform of exercises and games that, with the Microsoft Kinect, will allow for motion tracking of a physical therapy (PT) patient during their exercise routine at home.

*Suhaib Alfageeh - Computer Science '16
*Lucas Brown - English and Math '16
*Chelsea Hayes - Business '16
*Damir Ismagilove - Math '16
*Anthony Pitaro - Exercise Physiology '15
*Mark Mcgrotty - Computer Science '16



'''2nd Place - Solar Electric Vehicles ($2,500)'''

This team is designing a series of low speed and high efficiency commuter vehicles that utilize hub motor technology to allow people to travel using purely the energy of the sun.

*Suhaib Alfageeh - Computer Science '16
*Chukwuma Azubuine - Entrepreneurship Graduate
*Richard Asirifi - Electrical Engineering '16
*Anas Dahany - Electrical Engineering '15
*David Jenkins - Mechanical Engineering '15
*Oliver Kayego - Electrical Engineering '17
*Chris Leger - Electrical Engineering '15
*Jared Mrvos - Computer Engineering '17
*Charles Reid - Mechanical Engineering '15
*Kenneth Sanders - Computer Science '18
*Mukhammaddin Zinaddinov - Electrical Engineering '18



'''Innovative Technology Solution'''

'''1st Place - Masela Dentures ($4,000)'''

Their project aims to develop a fully 3D printable denture system as an alternative solution to expensive dentures manufactured using traditional casting and milling methods.

*Cormac Hondros-McCarthy - Plastics Engineering '15
*Casey McRae - Plastics Engineering '15



'''2nd Place - KEnDERS Athletic Body Armor($2,500)'''

They created a novel and revolutionary sports equipment construction centered around an innovative shear-thickening material

*Elizabeth Kender - Plastics Engineering '16
*Laura Kender - Plastics Engineering '16
*Stephen Kender - Plastics Engineering '18



'''First to Market'''

'''1st Place - Mayday ($4,000)'''

This project aims to develop a wearable device connected via Bluetooth technology to a mobile phone, that, when activated, sends emergency alert signals to a list of emergency contacts.

*Cibhi SelVan-  Business Graduate
*Alessandro Agnello-  Computer Science PhD



'''2nd Place''' - '''Word Builder '''('''$2,500)'''

Word Builder is an interactive toy designed to help children build the foundations of reading at an early age.

*Sergio Coronado - Computer Engineering '16
*Ian Copithorne - Computer Engineering '16



'''Honorable Mention'''

'''Low-Income Community Homework Center ($1,500)'''

Their goal is to open a homework center for students from low-income families in a poverty stricken town/city such as Lawrence, Massachusetts.

*Arnaldo Rivera - Psychology '15
*Hector Rivera  - Psychology '15



'''Fan Favorite'''

'''Indoor Hydroponic System ($2,500)'''

Their project is a hydroponic garden that is equipped with an environment monitoring system that ensures optimal growing conditions for plants and requires little to no maintenance.

*Rapheeporn Aungaphinant - Business Graduate
*Katherine Cain - Business Graduate
*Tucker Holladay - Business Graduate
*Shu-Wei Hsu - Business Graduate
*Alima Shamuratova - Business Graduate



=== '''DifferenceMaker™ Future Efforts:''' ===

The DifferenceMaker™ Program plans to continue many of the activities and events initiated in the first year of the program.  Some of these programs will be revised and they intend to launch several new initiatives, including a DifferenceMaker™ Passport Program, a DifferenceMaker™ Mentor Program and a seed grant program to encourage faculty participation in the DifferenceMaker™ program. They also plan to expand our collaboration with several University colleges. 

This year they plan to increase the role of DifferenceMaker™ Living Learning Community students in the DifferenceMaker™ program by training the members to become DifferenceMaker™ ambassadors once they transition into their sophomore year  through weekly meetings and monthly events. The training will allow LLC members to learn more about entrepreneurship and the DifferenceMaker™ Program so they can promote it to student clubs and campus classes.  Once the LLC students become sophomores they will transition into a DifferenceMaker™ Ambassador role, and hopefully will form the nucleus of a yet-to-be-formed DifferenceMaker™ student club.  

In order to assist students to both record and encourage their participation in DifferenceMaker™ events, they are planning the development and implementation of a DifferenceMaker™ Passport Program. Consistent with the goals of the UMass Lowell DifferenceMaker™ Program, the Passport Program will assist students to identify, record and collect experiences meant to: 

*Develop individual entrepreneurial identity
*Develop entrepreneurial skills and self-confidence
*Develop creative and sustainable solutions to complex problems
*Connect with the University, E For All and community entrepreneurial ecosystems

They anticipate that the number of students engaged in the DifferenceMaker™ Program and related activities will increase each year. As they encourage and reward the formation of various types of student ventures and projects, the need for mentors who can consult with student teams will increase. They plan to guide these students and track their progress through a professional Mentor Program. The UMass Lowell Mentor Program will provide a committed network of mentors with a broad set of skills and professional experiences, who can assist UMass Lowell entrepreneurs in developing the knowledge and skills, needed to grow an idea into a successful, new venture.

The DM UMass Lowell Mentor Program will seek to connect DifferenceMaker™ students with successful experienced entrepreneurs and alumnus, as well as faculty and staff.  The Mentor Program will focus on assisting students to further develop solutions as part of the DifferenceMaker™ Program. Mentors will provide guidance in further refining student team objectives and help them in building their entrepreneurial skillsets.

They are planning to offer DifferenceMaker™ Faculty Workshops to help faculty consider how they might engage their own students in DifferenceMaker™ activities through course related activities and through co-curricular activities. Our hope is that by engaging more faculty, they in turn will serve as both mentors and catalysts for students, encouraging and guiding student project selection and development. They have also observed that student teams often need support and guidance from faculty from different disciplines, these workshops and an accompanying seed grant program are meant as catalysts to encourage interdisciplinary engagement among faculty,

While the overarching goal of the DifferenceMaker™ program is to encourage UMass Lowell students to develop sustainable and entrepreneurial solutions to the challenges and opportunities they will confront in this world, they anticipate another, potentially significant impact on the University community itself. Our students will only be successful if they have the support of faculty, alumni, business and community members. During our first year of program activities, they have found these constituents to be most supportive and willing to mentor and work with our students.  Alumni are mentoring and investing in student ventures.  Faculty are working across disciplines to ensure their student teams make progress. Local profit and non-profit businesses are eager to work with student teams, providing real-world problems and opportunities for student projects. In one short year, the DifferenceMaker™ program has been embraced by the greater University community. Our hope and plan is to anchor this program in the curriculum and culture of the University, so all UMass Lowell students have an opportunity to make a difference in this world.

  

== '''Commercial Venture and Intellectual Property Office (CVIP):''' ==

Commercial Ventures and Intellectual Property (CVIP) is responsible for the protection and commercialization of intellectual property at UMass Lowell. 

=== '''CVIP Mission''' ===

The mission of UMass Lowell’s Office of Commercial Ventures and Intellectual Property (CVIP) is to facilitate the transfer of technology arising from government, foundation and industrial sponsored university research to the private sector. They facilitate development of inventions toward commercial relevance and utility, nurture mutually beneficial and sustainable relationships between the University and industry, promote an innovative and entrepreneurial culture at the University and contribute to the economic vibrancy and well-being of the Commonwealth. CVIP’s activities enable the successful transfer of commercially viable technology from the laboratory to the marketplace for public use and benefit. 

=== '''CVIP Functions''' ===

The main objectives of CVIP are:

*to license patents and other protections to industry in order to promote the development of inventions toward practical application;
*to foster a culture of innovation, facilitate commercially promising endeavors, and positively contribute to the University’s entrepreneurial ecosystem;
*to seek new business opportunities and form productive collaborations with industry in an effort to increase research and licensing revenue to the University;
*to generate income for inventors and the University as a whole for use in supporting further research, technology development and transfer;
*to advocate for the research community and seek to create incentives, provide rewards and obtain resources to advance commercialization of the technologies they generate.

== New Venture Initiative ==

New Venture Initiative (NVI) is a mix of university resources and equity investment designed to provide a path to and facilitate more start-up activity at UMass Lowell.  As part of the larger Commercial Venture and Intellectual Property Office (CVIP), the NVI fund focuses on inventions, discoveries, products and services that have been developed in whole or in part at UMass Lowell, have achieved proof of concept (or an early prototype) and are ready for commercial product development, rather than those requiring further basic research.  

== '''Massachusetts Medical Device Development Center (M2D2):''' ==

The Massachusetts Medical Device Development Center (M2D2) is a lifeline for the state’s smaller medical device companies, offering inventors and executives easy, affordable, and coordinated access to world-class researchers and resources at the Lowell and Worcester campuses of the University of Massachusetts.

=== '''M2D2 Available Resources''' ===

*9000 square feet of space on second floor including:
**6 wet laboratory suites
**Two office suites
**Large open office collaboration area
**Board room
**Reception area
**Break Room equipped with a table and chairs, full size refrigerator, microwave, sink, dishwasher, and coffee maker
*5000 square feet of space on first floor including:
**Six individual offices 
**Bright shared kitchen space equipped with a table and chairs, full size refrigerator and sink
**One large state of the art conference room with full pull down screen, computer with web access and a projector  
**All conference rooms contain a 46" Aquos LCD screen, as well as computer with web access and a projector
**Business and medical feasibility assessments
**Product development space
**Medical and clinical pathway assistance
**Connection to additional services such as laboratory use, incubator space for start-ups and clinical trial support through the product life cycle
**SBIR and STTR research
**Access to capital
**Networking events
**New Venture Competitions

== '''Entrepreneurship For All''' ==

'E for All' is a project of the Deshpande Foundation, which has encouraged the use of entrepreneurship and innovation as catalysts for sustainable change in the United States, India and Canada since 1996. Deshpande supported centers including the MIT Deshpande Center for Technological Innovation, the Deshpande Center for Social Innovation in Hubli, India, the Pond-Deshpande Centre at the University of New Brunswick, and our own 'E For All'  at the University of Massachusetts Lowell. 'E for All' includes higher education partners (Middlesex Community College, Merrimack College and Northern Essex Community College) and a host of regional community and business partners.

=== '''E for All Mission''' ===

The mission of 'E For All' is to connect and strengthen the ecosystem in Lowell and Lawrence, Massachusetts, around entrepreneurship and leadership. This mission is supported by the following three principle 'E For All' programs:

·       Catalysts-The Catalyst program provides seed funding and mentoring support to foster initiative around new ideas and programs among local high school and college students.

·       Entrepreneurship-The Entrepreneur Program is a community-wide initiative supporting entrepreneurship. More than 30 partner organizations and institutions are participating in this initiative, which gives entrepreneurs a greater chance at success through pitch contests, workshops and intensive programs. 

·       Leadership-The 'E For All' Leadership Institute (SLI) offers leadership development for individuals that live, work or are interested in the communities of Lawrence and Lowell. 

== Other Organizations ==

'''Entrepreneurial Ventures Association''': EVA is an interdisciplinary organization that is open to all majors; they share resources, advice, and interests with other COM and UML clubs to help students turn their entrepreneurial ideas into reality.  

'''Honors Ambassador Program: '''Students participate in the Honors Ambassador Program to gain valuable experience through courses tailored for higher development and to foster relationships with communities and organizations that the program is involved with.

= '''University Entrepreneurship''' =

=== Creative New Academic Programs ===

'''The Manning School of Business'''  The Manning School of Business offers two academic programs focused on entrepreneurship:

*[http://www.uml.edu/MSB/management/Entrepreneurship.aspx Undergraduate - Entrepreneurship Concentration]: Prepares students to be "outside-of-the-box" thinkers and innovators in today's complex global economy.

The '''entrepreneurship concentration''' prepares students to be an "outside of the box" thinker and innovator in today's complex global economy. Using an interdisciplinary focus, students who complete the concentration will:

*Develop the management skills required to identify and launch new business ventures around innovative products, services and technologies. 
*Develop an understanding of the concepts and activities associated with entrepreneurship and innovation. 
*Understand the financial aspects of an entrepreneurial venture from start-up to "harvest". 
*Discover their individual "entrepreneurial spirit" through experiential learning in interdisciplinary classes and the College's Venture Lab.

The required courses within the Entrepreneurship concentration consist of:

#Starting a New Venture 
#Corporate Entrepreneurship 
#Managing Innovation 
#Finance for Emerging Business Enterprises
#Entrepreneurial Strategy & Implementation (Fall '14 not yet required)
#Study Abroad in India (not required, entrepreneurship focused)

[http://www.uml.edu/MSB/Graduate-Programs/MSITE.aspx Graduate - Master of Science in Innovation and Technological Entrepreneurship (MSITE)]: Provides engineers, business majors and scientists with the skills and knowledge required to drive innovation in today's collaborative, global workforce.

[http://www.uml.edu/MSB/Graduate-Programs/MSITEhealthcare.aspx Graduate - Master of Science in Innovation and Technological Entrepreneurship (MSITE) Healthcare Innovation & Entrepreneurship (HI+E) Option]: This option is targeted towards healthcare professionals, such as hospital managers/administrators, clinicians, physicians and other medical professionals who need to understand and manage the impact of emerging technologies and innovations in the healthcare industry. The Program will also benefit recent graduates who wish to enter the healthcare industries as a career choice.

[http://www.uml.edu/MSB/Program-of-study/New-Venture-Creation.aspx Graduate Certificate - New Venture Creation]: This program is focused specifically on the creation of technology-based ventures and is designed to assist professionals with undergraduate and career experience in science, engineering, technology or business fields in better understanding how to develop and launch a technology-based business.

'''College of Sciences, Computer Science Department'''

The Computer Science Department offers an [http://www.uml.edu/Catalog/Graduate/Sciences/Computer-Science/MS-in-Computer-Science-Entrepreneurship-Option.aspx entrepreneurship option] in their master's degree. It is directed at those with a strong undergraduate background in Computer Science who are interested in both deepening their technical knowledge and in understanding the tools required for developing a company directed towards software services and products.

'''College of Engineering, Electrical and Computer Engineering Department, Assistive Technology Program'''

A component of the undergraduate Electrical and Computer Engineering program, senior ECE students complete a [http://atp.caeds.eng.uml.edu/index.html senior capstone project] aimed at designing and producing an assistive technology device for a person with a disability. Engineering students can apply the knowledge they have learned from their courses and help solve problems for disabled people through creating technological advances. 

== Entrepreneurial Capital Projects and Acquisitions ==

=== '''The Mark and Elisia Saab Emerging Technologies and Innovation Center''' ===

This new UMass Lowell 2012-13 construction is a building developed for bringing innovation and industry together. Faculty and student researchers use the resources available in this building to meet industry challenges and improve lives using UMass Lowell technologies and patents. Core facilities for use in fundamental and translational research are available to faculty and students; it contains class 100, 1,000, and 10,000 cleanroom spaces, wet lab and engineering lab space, and a plastics processing high bay. The ETIC is has LEED Gold Certification, and is considered green. The construction of this building also is estimated to supporting at least 130 new jobs.

 

=== '''Health and Social Sciences Building'''  ===

This new building that houses criminal justice and criminology, nursing, and psychology provides classrooms, simulation laboratories, observation facilities, a demonstration hospital wing, and ample meeting space for community projects. The construction of this new building supported more than 800 construction and related jobs, and provided the much needed resources and space for UMass Lowell’s growing social science population.

= '''University-Industry Collaboration''' =

'''Research Activities'''

UMass Lowell places a large focus on professional research, as evidenced by the ample lab space professors have to work with in buildings such as the ETIC. A comprehensive list of all research areas and information about them can be found on the UMass Lowell website. [http://www.uml.edu/Research/Centers/default.aspx http://www.uml.edu/Research/Centers/default.aspx]

==== Center for Industrial Competitiveness ====

For nearly 20 years, UMass Lowell’s Center for Industrial Competitiveness has conducted research on industrial innovation, regional development, corporate governance, financialization, and sustainable prosperity. Resources available stretch all around the world through collaborative networks and relationships, providing ample information and a global understanding on development. Research also includes local industrial development in Massachusetts. 

UMass Lowell has a page dedicated to the CIC researchers and their work, which can be found here: [http://www.uml.edu/centers/cic/Research/Research.html http://www.uml.edu/centers/cic/Research/Research.html]

= '''Regional and Local Economic Development''' =

'''Economic and Social Development of Regions Department:'''

This graduate program focuses on giving an interdisciplinary education that is tailored to fit the needs of the individual. By educating both the private and public sectors of economic and social development, this program aims to create work ready individuals that can bring innovation and change to shifting social and economic environment.

'''Lowell Makes''' 

“A membership‐driven collaborative space equipped with a wide variety of tools, machines, materials, computers and other resources where individuals can gain and practice modern skills with state‐of‐the‐art technology, access to resources they could not otherwise, and a community of creative minded people who make all kinds of things. “Art is the Handmaid of Human Good” is both the City of Lowell’s motto, and a reminder of Lowell’s rich industrial and artistic history as our inspiration.” - [http://www.lowellmakes.com/proposal/ http://www.lowellmakes.com/proposal/]

Lowell makes was founded to be a space where those who do not have access to certain equipment to bring their ideas to life will have that access they need and have the support they need to push their innovation to the next level. It is a space that has resources tailored for budding entrepreneurs, and can be rented out by anyone with a plan. 

'''Mill No.5'''

Mill No.5 is one of the few non-UML entrepreneurial constructs in the Lowell urban environment. Like many mills in Lowell, it has been renovated and repurposed. Being subdivided and updated to proper code, there are rooms available for offices and start-ups looking to have an office space to centralize their resources. 

= '''Conclusion''' =

Entrepreneurship is a strategic objective at the University of Massachusetts Lowell.  During the last five years, UMass Lowell has re-positioned itself with students, faculty, staff, and the community as a true public enterprise committed to taking an entrepreneurial approach to innovation in all aspects of its structure.   A rapidly expanding innovation ecosystem encourages and guides entrepreneurial action, whether academically or commercially, amongst its faculty and student body -- fostering an entrepreneurial approach to economic development through a variety of programs and activities. UMass Lowell will continue to thrive in all aspects of entrepreneurship and innovation.  

= Related Links =

University Innovation Fellows:
[http://universityinnovation.org/wiki/Stephen_Kender Stephen Kender][[Ana Gouveia|Ana Gouveia]][[James Abdallah|James Abdallah]][[KevinMDesjardins|Kevin Desjardins]][[Jacob Hulme|Jacob Hulme]][[UMass Lowell Student Priorities|UMass Lowell Student Priorities]]
[[Category:Universities]]

School:University of Massachusetts Lowell

2015-10-12T19:19:03Z

Ephenstephen:

<div style="float: right; clear: right;">[[File:UMass-Lowell-logo.png]]</div>
The University of Massachusetts Lowell (also known as UMass Lowell or UML) is a [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Public_university public] [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_research_universities_in_the_United_States doctoral/research] university in [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lowell,_Massachusetts Lowell], [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Massachusetts Massachusetts], [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_States United States],and part of the [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/University_of_Massachusetts University of Massachusetts] system. With more than 1,100 faculty members and more than 16,000 students, it is the largest university in the [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Merrimack_Valley Merrimack Valley] and the second-largest public institution in the state behind UMass Amherst. The university offers more than 120 degree choices, internships, bachelor’s to master’s programs and doctoral studies in the College of Fine Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences; College of Health Sciences; College of Sciences; the Francis College of Engineering; the Graduate School of Education; and the Manning School of Business.

= '''Overview - A Campus On The Move''' =

UMass Lowell has been evolving in every aspect; upgraded classrooms, libraries and labs; new and renovated student living and activity spaces; and enhanced parking facilities are a few on the list of what has been updated and changed over the past decade of campus improvement.

*University Crossing
**Officially completed and operating, this new building hosts student services and activities, bookstore, dining, University police, transportation services, and senior administration offices.
*Pulichino Tong Building
**The University’s current construction project, the Tong Building will replace the now-relocated Honor’s Eames Dorm building on UMass Lowell’s North Campus and will house the entirety of the Robert J. Manning School of Business.
*University Suites
**This brand new dorm on UMass Lowell’s East campus provides housing for 472 students in four- and six-bed suites. There is a ground-floor common area with a café - Hawk's Nest - featuring fresh bakery, grab & go items and a late night Asian menu, in addition to delicious Red Mango frozen yogurt & smoothies and "We proudly serve" Starbucks Coffee. A multi-purpose room is open to the UMass Lowell community. Each residential floor has two common kitchen/lounge areas, two quiet study rooms and a group study room.
*Riverview Suites
**The other half of the two-dorm addition to UMass Lowell in 2013, Riverview Suites has either two or three bedroom suites complete with a live-in kitchen, classroom and meeting rooms inside the building, and a gym inside the facility. The University leases the property from Soho Development, who also built the $42 million facility.
*New Garages
**In the past three years, UMass Lowell has added two large parking garages to each of its largest parking lots, greatly increasing the parking capacity for the strong commuter presence attending the school.
*Health and Social Sciences Building
**In 2013, this new criminal justice and criminology, nursing and psychology building had its grand opening. The construction of this building marked the first new construction in 30 years on the University’s South Campus, including all campuses in the University’s recent wave of evolution.

Since 2009, the University has also been heavily updating the existing buildings while acquiring and renovating new ones. UMass Lowell renovated the newly acquired Inn and Conference Center, added Taco Bell and Subway to the University’s dining partners, renovated the newly acquired Tsongas Center, and heavily updated their Dining Hall in the tallest UMass Lowell building, Fox Hall 

== 2015 Innovation Fellows Plans ==

[https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1ZwhfzohFPyuM4Vutiho8ZAuV8Jmq-JxBJ2vNaGZe-kY/edit?usp=sharing Landscape Canvas]

[https://docs.google.com/presentation/d/1o3F2IN8YoWKMk83r0SoAfr5NH_qUw7RFa2ZxjslksQM/edit?usp=sharing Lean Startup Presentation]

= '''Student Entrepreneurship''' =

==== '''NonSpec ''' ====

[http://www.nonspec.org/ NonSpec] participated in the 2013 first annual DifferenceMaker™ Idea Challenge where they showed dedication and enthusiasm by attending each educational workshop and event throughout the process which aided in their success.  At the Idea Challenge they received the prestigious title of “Campus Wide DifferenceMaker™” and the top award of $5,000. This prize represents the project most likely to make a significant difference in the community, region and the world.

The $5,000 award has allowed Nonspec to move their initiative forward by creating their first batch of prosthetic limbs. With a projected 15% market share in the next five years, Nonspec plans to use this market presence to launch a foundation called “Give a Hand”. The purpose of this foundation would be to spread their mission, goals, charitable cause, and products around the world in order to make a difference in developing nations.

Since Nonspec’s success at the Idea Challenge they have gained great publicity in other arenas.  They were recently named one of the top 10 semi-finalists in Entrepreneur® Magazine’s “College Entrepreneur of 2013 Contest”.  In addition, they were invited to attend [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ppnzNSnxi-g IAPD Plastics Application Design Competition], which was held on October 2, 2013 in Miami, Florida.  Lastly, the team was utilized as a role model by being featured in a [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aLwLg4XHrck video] that was shown at all DifferenceMaker™ freshman orientation sessions throughout the summer due to their motivation and high entrepreneurial spirits.

= Departments and Programs =

== '''Center for Innovation and Entrepreneurship''' ==

The Center for Innovation and Entrepreneurship offers students and faculty of all disciplines the opportunity to work together to develop innovative and entrepreneurial solutions to the major problems facing our community, the region and the world. The Center hosts several programs that encourage social innovation and entrepreneurship among UMass Lowell students as well as the broader community in which we live. The DifferenceMaker program provides training, mentoring and other resources to UMass Lowell students and faculty who wish to address social, environmental and economic problems in our community.

== '''DifferenceMaker™''' ==

The DifferenceMaker™ Program sponsors specific events and activities that support students in solving big problems through innovation and entrepreneurship. The Program is highly experiential by offering students a series of workshops that they can engage in to better understand innovation, entrepreneurship and launching a start-up of their interest.

Students of all majors and disciplines are welcome to join this Program and make a difference at UMass Lowell, in the community or in the world through innovative and entrepreneurial action.

=== Goals of DifferenceMaker™ ===

*Introduce all UMass students to creative problem solving, innovation and entrepreneurship
*Accelerate purpose in each students education
*Connect current students to alumni experience
*Encourage a social responsibility ethos

=== DifferenceMaker™ Available Activities ===

*'''DifferenceMaker™ Enterprise Co-op'''
**Throughout each year, DifferenceMaker™ will hire several students from various majors to participate in paid co-op experiences. Student co-ops assist in conducting and summarizing entrepreneurial research, developing and distributing marketing materials for various center initiatives, and provide center support for faculty and innovation fellows affiliate with the center. 
*'''Freshman Make A Difference Orientation'''
**During the summer sessions, DifferenceMaker™ has a large presence in the Freshman Orientation days. Through the Office of Orientation, Student Activities and Leadership, and ResLife, DifferenceMaker™ was able to present to every attending freshman and gain exposure to all of the new students at UMass Lowell.
*'''Freshman DifferenceMaker™ Convocation'''
**At the beginning of each academic year, we present DifferenceMaker™ to every incoming freshman at Convocation. Each year we perform a fun activity to engage students in our program.
*'''Introduction to DifferenceMaker™'''
**Freshman Seminars-A series of in-class discussions in collaboration with the Manning School of Business, The Francis College of Engineering, The College of Fine Arts, Humanities, and Social Sciences, and The College of Health Sciences in order to introduce the DifferenceMaker™ Program to students of all disciplines and to inspire them to explore their passions through creative problem solving.
*'''Introduction to the DifferenceMaker™ Program'''
**A series of events were held on both the north and south campuses to introduce students to DifferenceMaker™ Program concepts, allow them to share their ideas and interests, explore possible projects and solution, and to connected with each other to form teams. These events included the DifferenceMaker™ Convocation Pitch, the Climate Change Teach-in, a DifferenceMaker™ Team Building Dinner, and others.
*'''DifferenceMaker™ LLC'''
**Having a presence in the student residence halls as well as the classroom is important to motivate students and discover new ideas waiting to happen. The DifferenceMaker™ Living/Learning Community brings new students together in the ResLife environment for innovation and brainstorming outside of the classroom.
*'''Honors DifferenceMaker™ Program'''
**In collaboration with UMass Lowell Honors Program, this concerted effort to embed elements of social entrepreneurship in our Honors Program includes coursework and community-based student efforts that have specific focus on innovation and entrepreneurial practices.
*'''Introduction to Engineering Extra Credit Project'''
**This activity was a collaboration effort between the DifferenceMaker™ Program and The Francis College of Engineering to introduce freshman engineering majors to the DifferenceMaker™ Program, innovation, and entrepreneurship. In this introductory activity, the students’ innovative ideas were explored and presented in a format which would enable their projects to be candidates for both the DifferenceMaker™ Program Idea Challenge and Campus Catalyst program.
*'''Creative Venture Competition'''
**This contest held in October of 2013 hosted by DifferenceMaker™ focused on innovation from Arts, Humanities, and Social Science students. $2500 was awarded to the best entrepreneurial business a proposal, and $250 to each finalist team was also awarded.
*'''Digital Federal Credit Union Innovation Contest''' 
**In November of 2013, DifferenceMaker™ along with DCU hosted an Innovation Contest focusing on banking and financial innovation in the industry. With a grand prize of $500 per team member and peripheral prizes of $100 per team member, the contest gave thousands to innovative teams and cutting edge ideas.
*'''DifferenceMaker™ Reverse Pitch'''
**This pitch event was debuted on November 19, 2013. This event was a spin-off of “normal” idea challenges and hackathons. Instead of students pitching their ideas to funding sources or judges, businesses and community partners actually pitched their existing problems to a student audience in the hopes that they can develop a solution.
*'''DifferenceMaker™ Idea Challenge'''
**''''''DifferenceMaker™ is hosting its fourth annual Idea Challenge; this challenge is for student entrepreneurial teams to come up with sustainable ideas that will make some sort of impact on the world or their community. Help in the form of various workshops in the months leading up to the Idea Challenge is available, teaching students how to properly pitch their ideas and how to flesh out their business plans. There are various subcategories for each team to have a chance at winning spread out across over many different disciplines, encouraging all students to participate and welcoming all ideas.
*'''DifferenceMaker™ Workshops'''
**Team Building Mixer
**Identifying Problems and Opportunities
**Developing Solutions
**Identifying Resources
**Rocket Pitch Coaching
*'''Campus Catalyst Program'''
**''''''The DifferenceMaker™ Program works closely with 'E For All', a community business accelerator funded by the Deshpande Foundation, in order to encourage students to generate and develop their entrepreneurial ideas. The Sandbox Campus Catalyst program provided seed funding for student social and business solutions with potential. 

=== '''DifferenceMaker™ Program Available Resources''' ===

*DifferenceMaker™ Central
**Large open office collaboration space equipped with Wi-Fi, 3 Mac computers, printer/copier, 2 46” LCD TV monitors with projection capabilities, 6 white boards, 10 tables with chairs all equipped with wheels that can be easily rearranged for optimal use and collaboration, refrigerator, sink, cabinet space, coffee maker and other necessary office supplies.
*Hawk  Hatch
**Philanthropic Crowd Funding Source
*Grants
*Networking
**Mentors
**Faculty Fellows and DifferenceMaker™ Staff
*Events
**Series of Educational Entrepreneurial Workshops including materials
**Problem, Opportunity, Solution, Resources, Pitch Coaching
**Team Building Assistance
**TeamMaker Platform, Team Building Mixer

Through the Center for Innovation & Entrepreneurship, along with affiliated faculty and other campus programs, the University has introduced a range of activities that help students make a difference in the world.

=== '''DifferenceMaker™ Inaugural Year Statistics''' ===

*72 DifferenceMaker™ events held in inaugural year
*3,500  students who participates in a DifferenceMaker™ event this past year
*$25,000  of funds awarded to 10 IdeaChallenge finalist teams
*1,265  freshman participating in summer rapid ideation workshops
*112  students who participated in the First Annual IdeaChallenge
*22  cross discipline relationships notes between students among IdeaChallenge teams
*24  academic disciplines represented by students in the IdeaChallenge teams

=== '''2015 DifferenceMaker™ Idea Challenge Finalists''' ===

'''Campus-Wide DifferenceMaker'''

'''Hydraulic Walker ($5,000)'''

They have designed and built a walker that utilizes hydraulics, allowing for the legs of the walker to be quickly adjusted, so that it can be used on stairs.

*Ryan Andrews - Physical Therapy Graduate
*Peter Klausmeyer - Physical Therapy Graduate



'''Significant Social Impact'''

'''1st Place'''- L'''ove of the Game ($4,000)'''

Love of the Game is a community outreach program aiming to integrate universities and people with physical and cognitive disabilities through sports.

*Jessica Dion - Exercise Physiology '16
*Dylan Doucette - Exercise Physiology '16
*Lucas Parsons - Exercise Physiology '16
*Rachel Silk - Business Marketing '16
*Daniel Schmith - Business Entrepreneurship '18
*Jennie Pisarik - Exercise Physiology '16



'''2nd Place - Buddies Without Borders ($2,500)'''

Buddies without Borders aims to bridge the gap between domestic students and international students starting with an in-person pair up then followed by a comprehensive website that allows members to define their profiles and micro-blog by text, photo, and video sharing.

*Tugba Arsava - Community Social Psychology Graduate
*Burhan Colak - Civil Engineering Graduate
*Katherine Cox - Psychology '18
*Madeline Ormazza - Business '17
*Shashank Raghuveer - Computer Science Graduate
*Fang Zhang - Chemistry Graduate



'''Contribution to a Healthier Lifestyle'''

'''1st Place - Playable Therapy ($4,000)'''

This project's goal is to create a platform of exercises and games that, with the Microsoft Kinect, will allow for motion tracking of a physical therapy (PT) patient during their exercise routine at home.

*Suhaib Alfageeh - Computer Science '16
*Lucas Brown - English and Math '16
*Chelsea Hayes - Business '16
*Damir Ismagilove - Math '16
*Anthony Pitaro - Exercise Physiology '15
*Mark Mcgrotty - Computer Science '16



'''2nd Place - Solar Electric Vehicles ($2,500)'''

This team is designing a series of low speed and high efficiency commuter vehicles that utilize hub motor technology to allow people to travel using purely the energy of the sun.

*Suhaib Alfageeh - Computer Science '16
*Chukwuma Azubuine - Entrepreneurship Graduate
*Richard Asirifi - Electrical Engineering '16
*Anas Dahany - Electrical Engineering '15
*David Jenkins - Mechanical Engineering '15
*Oliver Kayego - Electrical Engineering '17
*Chris Leger - Electrical Engineering '15
*Jared Mrvos - Computer Engineering '17
*Charles Reid - Mechanical Engineering '15
*Kenneth Sanders - Computer Science '18
*Mukhammaddin Zinaddinov - Electrical Engineering '18



'''Innovative Technology Solution'''

'''1st Place - Masela Dentures ($4,000)'''

Their project aims to develop a fully 3D printable denture system as an alternative solution to expensive dentures manufactured using traditional casting and milling methods.

*Cormac Hondros-McCarthy - Plastics Engineering '15
*Casey McRae - Plastics Engineering '15



'''2nd Place - KEnDERS Athletic Body Armor($2,500)'''

They created a novel and revolutionary sports equipment construction centered around an innovative shear-thickening material

*Elizabeth Kender - Plastics Engineering '16
*Laura Kender - Plastics Engineering '16
*Stephen Kender - Plastics Engineering '18



'''First to Market'''

'''1st Place - Mayday ($4,000)'''

This project aims to develop a wearable device connected via Bluetooth technology to a mobile phone, that, when activated, sends emergency alert signals to a list of emergency contacts.

*Cibhi SelVan-  Business Graduate
*Alessandro Agnello-  Computer Science PhD



'''2nd Place''' - '''Word Builder '''('''$2,500)'''

Word Builder is an interactive toy designed to help children build the foundations of reading at an early age.

*Sergio Coronado - Computer Engineering '16
*Ian Copithorne - Computer Engineering '16



'''Honorable Mention'''

'''Low-Income Community Homework Center ($1,500)'''

Their goal is to open a homework center for students from low-income families in a poverty stricken town/city such as Lawrence, Massachusetts.

*Arnaldo Rivera - Psychology '15
*Hector Rivera  - Psychology '15



'''Fan Favorite'''

'''Indoor Hydroponic System ($2,500)'''

Their project is a hydroponic garden that is equipped with an environment monitoring system that ensures optimal growing conditions for plants and requires little to no maintenance.

*Rapheeporn Aungaphinant - Business Graduate
*Katherine Cain - Business Graduate
*Tucker Holladay - Business Graduate
*Shu-Wei Hsu - Business Graduate
*Alima Shamuratova - Business Graduate



=== '''DifferenceMaker™ Future Efforts:''' ===

The DifferenceMaker™ Program plans to continue many of the activities and events initiated in the first year of the program.  Some of these programs will be revised and they intend to launch several new initiatives, including a DifferenceMaker™ Passport Program, a DifferenceMaker™ Mentor Program and a seed grant program to encourage faculty participation in the DifferenceMaker™ program. They also plan to expand our collaboration with several University colleges. 

This year they plan to increase the role of DifferenceMaker™ Living Learning Community students in the DifferenceMaker™ program by training the members to become DifferenceMaker™ ambassadors once they transition into their sophomore year  through weekly meetings and monthly events. The training will allow LLC members to learn more about entrepreneurship and the DifferenceMaker™ Program so they can promote it to student clubs and campus classes.  Once the LLC students become sophomores they will transition into a DifferenceMaker™ Ambassador role, and hopefully will form the nucleus of a yet-to-be-formed DifferenceMaker™ student club.  

In order to assist students to both record and encourage their participation in DifferenceMaker™ events, they are planning the development and implementation of a DifferenceMaker™ Passport Program. Consistent with the goals of the UMass Lowell DifferenceMaker™ Program, the Passport Program will assist students to identify, record and collect experiences meant to: 

*Develop individual entrepreneurial identity
*Develop entrepreneurial skills and self-confidence
*Develop creative and sustainable solutions to complex problems
*Connect with the University, E For All and community entrepreneurial ecosystems

They anticipate that the number of students engaged in the DifferenceMaker™ Program and related activities will increase each year. As they encourage and reward the formation of various types of student ventures and projects, the need for mentors who can consult with student teams will increase. They plan to guide these students and track their progress through a professional Mentor Program. The UMass Lowell Mentor Program will provide a committed network of mentors with a broad set of skills and professional experiences, who can assist UMass Lowell entrepreneurs in developing the knowledge and skills, needed to grow an idea into a successful, new venture.

The DM UMass Lowell Mentor Program will seek to connect DifferenceMaker™ students with successful experienced entrepreneurs and alumnus, as well as faculty and staff.  The Mentor Program will focus on assisting students to further develop solutions as part of the DifferenceMaker™ Program. Mentors will provide guidance in further refining student team objectives and help them in building their entrepreneurial skillsets.

They are planning to offer DifferenceMaker™ Faculty Workshops to help faculty consider how they might engage their own students in DifferenceMaker™ activities through course related activities and through co-curricular activities. Our hope is that by engaging more faculty, they in turn will serve as both mentors and catalysts for students, encouraging and guiding student project selection and development. They have also observed that student teams often need support and guidance from faculty from different disciplines, these workshops and an accompanying seed grant program are meant as catalysts to encourage interdisciplinary engagement among faculty,

While the overarching goal of the DifferenceMaker™ program is to encourage UMass Lowell students to develop sustainable and entrepreneurial solutions to the challenges and opportunities they will confront in this world, they anticipate another, potentially significant impact on the University community itself. Our students will only be successful if they have the support of faculty, alumni, business and community members. During our first year of program activities, they have found these constituents to be most supportive and willing to mentor and work with our students.  Alumni are mentoring and investing in student ventures.  Faculty are working across disciplines to ensure their student teams make progress. Local profit and non-profit businesses are eager to work with student teams, providing real-world problems and opportunities for student projects. In one short year, the DifferenceMaker™ program has been embraced by the greater University community. Our hope and plan is to anchor this program in the curriculum and culture of the University, so all UMass Lowell students have an opportunity to make a difference in this world.

  

== '''Commercial Venture and Intellectual Property Office (CVIP):''' ==

Commercial Ventures and Intellectual Property (CVIP) is responsible for the protection and commercialization of intellectual property at UMass Lowell. 

=== '''CVIP Mission''' ===

The mission of UMass Lowell’s Office of Commercial Ventures and Intellectual Property (CVIP) is to facilitate the transfer of technology arising from government, foundation and industrial sponsored university research to the private sector. They facilitate development of inventions toward commercial relevance and utility, nurture mutually beneficial and sustainable relationships between the University and industry, promote an innovative and entrepreneurial culture at the University and contribute to the economic vibrancy and well-being of the Commonwealth. CVIP’s activities enable the successful transfer of commercially viable technology from the laboratory to the marketplace for public use and benefit. 

=== '''CVIP Functions''' ===

The main objectives of CVIP are:

*to license patents and other protections to industry in order to promote the development of inventions toward practical application;
*to foster a culture of innovation, facilitate commercially promising endeavors, and positively contribute to the University’s entrepreneurial ecosystem;
*to seek new business opportunities and form productive collaborations with industry in an effort to increase research and licensing revenue to the University;
*to generate income for inventors and the University as a whole for use in supporting further research, technology development and transfer;
*to advocate for the research community and seek to create incentives, provide rewards and obtain resources to advance commercialization of the technologies they generate.

== '''New Venture Initiative''' ==

New Venture Initiative (NVI) is a mix of university resources and equity investment designed to provide a path to and facilitate more start-up activity at UMass Lowell.  As part of the larger Commercial Venture and Intellectual Property Office (CVIP), the NVI fund focuses on inventions, discoveries, products and services that have been developed in whole or in part at UMass Lowell, have achieved proof of concept (or an early prototype) and are ready for commercial product development, rather than those requiring further basic research.  

== '''Massachusetts Medical Device Development Center (M2D2):''' ==

The Massachusetts Medical Device Development Center (M2D2) is a lifeline for the state’s smaller medical device companies, offering inventors and executives easy, affordable, and coordinated access to world-class researchers and resources at the Lowell and Worcester campuses of the University of Massachusetts.

=== '''M2D2 Available Resources''' ===

*9000 square feet of space on second floor including:
**6 wet laboratory suites
**Two office suites
**Large open office collaboration area
**Board room
**Reception area
**Break Room equipped with a table and chairs, full size refrigerator, microwave, sink, dishwasher, and coffee maker
*5000 square feet of space on first floor including:
**Six individual offices 
**Bright shared kitchen space equipped with a table and chairs, full size refrigerator and sink
**One large state of the art conference room with full pull down screen, computer with web access and a projector  
**All conference rooms contain a 46" Aquos LCD screen, as well as computer with web access and a projector
**Business and medical feasibility assessments
**Product development space
**Medical and clinical pathway assistance
**Connection to additional services such as laboratory use, incubator space for start-ups and clinical trial support through the product life cycle
**SBIR and STTR research
**Access to capital
**Networking events
**New Venture Competitions

== '''Entrepreneurship For All''' ==

'E for All' is a project of the Deshpande Foundation, which has encouraged the use of entrepreneurship and innovation as catalysts for sustainable change in the United States, India and Canada since 1996. Deshpande supported centers including the MIT Deshpande Center for Technological Innovation, the Deshpande Center for Social Innovation in Hubli, India, the Pond-Deshpande Centre at the University of New Brunswick, and our own 'E For All'  at the University of Massachusetts Lowell. 'E for All' includes higher education partners (Middlesex Community College, Merrimack College and Northern Essex Community College) and a host of regional community and business partners.

=== '''E for All Mission''' ===

The mission of 'E For All' is to connect and strengthen the ecosystem in Lowell and Lawrence, Massachusetts, around entrepreneurship and leadership. This mission is supported by the following three principle 'E For All' programs:

·       Catalysts-The Catalyst program provides seed funding and mentoring support to foster initiative around new ideas and programs among local high school and college students.

·       Entrepreneurship-The Entrepreneur Program is a community-wide initiative supporting entrepreneurship. More than 30 partner organizations and institutions are participating in this initiative, which gives entrepreneurs a greater chance at success through pitch contests, workshops and intensive programs. 

·       Leadership-The 'E For All' Leadership Institute (SLI) offers leadership development for individuals that live, work or are interested in the communities of Lawrence and Lowell. 

== Other Organizations ==

'''Entrepreneurial Ventures Association''': EVA is an interdisciplinary organization that is open to all majors; they share resources, advice, and interests with other COM and UML clubs to help students turn their entrepreneurial ideas into reality.  

'''Honors Ambassador Program: '''Students participate in the Honors Ambassador Program to gain valuable experience through courses tailored for higher development and to foster relationships with communities and organizations that the program is involved with.

= '''University Entrepreneurship''' =

=== Creative New Academic Programs ===

'''The Manning School of Business'''  The Manning School of Business offers two academic programs focused on entrepreneurship:

*[http://www.uml.edu/MSB/management/Entrepreneurship.aspx Undergraduate - Entrepreneurship Concentration]: Prepares students to be "outside-of-the-box" thinkers and innovators in today's complex global economy.

The '''entrepreneurship concentration''' prepares students to be an "outside of the box" thinker and innovator in today's complex global economy. Using an interdisciplinary focus, students who complete the concentration will:

*Develop the management skills required to identify and launch new business ventures around innovative products, services and technologies. 
*Develop an understanding of the concepts and activities associated with entrepreneurship and innovation. 
*Understand the financial aspects of an entrepreneurial venture from start-up to "harvest". 
*Discover their individual "entrepreneurial spirit" through experiential learning in interdisciplinary classes and the College's Venture Lab.

The required courses within the Entrepreneurship concentration consist of:

#Starting a New Venture 
#Corporate Entrepreneurship 
#Managing Innovation 
#Finance for Emerging Business Enterprises
#Entrepreneurial Strategy & Implementation (Fall '14 not yet required)
#Study Abroad in India (not required, entrepreneurship focused)

[http://www.uml.edu/MSB/Graduate-Programs/MSITE.aspx Graduate - Master of Science in Innovation and Technological Entrepreneurship (MSITE)]: Provides engineers, business majors and scientists with the skills and knowledge required to drive innovation in today's collaborative, global workforce.

[http://www.uml.edu/MSB/Graduate-Programs/MSITEhealthcare.aspx Graduate - Master of Science in Innovation and Technological Entrepreneurship (MSITE) Healthcare Innovation & Entrepreneurship (HI+E) Option]: This option is targeted towards healthcare professionals, such as hospital managers/administrators, clinicians, physicians and other medical professionals who need to understand and manage the impact of emerging technologies and innovations in the healthcare industry. The Program will also benefit recent graduates who wish to enter the healthcare industries as a career choice.

[http://www.uml.edu/MSB/Program-of-study/New-Venture-Creation.aspx Graduate Certificate - New Venture Creation]: This program is focused specifically on the creation of technology-based ventures and is designed to assist professionals with undergraduate and career experience in science, engineering, technology or business fields in better understanding how to develop and launch a technology-based business.

'''College of Sciences, Computer Science Department'''

The Computer Science Department offers an [http://www.uml.edu/Catalog/Graduate/Sciences/Computer-Science/MS-in-Computer-Science-Entrepreneurship-Option.aspx entrepreneurship option] in their master's degree. It is directed at those with a strong undergraduate background in Computer Science who are interested in both deepening their technical knowledge and in understanding the tools required for developing a company directed towards software services and products.

'''College of Engineering, Electrical and Computer Engineering Department, Assistive Technology Program'''

A component of the undergraduate Electrical and Computer Engineering program, senior ECE students complete a [http://atp.caeds.eng.uml.edu/index.html senior capstone project] aimed at designing and producing an assistive technology device for a person with a disability. Engineering students can apply the knowledge they have learned from their courses and help solve problems for disabled people through creating technological advances. 

== Entrepreneurial Capital Projects and Acquisitions ==

=== '''The Mark and Elisia Saab Emerging Technologies and Innovation Center''' ===

This new UMass Lowell 2012-13 construction is a building developed for bringing innovation and industry together. Faculty and student researchers use the resources available in this building to meet industry challenges and improve lives using UMass Lowell technologies and patents. Core facilities for use in fundamental and translational research are available to faculty and students; it contains class 100, 1,000, and 10,000 cleanroom spaces, wet lab and engineering lab space, and a plastics processing high bay. The ETIC is has LEED Gold Certification, and is considered green. The construction of this building also is estimated to supporting at least 130 new jobs.

 

=== '''Health and Social Sciences Building'''  ===

This new building that houses criminal justice and criminology, nursing, and psychology provides classrooms, simulation laboratories, observation facilities, a demonstration hospital wing, and ample meeting space for community projects. The construction of this new building supported more than 800 construction and related jobs, and provided the much needed resources and space for UMass Lowell’s growing social science population.

= '''University-Industry Collaboration''' =

'''Research Activities'''

UMass Lowell places a large focus on professional research, as evidenced by the ample lab space professors have to work with in buildings such as the ETIC. A comprehensive list of all research areas and information about them can be found on the UMass Lowell website. [http://www.uml.edu/Research/Centers/default.aspx http://www.uml.edu/Research/Centers/default.aspx]

==== Center for Industrial Competitiveness ====

For nearly 20 years, UMass Lowell’s Center for Industrial Competitiveness has conducted research on industrial innovation, regional development, corporate governance, financialization, and sustainable prosperity. Resources available stretch all around the world through collaborative networks and relationships, providing ample information and a global understanding on development. Research also includes local industrial development in Massachusetts. 

UMass Lowell has a page dedicated to the CIC researchers and their work, which can be found here: [http://www.uml.edu/centers/cic/Research/Research.html http://www.uml.edu/centers/cic/Research/Research.html]

= '''Regional and Local Economic Development''' =

'''Economic and Social Development of Regions Department:'''

This graduate program focuses on giving an interdisciplinary education that is tailored to fit the needs of the individual. By educating both the private and public sectors of economic and social development, this program aims to create work ready individuals that can bring innovation and change to shifting social and economic environment.

'''Lowell Makes''' 

“A membership‐driven collaborative space equipped with a wide variety of tools, machines, materials, computers and other resources where individuals can gain and practice modern skills with state‐of‐the‐art technology, access to resources they could not otherwise, and a community of creative minded people who make all kinds of things. “Art is the Handmaid of Human Good” is both the City of Lowell’s motto, and a reminder of Lowell’s rich industrial and artistic history as our inspiration.” - [http://www.lowellmakes.com/proposal/ http://www.lowellmakes.com/proposal/]

Lowell makes was founded to be a space where those who do not have access to certain equipment to bring their ideas to life will have that access they need and have the support they need to push their innovation to the next level. It is a space that has resources tailored for budding entrepreneurs, and can be rented out by anyone with a plan. 

'''Mill No.5'''

Mill No.5 is one of the few non-UML entrepreneurial constructs in the Lowell urban environment. Like many mills in Lowell, it has been renovated and repurposed. Being subdivided and updated to proper code, there are rooms available for offices and start-ups looking to have an office space to centralize their resources. 

= '''Conclusion''' =

Entrepreneurship is a strategic objective at the University of Massachusetts Lowell.  During the last five years, UMass Lowell has re-positioned itself with students, faculty, staff, and the community as a true public enterprise committed to taking an entrepreneurial approach to innovation in all aspects of its structure.   A rapidly expanding innovation ecosystem encourages and guides entrepreneurial action, whether academically or commercially, amongst its faculty and student body -- fostering an entrepreneurial approach to economic development through a variety of programs and activities. UMass Lowell will continue to thrive in all aspects of entrepreneurship and innovation.  

= Related Links =

University Innovation Fellows:
[http://universityinnovation.org/wiki/Stephen_Kender Stephen Kender][[Ana Gouveia|Ana Gouveia]][[James Abdallah|James Abdallah]][[KevinMDesjardins|Kevin Desjardins]][[Jacob Hulme|Jacob Hulme]][[UMass Lowell Student Priorities|UMass Lowell Student Priorities]]
[[Category:Universities]]

School:University of Massachusetts Lowell

2015-10-12T19:18:54Z

Ephenstephen:

<div style="float: right; clear: right;">[[File:UMass-Lowell-logo.png]]</div>
The University of Massachusetts Lowell (also known as UMass Lowell or UML) is a [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Public_university public] [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_research_universities_in_the_United_States doctoral/research] university in [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lowell,_Massachusetts Lowell], [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Massachusetts Massachusetts], [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_States United States],and part of the [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/University_of_Massachusetts University of Massachusetts] system. With more than 1,100 faculty members and more than 16,000 students, it is the largest university in the [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Merrimack_Valley Merrimack Valley] and the second-largest public institution in the state behind UMass Amherst. The university offers more than 120 degree choices, internships, bachelor’s to master’s programs and doctoral studies in the College of Fine Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences; College of Health Sciences; College of Sciences; the Francis College of Engineering; the Graduate School of Education; and the Manning School of Business.

= '''Overview - A Campus On The Move''' =

UMass Lowell has been evolving in every aspect; upgraded classrooms, libraries and labs; new and renovated student living and activity spaces; and enhanced parking facilities are a few on the list of what has been updated and changed over the past decade of campus improvement.

*University Crossing
**Officially completed and operating, this new building hosts student services and activities, bookstore, dining, University police, transportation services, and senior administration offices.
*Pulichino Tong Building
**The University’s current construction project, the Tong Building will replace the now-relocated Honor’s Eames Dorm building on UMass Lowell’s North Campus and will house the entirety of the Robert J. Manning School of Business.
*University Suites
**This brand new dorm on UMass Lowell’s East campus provides housing for 472 students in four- and six-bed suites. There is a ground-floor common area with a café - Hawk's Nest - featuring fresh bakery, grab & go items and a late night Asian menu, in addition to delicious Red Mango frozen yogurt & smoothies and "We proudly serve" Starbucks Coffee. A multi-purpose room is open to the UMass Lowell community. Each residential floor has two common kitchen/lounge areas, two quiet study rooms and a group study room.
*Riverview Suites
**The other half of the two-dorm addition to UMass Lowell in 2013, Riverview Suites has either two or three bedroom suites complete with a live-in kitchen, classroom and meeting rooms inside the building, and a gym inside the facility. The University leases the property from Soho Development, who also built the $42 million facility.
*New Garages
**In the past three years, UMass Lowell has added two large parking garages to each of its largest parking lots, greatly increasing the parking capacity for the strong commuter presence attending the school.
*Health and Social Sciences Building
**In 2013, this new criminal justice and criminology, nursing and psychology building had its grand opening. The construction of this building marked the first new construction in 30 years on the University’s South Campus, including all campuses in the University’s recent wave of evolution.

Since 2009, the University has also been heavily updating the existing buildings while acquiring and renovating new ones. UMass Lowell renovated the newly acquired Inn and Conference Center, added Taco Bell and Subway to the University’s dining partners, renovated the newly acquired Tsongas Center, and heavily updated their Dining Hall in the tallest UMass Lowell building, Fox Hall 

== 2015 Innovation Fellows Plans ==

[https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1ZwhfzohFPyuM4Vutiho8ZAuV8Jmq-JxBJ2vNaGZe-kY/edit?usp=sharing Landscape Canvas]

[https://docs.google.com/presentation/d/1o3F2IN8YoWKMk83r0SoAfr5NH_qUw7RFa2ZxjslksQM/edit?usp=sharing Lean Startup Presentation]

= '''Student Entrepreneurship''' =

==== '''NonSpec ''' ====

[http://www.nonspec.org/ NonSpec] participated in the 2013 first annual DifferenceMaker™ Idea Challenge where they showed dedication and enthusiasm by attending each educational workshop and event throughout the process which aided in their success.  At the Idea Challenge they received the prestigious title of “Campus Wide DifferenceMaker™” and the top award of $5,000. This prize represents the project most likely to make a significant difference in the community, region and the world.

The $5,000 award has allowed Nonspec to move their initiative forward by creating their first batch of prosthetic limbs. With a projected 15% market share in the next five years, Nonspec plans to use this market presence to launch a foundation called “Give a Hand”. The purpose of this foundation would be to spread their mission, goals, charitable cause, and products around the world in order to make a difference in developing nations.

Since Nonspec’s success at the Idea Challenge they have gained great publicity in other arenas.  They were recently named one of the top 10 semi-finalists in Entrepreneur® Magazine’s “College Entrepreneur of 2013 Contest”.  In addition, they were invited to attend [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ppnzNSnxi-g IAPD Plastics Application Design Competition], which was held on October 2, 2013 in Miami, Florida.  Lastly, the team was utilized as a role model by being featured in a [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aLwLg4XHrck video] that was shown at all DifferenceMaker™ freshman orientation sessions throughout the summer due to their motivation and high entrepreneurial spirits.

= Departments and Programs =

== '''Center for Innovation and Entrepreneurship''' ==

The Center for Innovation and Entrepreneurship offers students and faculty of all disciplines the opportunity to work together to develop innovative and entrepreneurial solutions to the major problems facing our community, the region and the world. The Center hosts several programs that encourage social innovation and entrepreneurship among UMass Lowell students as well as the broader community in which we live. The DifferenceMaker program provides training, mentoring and other resources to UMass Lowell students and faculty who wish to address social, environmental and economic problems in our community.

== '''DifferenceMaker™''' ==

The DifferenceMaker™ Program sponsors specific events and activities that support students in solving big problems through innovation and entrepreneurship. The Program is highly experiential by offering students a series of workshops that they can engage in to better understand innovation, entrepreneurship and launching a start-up of their interest.

Students of all majors and disciplines are welcome to join this Program and make a difference at UMass Lowell, in the community or in the world through innovative and entrepreneurial action.

=== Goals of DifferenceMaker™ ===

*Introduce all UMass students to creative problem solving, innovation and entrepreneurship
*Accelerate purpose in each students education
*Connect current students to alumni experience
*Encourage a social responsibility ethos

=== DifferenceMaker™ Available Activities ===

*'''DifferenceMaker™ Enterprise Co-op'''
**Throughout each year, DifferenceMaker™ will hire several students from various majors to participate in paid co-op experiences. Student co-ops assist in conducting and summarizing entrepreneurial research, developing and distributing marketing materials for various center initiatives, and provide center support for faculty and innovation fellows affiliate with the center. 
*'''Freshman Make A Difference Orientation'''
**During the summer sessions, DifferenceMaker™ has a large presence in the Freshman Orientation days. Through the Office of Orientation, Student Activities and Leadership, and ResLife, DifferenceMaker™ was able to present to every attending freshman and gain exposure to all of the new students at UMass Lowell.
*'''Freshman DifferenceMaker™ Convocation'''
**At the beginning of each academic year, we present DifferenceMaker™ to every incoming freshman at Convocation. Each year we perform a fun activity to engage students in our program.
*'''Introduction to DifferenceMaker™'''
**Freshman Seminars-A series of in-class discussions in collaboration with the Manning School of Business, The Francis College of Engineering, The College of Fine Arts, Humanities, and Social Sciences, and The College of Health Sciences in order to introduce the DifferenceMaker™ Program to students of all disciplines and to inspire them to explore their passions through creative problem solving.
*'''Introduction to the DifferenceMaker™ Program'''
**A series of events were held on both the north and south campuses to introduce students to DifferenceMaker™ Program concepts, allow them to share their ideas and interests, explore possible projects and solution, and to connected with each other to form teams. These events included the DifferenceMaker™ Convocation Pitch, the Climate Change Teach-in, a DifferenceMaker™ Team Building Dinner, and others.
*'''DifferenceMaker™ LLC'''
**Having a presence in the student residence halls as well as the classroom is important to motivate students and discover new ideas waiting to happen. The DifferenceMaker™ Living/Learning Community brings new students together in the ResLife environment for innovation and brainstorming outside of the classroom.
*'''Honors DifferenceMaker™ Program'''
**In collaboration with UMass Lowell Honors Program, this concerted effort to embed elements of social entrepreneurship in our Honors Program includes coursework and community-based student efforts that have specific focus on innovation and entrepreneurial practices.
*'''Introduction to Engineering Extra Credit Project'''
**This activity was a collaboration effort between the DifferenceMaker™ Program and The Francis College of Engineering to introduce freshman engineering majors to the DifferenceMaker™ Program, innovation, and entrepreneurship. In this introductory activity, the students’ innovative ideas were explored and presented in a format which would enable their projects to be candidates for both the DifferenceMaker™ Program Idea Challenge and Campus Catalyst program.
*'''Creative Venture Competition'''
**This contest held in October of 2013 hosted by DifferenceMaker™ focused on innovation from Arts, Humanities, and Social Science students. $2500 was awarded to the best entrepreneurial business a proposal, and $250 to each finalist team was also awarded.
*'''Digital Federal Credit Union Innovation Contest''' 
**In November of 2013, DifferenceMaker™ along with DCU hosted an Innovation Contest focusing on banking and financial innovation in the industry. With a grand prize of $500 per team member and peripheral prizes of $100 per team member, the contest gave thousands to innovative teams and cutting edge ideas.
*'''DifferenceMaker™ Reverse Pitch'''
**This pitch event was debuted on November 19, 2013. This event was a spin-off of “normal” idea challenges and hackathons. Instead of students pitching their ideas to funding sources or judges, businesses and community partners actually pitched their existing problems to a student audience in the hopes that they can develop a solution.
*'''DifferenceMaker™ Idea Challenge'''
**''''''DifferenceMaker™ is hosting its fourth annual Idea Challenge; this challenge is for student entrepreneurial teams to come up with sustainable ideas that will make some sort of impact on the world or their community. Help in the form of various workshops in the months leading up to the Idea Challenge is available, teaching students how to properly pitch their ideas and how to flesh out their business plans. There are various subcategories for each team to have a chance at winning spread out across over many different disciplines, encouraging all students to participate and welcoming all ideas.
*'''DifferenceMaker™ Workshops'''
**Team Building Mixer
**Identifying Problems and Opportunities
**Developing Solutions
**Identifying Resources
**Rocket Pitch Coaching
*'''Campus Catalyst Program'''
**''''''The DifferenceMaker™ Program works closely with 'E For All', a community business accelerator funded by the Deshpande Foundation, in order to encourage students to generate and develop their entrepreneurial ideas. The Sandbox Campus Catalyst program provided seed funding for student social and business solutions with potential. 

=== '''DifferenceMaker™ Program Available Resources''' ===

*DifferenceMaker™ Central
**Large open office collaboration space equipped with Wi-Fi, 3 Mac computers, printer/copier, 2 46” LCD TV monitors with projection capabilities, 6 white boards, 10 tables with chairs all equipped with wheels that can be easily rearranged for optimal use and collaboration, refrigerator, sink, cabinet space, coffee maker and other necessary office supplies.
*Hawk  Hatch
**Philanthropic Crowd Funding Source
*Grants
*Networking
**Mentors
**Faculty Fellows and DifferenceMaker™ Staff
*Events
**Series of Educational Entrepreneurial Workshops including materials
**Problem, Opportunity, Solution, Resources, Pitch Coaching
**Team Building Assistance
**TeamMaker Platform, Team Building Mixer

Through the Center for Innovation & Entrepreneurship, along with affiliated faculty and other campus programs, the University has introduced a range of activities that help students make a difference in the world.

=== '''DifferenceMaker™ Inaugural Year Statistics''' ===

*72 DifferenceMaker™ events held in inaugural year
*3,500  students who participates in a DifferenceMaker™ event this past year
*$25,000  of funds awarded to 10 IdeaChallenge finalist teams
*1,265  freshman participating in summer rapid ideation workshops
*112  students who participated in the First Annual IdeaChallenge
*22  cross discipline relationships notes between students among IdeaChallenge teams
*24  academic disciplines represented by students in the IdeaChallenge teams

=== '''2015 DifferenceMaker™ Idea Challenge Finalists''' ===

'''Campus-Wide DifferenceMaker'''

'''Hydraulic Walker ($5,000)'''

They have designed and built a walker that utilizes hydraulics, allowing for the legs of the walker to be quickly adjusted, so that it can be used on stairs.

*Ryan Andrews - Physical Therapy Graduate
*Peter Klausmeyer - Physical Therapy Graduate



'''Significant Social Impact'''

'''1st Place'''- L'''ove of the Game ($4,000)'''

Love of the Game is a community outreach program aiming to integrate universities and people with physical and cognitive disabilities through sports.

*Jessica Dion - Exercise Physiology '16
*Dylan Doucette - Exercise Physiology '16
*Lucas Parsons - Exercise Physiology '16
*Rachel Silk - Business Marketing '16
*Daniel Schmith - Business Entrepreneurship '18
*Jennie Pisarik - Exercise Physiology '16



'''2nd Place - Buddies Without Borders ($2,500)'''

Buddies without Borders aims to bridge the gap between domestic students and international students starting with an in-person pair up then followed by a comprehensive website that allows members to define their profiles and micro-blog by text, photo, and video sharing.

*Tugba Arsava - Community Social Psychology Graduate
*Burhan Colak - Civil Engineering Graduate
*Katherine Cox - Psychology '18
*Madeline Ormazza - Business '17
*Shashank Raghuveer - Computer Science Graduate
*Fang Zhang - Chemistry Graduate



'''Contribution to a Healthier Lifestyle'''

'''1st Place - Playable Therapy ($4,000)'''

This project's goal is to create a platform of exercises and games that, with the Microsoft Kinect, will allow for motion tracking of a physical therapy (PT) patient during their exercise routine at home.

*Suhaib Alfageeh - Computer Science '16
*Lucas Brown - English and Math '16
*Chelsea Hayes - Business '16
*Damir Ismagilove - Math '16
*Anthony Pitaro - Exercise Physiology '15
*Mark Mcgrotty - Computer Science '16



'''2nd Place - Solar Electric Vehicles ($2,500)'''

This team is designing a series of low speed and high efficiency commuter vehicles that utilize hub motor technology to allow people to travel using purely the energy of the sun.

*Suhaib Alfageeh - Computer Science '16
*Chukwuma Azubuine - Entrepreneurship Graduate
*Richard Asirifi - Electrical Engineering '16
*Anas Dahany - Electrical Engineering '15
*David Jenkins - Mechanical Engineering '15
*Oliver Kayego - Electrical Engineering '17
*Chris Leger - Electrical Engineering '15
*Jared Mrvos - Computer Engineering '17
*Charles Reid - Mechanical Engineering '15
*Kenneth Sanders - Computer Science '18
*Mukhammaddin Zinaddinov - Electrical Engineering '18



'''Innovative Technology Solution'''

'''1st Place - Masela Dentures ($4,000)'''

Their project aims to develop a fully 3D printable denture system as an alternative solution to expensive dentures manufactured using traditional casting and milling methods.

*Cormac Hondros-McCarthy - Plastics Engineering '15
*Casey McRae - Plastics Engineering '15



'''2nd Place - KEnDERS Athletic Body Armor($2,500)'''

They created a novel and revolutionary sports equipment construction centered around an innovative shear-thickening material

*Elizabeth Kender - Plastics Engineering '16
*Laura Kender - Plastics Engineering '16
*Stephen Kender - Plastics Engineering '18



'''First to Market'''

'''1st Place - Mayday ($4,000)'''

This project aims to develop a wearable device connected via Bluetooth technology to a mobile phone, that, when activated, sends emergency alert signals to a list of emergency contacts.

*Cibhi SelVan-  Business Graduate
*Alessandro Agnello-  Computer Science PhD



'''2nd Place''' - '''Word Builder '''('''$2,500)'''

Word Builder is an interactive toy designed to help children build the foundations of reading at an early age.

*Sergio Coronado - Computer Engineering '16
*Ian Copithorne - Computer Engineering '16



'''Honorable Mention'''

'''Low-Income Community Homework Center ($1,500)'''

Their goal is to open a homework center for students from low-income families in a poverty stricken town/city such as Lawrence, Massachusetts.

*Arnaldo Rivera - Psychology '15
*Hector Rivera  - Psychology '15



'''Fan Favorite'''

'''Indoor Hydroponic System ($2,500)'''

Their project is a hydroponic garden that is equipped with an environment monitoring system that ensures optimal growing conditions for plants and requires little to no maintenance.

*Rapheeporn Aungaphinant - Business Graduate
*Katherine Cain - Business Graduate
*Tucker Holladay - Business Graduate
*Shu-Wei Hsu - Business Graduate
*Alima Shamuratova - Business Graduate



=== '''DifferenceMaker™ Future Efforts:''' ===

The DifferenceMaker™ Program plans to continue many of the activities and events initiated in the first year of the program.  Some of these programs will be revised and they intend to launch several new initiatives, including a DifferenceMaker™ Passport Program, a DifferenceMaker™ Mentor Program and a seed grant program to encourage faculty participation in the DifferenceMaker™ program. They also plan to expand our collaboration with several University colleges. 

This year they plan to increase the role of DifferenceMaker™ Living Learning Community students in the DifferenceMaker™ program by training the members to become DifferenceMaker™ ambassadors once they transition into their sophomore year  through weekly meetings and monthly events. The training will allow LLC members to learn more about entrepreneurship and the DifferenceMaker™ Program so they can promote it to student clubs and campus classes.  Once the LLC students become sophomores they will transition into a DifferenceMaker™ Ambassador role, and hopefully will form the nucleus of a yet-to-be-formed DifferenceMaker™ student club.  

In order to assist students to both record and encourage their participation in DifferenceMaker™ events, they are planning the development and implementation of a DifferenceMaker™ Passport Program. Consistent with the goals of the UMass Lowell DifferenceMaker™ Program, the Passport Program will assist students to identify, record and collect experiences meant to: 

*Develop individual entrepreneurial identity
*Develop entrepreneurial skills and self-confidence
*Develop creative and sustainable solutions to complex problems
*Connect with the University, E For All and community entrepreneurial ecosystems

They anticipate that the number of students engaged in the DifferenceMaker™ Program and related activities will increase each year. As they encourage and reward the formation of various types of student ventures and projects, the need for mentors who can consult with student teams will increase. They plan to guide these students and track their progress through a professional Mentor Program. The UMass Lowell Mentor Program will provide a committed network of mentors with a broad set of skills and professional experiences, who can assist UMass Lowell entrepreneurs in developing the knowledge and skills, needed to grow an idea into a successful, new venture.

The DM UMass Lowell Mentor Program will seek to connect DifferenceMaker™ students with successful experienced entrepreneurs and alumnus, as well as faculty and staff.  The Mentor Program will focus on assisting students to further develop solutions as part of the DifferenceMaker™ Program. Mentors will provide guidance in further refining student team objectives and help them in building their entrepreneurial skillsets.

They are planning to offer DifferenceMaker™ Faculty Workshops to help faculty consider how they might engage their own students in DifferenceMaker™ activities through course related activities and through co-curricular activities. Our hope is that by engaging more faculty, they in turn will serve as both mentors and catalysts for students, encouraging and guiding student project selection and development. They have also observed that student teams often need support and guidance from faculty from different disciplines, these workshops and an accompanying seed grant program are meant as catalysts to encourage interdisciplinary engagement among faculty,

While the overarching goal of the DifferenceMaker™ program is to encourage UMass Lowell students to develop sustainable and entrepreneurial solutions to the challenges and opportunities they will confront in this world, they anticipate another, potentially significant impact on the University community itself. Our students will only be successful if they have the support of faculty, alumni, business and community members. During our first year of program activities, they have found these constituents to be most supportive and willing to mentor and work with our students.  Alumni are mentoring and investing in student ventures.  Faculty are working across disciplines to ensure their student teams make progress. Local profit and non-profit businesses are eager to work with student teams, providing real-world problems and opportunities for student projects. In one short year, the DifferenceMaker™ program has been embraced by the greater University community. Our hope and plan is to anchor this program in the curriculum and culture of the University, so all UMass Lowell students have an opportunity to make a difference in this world.

  

== '''Commercial Venture and Intellectual Property Office (CVIP):''' ==

Commercial Ventures and Intellectual Property (CVIP) is responsible for the protection and commercialization of intellectual property at UMass Lowell. 

=== '''CVIP Mission''' ===

The mission of UMass Lowell’s Office of Commercial Ventures and Intellectual Property (CVIP) is to facilitate the transfer of technology arising from government, foundation and industrial sponsored university research to the private sector. They facilitate development of inventions toward commercial relevance and utility, nurture mutually beneficial and sustainable relationships between the University and industry, promote an innovative and entrepreneurial culture at the University and contribute to the economic vibrancy and well-being of the Commonwealth. CVIP’s activities enable the successful transfer of commercially viable technology from the laboratory to the marketplace for public use and benefit. 

=== '''CVIP Functions''' ===

The main objectives of CVIP are:

*to license patents and other protections to industry in order to promote the development of inventions toward practical application;
*to foster a culture of innovation, facilitate commercially promising endeavors, and positively contribute to the University’s entrepreneurial ecosystem;
*to seek new business opportunities and form productive collaborations with industry in an effort to increase research and licensing revenue to the University;
*to generate income for inventors and the University as a whole for use in supporting further research, technology development and transfer;
*to advocate for the research community and seek to create incentives, provide rewards and obtain resources to advance commercialization of the technologies they generate.

== New Venture Initiative ==

New Venture Initiative (NVI) is a mix of university resources and equity investment designed to provide a path to and facilitate more start-up activity at UMass Lowell.  As part of the larger Commercial Venture and Intellectual Property Office (CVIP), the NVI fund focuses on inventions, discoveries, products and services that have been developed in whole or in part at UMass Lowell, have achieved proof of concept (or an early prototype) and are ready for commercial product development, rather than those requiring further basic research.  

== '''Massachusetts Medical Device Development Center (M2D2):''' ==

The Massachusetts Medical Device Development Center (M2D2) is a lifeline for the state’s smaller medical device companies, offering inventors and executives easy, affordable, and coordinated access to world-class researchers and resources at the Lowell and Worcester campuses of the University of Massachusetts.

=== '''M2D2 Available Resources''' ===

*9000 square feet of space on second floor including:
**6 wet laboratory suites
**Two office suites
**Large open office collaboration area
**Board room
**Reception area
**Break Room equipped with a table and chairs, full size refrigerator, microwave, sink, dishwasher, and coffee maker
*5000 square feet of space on first floor including:
**Six individual offices 
**Bright shared kitchen space equipped with a table and chairs, full size refrigerator and sink
**One large state of the art conference room with full pull down screen, computer with web access and a projector  
**All conference rooms contain a 46" Aquos LCD screen, as well as computer with web access and a projector
**Business and medical feasibility assessments
**Product development space
**Medical and clinical pathway assistance
**Connection to additional services such as laboratory use, incubator space for start-ups and clinical trial support through the product life cycle
**SBIR and STTR research
**Access to capital
**Networking events
**New Venture Competitions

== '''Entrepreneurship For All''' ==

'E for All' is a project of the Deshpande Foundation, which has encouraged the use of entrepreneurship and innovation as catalysts for sustainable change in the United States, India and Canada since 1996. Deshpande supported centers including the MIT Deshpande Center for Technological Innovation, the Deshpande Center for Social Innovation in Hubli, India, the Pond-Deshpande Centre at the University of New Brunswick, and our own 'E For All'  at the University of Massachusetts Lowell. 'E for All' includes higher education partners (Middlesex Community College, Merrimack College and Northern Essex Community College) and a host of regional community and business partners.

=== '''E for All Mission''' ===

The mission of 'E For All' is to connect and strengthen the ecosystem in Lowell and Lawrence, Massachusetts, around entrepreneurship and leadership. This mission is supported by the following three principle 'E For All' programs:

·       Catalysts-The Catalyst program provides seed funding and mentoring support to foster initiative around new ideas and programs among local high school and college students.

·       Entrepreneurship-The Entrepreneur Program is a community-wide initiative supporting entrepreneurship. More than 30 partner organizations and institutions are participating in this initiative, which gives entrepreneurs a greater chance at success through pitch contests, workshops and intensive programs. 

·       Leadership-The 'E For All' Leadership Institute (SLI) offers leadership development for individuals that live, work or are interested in the communities of Lawrence and Lowell. 

== Other Organizations ==

'''Entrepreneurial Ventures Association''': EVA is an interdisciplinary organization that is open to all majors; they share resources, advice, and interests with other COM and UML clubs to help students turn their entrepreneurial ideas into reality.  

'''Honors Ambassador Program: '''Students participate in the Honors Ambassador Program to gain valuable experience through courses tailored for higher development and to foster relationships with communities and organizations that the program is involved with.

= '''University Entrepreneurship''' =

=== Creative New Academic Programs ===

'''The Manning School of Business'''  The Manning School of Business offers two academic programs focused on entrepreneurship:

*[http://www.uml.edu/MSB/management/Entrepreneurship.aspx Undergraduate - Entrepreneurship Concentration]: Prepares students to be "outside-of-the-box" thinkers and innovators in today's complex global economy.

The '''entrepreneurship concentration''' prepares students to be an "outside of the box" thinker and innovator in today's complex global economy. Using an interdisciplinary focus, students who complete the concentration will:

*Develop the management skills required to identify and launch new business ventures around innovative products, services and technologies. 
*Develop an understanding of the concepts and activities associated with entrepreneurship and innovation. 
*Understand the financial aspects of an entrepreneurial venture from start-up to "harvest". 
*Discover their individual "entrepreneurial spirit" through experiential learning in interdisciplinary classes and the College's Venture Lab.

The required courses within the Entrepreneurship concentration consist of:

#Starting a New Venture 
#Corporate Entrepreneurship 
#Managing Innovation 
#Finance for Emerging Business Enterprises
#Entrepreneurial Strategy & Implementation (Fall '14 not yet required)
#Study Abroad in India (not required, entrepreneurship focused)

[http://www.uml.edu/MSB/Graduate-Programs/MSITE.aspx Graduate - Master of Science in Innovation and Technological Entrepreneurship (MSITE)]: Provides engineers, business majors and scientists with the skills and knowledge required to drive innovation in today's collaborative, global workforce.

[http://www.uml.edu/MSB/Graduate-Programs/MSITEhealthcare.aspx Graduate - Master of Science in Innovation and Technological Entrepreneurship (MSITE) Healthcare Innovation & Entrepreneurship (HI+E) Option]: This option is targeted towards healthcare professionals, such as hospital managers/administrators, clinicians, physicians and other medical professionals who need to understand and manage the impact of emerging technologies and innovations in the healthcare industry. The Program will also benefit recent graduates who wish to enter the healthcare industries as a career choice.

[http://www.uml.edu/MSB/Program-of-study/New-Venture-Creation.aspx Graduate Certificate - New Venture Creation]: This program is focused specifically on the creation of technology-based ventures and is designed to assist professionals with undergraduate and career experience in science, engineering, technology or business fields in better understanding how to develop and launch a technology-based business.

'''College of Sciences, Computer Science Department'''

The Computer Science Department offers an [http://www.uml.edu/Catalog/Graduate/Sciences/Computer-Science/MS-in-Computer-Science-Entrepreneurship-Option.aspx entrepreneurship option] in their master's degree. It is directed at those with a strong undergraduate background in Computer Science who are interested in both deepening their technical knowledge and in understanding the tools required for developing a company directed towards software services and products.

'''College of Engineering, Electrical and Computer Engineering Department, Assistive Technology Program'''

A component of the undergraduate Electrical and Computer Engineering program, senior ECE students complete a [http://atp.caeds.eng.uml.edu/index.html senior capstone project] aimed at designing and producing an assistive technology device for a person with a disability. Engineering students can apply the knowledge they have learned from their courses and help solve problems for disabled people through creating technological advances. 

== Entrepreneurial Capital Projects and Acquisitions ==

=== '''The Mark and Elisia Saab Emerging Technologies and Innovation Center''' ===

This new UMass Lowell 2012-13 construction is a building developed for bringing innovation and industry together. Faculty and student researchers use the resources available in this building to meet industry challenges and improve lives using UMass Lowell technologies and patents. Core facilities for use in fundamental and translational research are available to faculty and students; it contains class 100, 1,000, and 10,000 cleanroom spaces, wet lab and engineering lab space, and a plastics processing high bay. The ETIC is has LEED Gold Certification, and is considered green. The construction of this building also is estimated to supporting at least 130 new jobs.

 

=== '''Health and Social Sciences Building'''  ===

This new building that houses criminal justice and criminology, nursing, and psychology provides classrooms, simulation laboratories, observation facilities, a demonstration hospital wing, and ample meeting space for community projects. The construction of this new building supported more than 800 construction and related jobs, and provided the much needed resources and space for UMass Lowell’s growing social science population.

= '''University-Industry Collaboration''' =

'''Research Activities'''

UMass Lowell places a large focus on professional research, as evidenced by the ample lab space professors have to work with in buildings such as the ETIC. A comprehensive list of all research areas and information about them can be found on the UMass Lowell website. [http://www.uml.edu/Research/Centers/default.aspx http://www.uml.edu/Research/Centers/default.aspx]

==== Center for Industrial Competitiveness ====

For nearly 20 years, UMass Lowell’s Center for Industrial Competitiveness has conducted research on industrial innovation, regional development, corporate governance, financialization, and sustainable prosperity. Resources available stretch all around the world through collaborative networks and relationships, providing ample information and a global understanding on development. Research also includes local industrial development in Massachusetts. 

UMass Lowell has a page dedicated to the CIC researchers and their work, which can be found here: [http://www.uml.edu/centers/cic/Research/Research.html http://www.uml.edu/centers/cic/Research/Research.html]

= '''Regional and Local Economic Development''' =

'''Economic and Social Development of Regions Department:'''

This graduate program focuses on giving an interdisciplinary education that is tailored to fit the needs of the individual. By educating both the private and public sectors of economic and social development, this program aims to create work ready individuals that can bring innovation and change to shifting social and economic environment.

'''Lowell Makes''' 

“A membership‐driven collaborative space equipped with a wide variety of tools, machines, materials, computers and other resources where individuals can gain and practice modern skills with state‐of‐the‐art technology, access to resources they could not otherwise, and a community of creative minded people who make all kinds of things. “Art is the Handmaid of Human Good” is both the City of Lowell’s motto, and a reminder of Lowell’s rich industrial and artistic history as our inspiration.” - [http://www.lowellmakes.com/proposal/ http://www.lowellmakes.com/proposal/]

Lowell makes was founded to be a space where those who do not have access to certain equipment to bring their ideas to life will have that access they need and have the support they need to push their innovation to the next level. It is a space that has resources tailored for budding entrepreneurs, and can be rented out by anyone with a plan. 

'''Mill No.5'''

Mill No.5 is one of the few non-UML entrepreneurial constructs in the Lowell urban environment. Like many mills in Lowell, it has been renovated and repurposed. Being subdivided and updated to proper code, there are rooms available for offices and start-ups looking to have an office space to centralize their resources. 

= '''Conclusion''' =

Entrepreneurship is a strategic objective at the University of Massachusetts Lowell.  During the last five years, UMass Lowell has re-positioned itself with students, faculty, staff, and the community as a true public enterprise committed to taking an entrepreneurial approach to innovation in all aspects of its structure.   A rapidly expanding innovation ecosystem encourages and guides entrepreneurial action, whether academically or commercially, amongst its faculty and student body -- fostering an entrepreneurial approach to economic development through a variety of programs and activities. UMass Lowell will continue to thrive in all aspects of entrepreneurship and innovation.  

= Related Links =

University Innovation Fellows:
[http://universityinnovation.org/wiki/Stephen_Kender Stephen Kender][[Ana Gouveia|Ana Gouveia]][[James Abdallah|James Abdallah]][[KevinMDesjardins|Kevin Desjardins]][[Jacob Hulme|Jacob Hulme]][[UMass Lowell Student Priorities|UMass Lowell Student Priorities]]
[[Category:Universities]]

School:University of Massachusetts Lowell

2015-10-12T19:17:19Z

Ephenstephen:

<div style="float: right; clear: right;">[[File:UMass-Lowell-logo.png]]</div>
The University of Massachusetts Lowell (also known as UMass Lowell or UML) is a [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Public_university public] [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_research_universities_in_the_United_States doctoral/research] university in [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lowell,_Massachusetts Lowell], [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Massachusetts Massachusetts], [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_States United States],and part of the [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/University_of_Massachusetts University of Massachusetts] system. With more than 1,100 faculty members and more than 16,000 students, it is the largest university in the [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Merrimack_Valley Merrimack Valley] and the second-largest public institution in the state behind UMass Amherst. The university offers more than 120 degree choices, internships, bachelor’s to master’s programs and doctoral studies in the College of Fine Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences; College of Health Sciences; College of Sciences; the Francis College of Engineering; the Graduate School of Education; and the Manning School of Business.

= '''Overview - A Campus On The Move''' =

UMass Lowell has been evolving in every aspect; upgraded classrooms, libraries and labs; new and renovated student living and activity spaces; and enhanced parking facilities are a few on the list of what has been updated and changed over the past decade of campus improvement.

*University Crossing
**Officially completed and operating, this new building hosts student services and activities, bookstore, dining, University police, transportation services, and senior administration offices.
*Pulichino Tong Building
**The University’s current construction project, the Tong Building will replace the now-relocated Honor’s Eames Dorm building on UMass Lowell’s North Campus and will house the entirety of the Robert J. Manning School of Business.
*University Suites
**This brand new dorm on UMass Lowell’s East campus provides housing for 472 students in four- and six-bed suites. There is a ground-floor common area with a café - Hawk's Nest - featuring fresh bakery, grab & go items and a late night Asian menu, in addition to delicious Red Mango frozen yogurt & smoothies and "We proudly serve" Starbucks Coffee. A multi-purpose room is open to the UMass Lowell community. Each residential floor has two common kitchen/lounge areas, two quiet study rooms and a group study room.
*Riverview Suites
**The other half of the two-dorm addition to UMass Lowell in 2013, Riverview Suites has either two or three bedroom suites complete with a live-in kitchen, classroom and meeting rooms inside the building, and a gym inside the facility. The University leases the property from Soho Development, who also built the $42 million facility.
*New Garages
**In the past three years, UMass Lowell has added two large parking garages to each of its largest parking lots, greatly increasing the parking capacity for the strong commuter presence attending the school.
*Health and Social Sciences Building
**In 2013, this new criminal justice and criminology, nursing and psychology building had its grand opening. The construction of this building marked the first new construction in 30 years on the University’s South Campus, including all campuses in the University’s recent wave of evolution.

Since 2009, the University has also been heavily updating the existing buildings while acquiring and renovating new ones. UMass Lowell renovated the newly acquired Inn and Conference Center, added Taco Bell and Subway to the University’s dining partners, renovated the newly acquired Tsongas Center, and heavily updated their Dining Hall in the tallest UMass Lowell building, Fox Hall 

== 2015 Innovation Fellows Plans ==

[https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1ZwhfzohFPyuM4Vutiho8ZAuV8Jmq-JxBJ2vNaGZe-kY/edit?usp=sharing Landscape Canvas]

[https://docs.google.com/presentation/d/1o3F2IN8YoWKMk83r0SoAfr5NH_qUw7RFa2ZxjslksQM/edit?usp=sharing Lean Startup Presentation]

= '''Student Entrepreneurship''' =

==== '''NonSpec ''' ====

[http://www.nonspec.org/ NonSpec] participated in the 2013 first annual DifferenceMaker™ Idea Challenge where they showed dedication and enthusiasm by attending each educational workshop and event throughout the process which aided in their success.  At the Idea Challenge they received the prestigious title of “Campus Wide DifferenceMaker™” and the top award of $5,000. This prize represents the project most likely to make a significant difference in the community, region and the world.

The $5,000 award has allowed Nonspec to move their initiative forward by creating their first batch of prosthetic limbs. With a projected 15% market share in the next five years, Nonspec plans to use this market presence to launch a foundation called “Give a Hand”. The purpose of this foundation would be to spread their mission, goals, charitable cause, and products around the world in order to make a difference in developing nations.

Since Nonspec’s success at the Idea Challenge they have gained great publicity in other arenas.  They were recently named one of the top 10 semi-finalists in Entrepreneur® Magazine’s “College Entrepreneur of 2013 Contest”.  In addition, they were invited to attend [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ppnzNSnxi-g IAPD Plastics Application Design Competition], which was held on October 2, 2013 in Miami, Florida.  Lastly, the team was utilized as a role model by being featured in a [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aLwLg4XHrck video] that was shown at all DifferenceMaker™ freshman orientation sessions throughout the summer due to their motivation and high entrepreneurial spirits.

= Departments and Programs =

== '''Center for Innovation and Entrepreneurship''' ==

The Center for Innovation and Entrepreneurship offers students and faculty of all disciplines the opportunity to work together to develop innovative and entrepreneurial solutions to the major problems facing our community, the region and the world. The Center hosts several programs that encourage social innovation and entrepreneurship among UMass Lowell students as well as the broader community in which we live. The DifferenceMaker program provides training, mentoring and other resources to UMass Lowell students and faculty who wish to address social, environmental and economic problems in our community.

== '''DifferenceMaker™''' ==

The DifferenceMaker™ Program sponsors specific events and activities that support students in solving big problems through innovation and entrepreneurship. The Program is highly experiential by offering students a series of workshops that they can engage in to better understand innovation, entrepreneurship and launching a start-up of their interest.

Students of all majors and disciplines are welcome to join this Program and make a difference at UMass Lowell, in the community or in the world through innovative and entrepreneurial action.

=== Goals of DifferenceMaker™ ===

*Introduce all UMass students to creative problem solving, innovation and entrepreneurship
*Accelerate purpose in each students education
*Connect current students to alumni experience
*Encourage a social responsibility ethos

=== DifferenceMaker™ Available Activities ===

*'''DifferenceMaker™ Enterprise Co-op'''
**Throughout each year, DifferenceMaker™ will hire several students from various majors to participate in paid co-op experiences. Student co-ops assist in conducting and summarizing entrepreneurial research, developing and distributing marketing materials for various center initiatives, and provide center support for faculty and innovation fellows affiliate with the center. 
*'''Freshman Make A Difference Orientation'''
**During the summer sessions, DifferenceMaker™ has a large presence in the Freshman Orientation days. Through the Office of Orientation, Student Activities and Leadership, and ResLife, DifferenceMaker™ was able to present to every attending freshman and gain exposure to all of the new students at UMass Lowell.
*'''Freshman DifferenceMaker™ Convocation'''
**At the beginning of each academic year, we present DifferenceMaker™ to every incoming freshman at Convocation. Each year we perform a fun activity to engage students in our program.
*'''Introduction to DifferenceMaker™'''
**Freshman Seminars-A series of in-class discussions in collaboration with the Manning School of Business, The Francis College of Engineering, The College of Fine Arts, Humanities, and Social Sciences, and The College of Health Sciences in order to introduce the DifferenceMaker™ Program to students of all disciplines and to inspire them to explore their passions through creative problem solving.
*'''Introduction to the DifferenceMaker™ Program'''
**A series of events were held on both the north and south campuses to introduce students to DifferenceMaker™ Program concepts, allow them to share their ideas and interests, explore possible projects and solution, and to connected with each other to form teams. These events included the DifferenceMaker™ Convocation Pitch, the Climate Change Teach-in, a DifferenceMaker™ Team Building Dinner, and others.
*'''DifferenceMaker™ LLC'''
**Having a presence in the student residence halls as well as the classroom is important to motivate students and discover new ideas waiting to happen. The DifferenceMaker™ Living/Learning Community brings new students together in the ResLife environment for innovation and brainstorming outside of the classroom.
*'''Honors DifferenceMaker™ Program'''
**In collaboration with UMass Lowell Honors Program, this concerted effort to embed elements of social entrepreneurship in our Honors Program includes coursework and community-based student efforts that have specific focus on innovation and entrepreneurial practices.
*'''Introduction to Engineering Extra Credit Project'''
**This activity was a collaboration effort between the DifferenceMaker™ Program and The Francis College of Engineering to introduce freshman engineering majors to the DifferenceMaker™ Program, innovation, and entrepreneurship. In this introductory activity, the students’ innovative ideas were explored and presented in a format which would enable their projects to be candidates for both the DifferenceMaker™ Program Idea Challenge and Campus Catalyst program.
*'''Creative Venture Competition'''
**This contest held in October of 2013 hosted by DifferenceMaker™ focused on innovation from Arts, Humanities, and Social Science students. $2500 was awarded to the best entrepreneurial business a proposal, and $250 to each finalist team was also awarded.
*'''Digital Federal Credit Union Innovation Contest''' 
**In November of 2013, DifferenceMaker™ along with DCU hosted an Innovation Contest focusing on banking and financial innovation in the industry. With a grand prize of $500 per team member and peripheral prizes of $100 per team member, the contest gave thousands to innovative teams and cutting edge ideas.
*'''DifferenceMaker™ Reverse Pitch'''
**This pitch event was debuted on November 19, 2013. This event was a spin-off of “normal” idea challenges and hackathons. Instead of students pitching their ideas to funding sources or judges, businesses and community partners actually pitched their existing problems to a student audience in the hopes that they can develop a solution.
*'''DifferenceMaker™ Idea Challenge'''
**''''''DifferenceMaker™ is hosting its fourth annual Idea Challenge; this challenge is for student entrepreneurial teams to come up with sustainable ideas that will make some sort of impact on the world or their community. Help in the form of various workshops in the months leading up to the Idea Challenge is available, teaching students how to properly pitch their ideas and how to flesh out their business plans. There are various subcategories for each team to have a chance at winning spread out across over many different disciplines, encouraging all students to participate and welcoming all ideas.
*'''DifferenceMaker™ Workshops'''
**Team Building Mixer
**Identifying Problems and Opportunities
**Developing Solutions
**Identifying Resources
**Rocket Pitch Coaching
*'''Campus Catalyst Program'''
**''''''The DifferenceMaker™ Program works closely with 'E For All', a community business accelerator funded by the Deshpande Foundation, in order to encourage students to generate and develop their entrepreneurial ideas. The Sandbox Campus Catalyst program provided seed funding for student social and business solutions with potential. 

=== '''DifferenceMaker™ Program Available Resources''' ===

*DifferenceMaker™ Central
**Large open office collaboration space equipped with Wi-Fi, 3 Mac computers, printer/copier, 2 46” LCD TV monitors with projection capabilities, 6 white boards, 10 tables with chairs all equipped with wheels that can be easily rearranged for optimal use and collaboration, refrigerator, sink, cabinet space, coffee maker and other necessary office supplies.
*Hawk  Hatch
**Philanthropic Crowd Funding Source
*Grants
*Networking
**Mentors
**Faculty Fellows and DifferenceMaker™ Staff
*Events
**Series of Educational Entrepreneurial Workshops including materials
**Problem, Opportunity, Solution, Resources, Pitch Coaching
**Team Building Assistance
**TeamMaker Platform, Team Building Mixer

Through the Center for Innovation & Entrepreneurship, along with affiliated faculty and other campus programs, the University has introduced a range of activities that help students make a difference in the world.

=== '''DifferenceMaker™ Inaugural Year Statistics''' ===

*72 DifferenceMaker™ events held in inaugural year
*3,500  students who participates in a DifferenceMaker™ event this past year
*$25,000  of funds awarded to 10 IdeaChallenge finalist teams
*1,265  freshman participating in summer rapid ideation workshops
*112  students who participated in the First Annual IdeaChallenge
*22  cross discipline relationships notes between students among IdeaChallenge teams
*24  academic disciplines represented by students in the IdeaChallenge teams

=== '''2015 DifferenceMaker™ Idea Challenge Finalists''' ===

'''Campus-Wide DifferenceMaker'''

'''Hydraulic Walker ($5,000)'''

They have designed and built a walker that utilizes hydraulics, allowing for the legs of the walker to be quickly adjusted, so that it can be used on stairs.

*Ryan Andrews - Physical Therapy Graduate
*Peter Klausmeyer - Physical Therapy Graduate



'''Significant Social Impact'''

'''1st Place'''- L'''ove of the Game ($4,000)'''

Love of the Game is a community outreach program aiming to integrate universities and people with physical and cognitive disabilities through sports.

*Jessica Dion - Exercise Physiology '16
*Dylan Doucette - Exercise Physiology '16
*Lucas Parsons - Exercise Physiology '16
*Rachel Silk - Business Marketing '16
*Daniel Schmith - Business Entrepreneurship '18
*Jennie Pisarik - Exercise Physiology '16



'''2nd Place - Buddies Without Borders ($2,500)'''

Buddies without Borders aims to bridge the gap between domestic students and international students starting with an in-person pair up then followed by a comprehensive website that allows members to define their profiles and micro-blog by text, photo, and video sharing.

*Tugba Arsava - Community Social Psychology Graduate
*Burhan Colak - Civil Engineering Graduate
*Katherine Cox - Psychology '18
*Madeline Ormazza - Business '17
*Shashank Raghuveer - Computer Science Graduate
*Fang Zhang - Chemistry Graduate



'''Contribution to a Healthier Lifestyle'''

'''1st Place - Playable Therapy ($4,000)'''

This project's goal is to create a platform of exercises and games that, with the Microsoft Kinect, will allow for motion tracking of a physical therapy (PT) patient during their exercise routine at home.

*Suhaib Alfageeh - Computer Science '16
*Lucas Brown - English and Math '16
*Chelsea Hayes - Business '16
*Damir Ismagilove - Math '16
*Anthony Pitaro - Exercise Physiology '15
*Mark Mcgrotty - Computer Science '16



'''2nd Place - Solar Electric Vehicles ($2,500)'''

This team is designing a series of low speed and high efficiency commuter vehicles that utilize hub motor technology to allow people to travel using purely the energy of the sun.

*Suhaib Alfageeh - Computer Science '16
*Chukwuma Azubuine - Entrepreneurship Graduate
*Richard Asirifi - Electrical Engineering '16
*Anas Dahany - Electrical Engineering '15
*David Jenkins - Mechanical Engineering '15
*Oliver Kayego - Electrical Engineering '17
*Chris Leger - Electrical Engineering '15
*Jared Mrvos - Computer Engineering '17
*Charles Reid - Mechanical Engineering '15
*Kenneth Sanders - Computer Science '18
*Mukhammaddin Zinaddinov - Electrical Engineering '18



'''Innovative Technology Solution'''

'''1st Place - Masela Dentures ($4,000)'''

Their project aims to develop a fully 3D printable denture system as an alternative solution to expensive dentures manufactured using traditional casting and milling methods.

*Cormac Hondros-McCarthy - Plastics Engineering '15
*Casey McRae - Plastics Engineering '15



'''2nd Place - KEnDERS Athletic Body Armor($2,500)'''

They created a novel and revolutionary sports equipment construction centered around an innovative shear-thickening material

*Elizabeth Kender - Plastics Engineering '16
*Laura Kender - Plastics Engineering '16
*Stephen Kender - Plastics Engineering '18



'''First to Market'''

'''1st Place - Mayday ($4,000)'''

This project aims to develop a wearable device connected via Bluetooth technology to a mobile phone, that, when activated, sends emergency alert signals to a list of emergency contacts.

*Cibhi SelVan-  Business Graduate
*Alessandro Agnello-  Computer Science PhD



'''2nd Place''' - '''Word Builder '''('''$2,500)'''

Word Builder is an interactive toy designed to help children build the foundations of reading at an early age.

*Sergio Coronado - Computer Engineering '16
*Ian Copithorne - Computer Engineering '16



'''Honorable Mention'''

'''Low-Income Community Homework Center ($1,500)'''

Their goal is to open a homework center for students from low-income families in a poverty stricken town/city such as Lawrence, Massachusetts.

*Arnaldo Rivera - Psychology '15
*Hector Rivera  - Psychology '15



'''Fan Favorite'''

'''Indoor Hydroponic System ($2,500)'''

Their project is a hydroponic garden that is equipped with an environment monitoring system that ensures optimal growing conditions for plants and requires little to no maintenance.

*Rapheeporn Aungaphinant - Business Graduate
*Katherine Cain - Business Graduate
*Tucker Holladay - Business Graduate
*Shu-Wei Hsu - Business Graduate
*Alima Shamuratova - Business Graduate



=== '''DifferenceMaker™ Future Efforts:''' ===

The DifferenceMaker™ Program plans to continue many of the activities and events initiated in the first year of the program.  Some of these programs will be revised and they intend to launch several new initiatives, including a DifferenceMaker™ Passport Program, a DifferenceMaker™ Mentor Program and a seed grant program to encourage faculty participation in the DifferenceMaker™ program. They also plan to expand our collaboration with several University colleges. 

This year they plan to increase the role of DifferenceMaker™ Living Learning Community students in the DifferenceMaker™ program by training the members to become DifferenceMaker™ ambassadors once they transition into their sophomore year  through weekly meetings and monthly events. The training will allow LLC members to learn more about entrepreneurship and the DifferenceMaker™ Program so they can promote it to student clubs and campus classes.  Once the LLC students become sophomores they will transition into a DifferenceMaker™ Ambassador role, and hopefully will form the nucleus of a yet-to-be-formed DifferenceMaker™ student club.  

In order to assist students to both record and encourage their participation in DifferenceMaker™ events, they are planning the development and implementation of a DifferenceMaker™ Passport Program. Consistent with the goals of the UMass Lowell DifferenceMaker™ Program, the Passport Program will assist students to identify, record and collect experiences meant to: 

*Develop individual entrepreneurial identity
*Develop entrepreneurial skills and self-confidence
*Develop creative and sustainable solutions to complex problems
*Connect with the University, E For All and community entrepreneurial ecosystems

They anticipate that the number of students engaged in the DifferenceMaker™ Program and related activities will increase each year. As they encourage and reward the formation of various types of student ventures and projects, the need for mentors who can consult with student teams will increase. They plan to guide these students and track their progress through a professional Mentor Program. The UMass Lowell Mentor Program will provide a committed network of mentors with a broad set of skills and professional experiences, who can assist UMass Lowell entrepreneurs in developing the knowledge and skills, needed to grow an idea into a successful, new venture.

The DM UMass Lowell Mentor Program will seek to connect DifferenceMaker™ students with successful experienced entrepreneurs and alumnus, as well as faculty and staff.  The Mentor Program will focus on assisting students to further develop solutions as part of the DifferenceMaker™ Program. Mentors will provide guidance in further refining student team objectives and help them in building their entrepreneurial skillsets.

They are planning to offer DifferenceMaker™ Faculty Workshops to help faculty consider how they might engage their own students in DifferenceMaker™ activities through course related activities and through co-curricular activities. Our hope is that by engaging more faculty, they in turn will serve as both mentors and catalysts for students, encouraging and guiding student project selection and development. They have also observed that student teams often need support and guidance from faculty from different disciplines, these workshops and an accompanying seed grant program are meant as catalysts to encourage interdisciplinary engagement among faculty,

While the overarching goal of the DifferenceMaker™ program is to encourage UMass Lowell students to develop sustainable and entrepreneurial solutions to the challenges and opportunities they will confront in this world, they anticipate another, potentially significant impact on the University community itself. Our students will only be successful if they have the support of faculty, alumni, business and community members. During our first year of program activities, they have found these constituents to be most supportive and willing to mentor and work with our students.  Alumni are mentoring and investing in student ventures.  Faculty are working across disciplines to ensure their student teams make progress. Local profit and non-profit businesses are eager to work with student teams, providing real-world problems and opportunities for student projects. In one short year, the DifferenceMaker™ program has been embraced by the greater University community. Our hope and plan is to anchor this program in the curriculum and culture of the University, so all UMass Lowell students have an opportunity to make a difference in this world.

  

== '''Commercial Venture and Intellectual Property Office (CVIP):''' ==

Commercial Ventures and Intellectual Property (CVIP) is responsible for the protection and commercialization of intellectual property at UMass Lowell. 

=== '''CVIP Mission''' ===

The mission of UMass Lowell’s Office of Commercial Ventures and Intellectual Property (CVIP) is to facilitate the transfer of technology arising from government, foundation and industrial sponsored university research to the private sector. They facilitate development of inventions toward commercial relevance and utility, nurture mutually beneficial and sustainable relationships between the University and industry, promote an innovative and entrepreneurial culture at the University and contribute to the economic vibrancy and well-being of the Commonwealth. CVIP’s activities enable the successful transfer of commercially viable technology from the laboratory to the marketplace for public use and benefit. 

=== '''CVIP Functions''' ===

The main objectives of CVIP are:

*to license patents and other protections to industry in order to promote the development of inventions toward practical application;
*to foster a culture of innovation, facilitate commercially promising endeavors, and positively contribute to the University’s entrepreneurial ecosystem;
*to seek new business opportunities and form productive collaborations with industry in an effort to increase research and licensing revenue to the University;
*to generate income for inventors and the University as a whole for use in supporting further research, technology development and transfer;
*to advocate for the research community and seek to create incentives, provide rewards and obtain resources to advance commercialization of the technologies they generate.

== New Venture Initiative ==

New Venture Initiative (NVI) is a mix of university resources and equity investment designed to provide a path to and facilitate more start-up activity at UMass Lowell.  As part of the larger Commercial Venture and Intellectual Property Office (CVIP), the NVI fund focuses on inventions, discoveries, products and services that have been developed in whole or in part at UMass Lowell, have achieved proof of concept (or an early prototype) and are ready for commercial product development, rather than those requiring further basic research.  

== '''Massachusetts Medical Device Development Center (M2D2):''' ==

The Massachusetts Medical Device Development Center (M2D2) is a lifeline for the state’s smaller medical device companies, offering inventors and executives easy, affordable, and coordinated access to world-class researchers and resources at the Lowell and Worcester campuses of the University of Massachusetts.

=== '''M2D2 Available Resources''' ===

*9000 square feet of space on second floor including:
**6 wet laboratory suites
**Two office suites
**Large open office collaboration area
**Board room
**Reception area
**Break Room equipped with a table and chairs, full size refrigerator, microwave, sink, dishwasher, and coffee maker
*5000 square feet of space on first floor including:
**Six individual offices 
**Bright shared kitchen space equipped with a table and chairs, full size refrigerator and sink
**One large state of the art conference room with full pull down screen, computer with web access and a projector  
**All conference rooms contain a 46" Aquos LCD screen, as well as computer with web access and a projector
**Business and medical feasibility assessments
**Product development space
**Medical and clinical pathway assistance
**Connection to additional services such as laboratory use, incubator space for start-ups and clinical trial support through the product life cycle
**SBIR and STTR research
**Access to capital
**Networking events
**New Venture Competitions

== '''Entrepreneurship For All''' ==

'E for All' is a project of the Deshpande Foundation, which has encouraged the use of entrepreneurship and innovation as catalysts for sustainable change in the United States, India and Canada since 1996. Deshpande supported centers including the MIT Deshpande Center for Technological Innovation, the Deshpande Center for Social Innovation in Hubli, India, the Pond-Deshpande Centre at the University of New Brunswick, and our own 'E For All'  at the University of Massachusetts Lowell. 'E for All' includes higher education partners (Middlesex Community College, Merrimack College and Northern Essex Community College) and a host of regional community and business partners.

=== '''E for All Mission''' ===

The mission of 'E For All' is to connect and strengthen the ecosystem in Lowell and Lawrence, Massachusetts, around entrepreneurship and leadership. This mission is supported by the following three principle 'E For All' programs:

·       Catalysts-The Catalyst program provides seed funding and mentoring support to foster initiative around new ideas and programs among local high school and college students.

·       Entrepreneurship-The Entrepreneur Program is a community-wide initiative supporting entrepreneurship. More than 30 partner organizations and institutions are participating in this initiative, which gives entrepreneurs a greater chance at success through pitch contests, workshops and intensive programs. 

·       Leadership-The 'E For All' Leadership Institute (SLI) offers leadership development for individuals that live, work or are interested in the communities of Lawrence and Lowell. 

== Other Organizations ==

'''Entrepreneurial Ventures Association''': EVA is an interdisciplinary organization that is open to all majors; they share resources, advice, and interests with other COM and UML clubs to help students turn their entrepreneurial ideas into reality.  

'''Honors Ambassador Program: '''Students participate in the Honors Ambassador Program to gain valuable experience through courses tailored for higher development and to foster relationships with communities and organizations that the program is involved with.

= '''University Entrepreneurship''' =

=== Creative New Academic Programs ===

'''The Manning School of Business'''  The Manning School of Business offers two academic programs focused on entrepreneurship:

*[http://www.uml.edu/MSB/management/Entrepreneurship.aspx Undergraduate - Entrepreneurship Concentration]: Prepares students to be "outside-of-the-box" thinkers and innovators in today's complex global economy.

The '''entrepreneurship concentration''' prepares students to be an "outside of the box" thinker and innovator in today's complex global economy. Using an interdisciplinary focus, students who complete the concentration will:

*Develop the management skills required to identify and launch new business ventures around innovative products, services and technologies. 
*Develop an understanding of the concepts and activities associated with entrepreneurship and innovation. 
*Understand the financial aspects of an entrepreneurial venture from start-up to "harvest". 
*Discover their individual "entrepreneurial spirit" through experiential learning in interdisciplinary classes and the College's Venture Lab.

The required courses within the Entrepreneurship concentration consist of:

#Starting a New Venture 
#Corporate Entrepreneurship 
#Managing Innovation 
#Finance for Emerging Business Enterprises
#Entrepreneurial Strategy & Implementation (Fall '14 not yet required)
#Study Abroad in India (not required, entrepreneurship focused)

[http://www.uml.edu/MSB/Graduate-Programs/MSITE.aspx Graduate - Master of Science in Innovation and Technological Entrepreneurship (MSITE)]: Provides engineers, business majors and scientists with the skills and knowledge required to drive innovation in today's collaborative, global workforce.

[http://www.uml.edu/MSB/Graduate-Programs/MSITEhealthcare.aspx Graduate - Master of Science in Innovation and Technological Entrepreneurship (MSITE) Healthcare Innovation & Entrepreneurship (HI+E) Option]: This option is targeted towards healthcare professionals, such as hospital managers/administrators, clinicians, physicians and other medical professionals who need to understand and manage the impact of emerging technologies and innovations in the healthcare industry. The Program will also benefit recent graduates who wish to enter the healthcare industries as a career choice.

[http://www.uml.edu/MSB/Program-of-study/New-Venture-Creation.aspx Graduate Certificate - New Venture Creation]: This program is focused specifically on the creation of technology-based ventures and is designed to assist professionals with undergraduate and career experience in science, engineering, technology or business fields in better understanding how to develop and launch a technology-based business.

'''College of Sciences, Computer Science Department'''

The Computer Science Department offers an [http://www.uml.edu/Catalog/Graduate/Sciences/Computer-Science/MS-in-Computer-Science-Entrepreneurship-Option.aspx entrepreneurship option] in their master's degree. It is directed at those with a strong undergraduate background in Computer Science who are interested in both deepening their technical knowledge and in understanding the tools required for developing a company directed towards software services and products.

'''College of Engineering, Electrical and Computer Engineering Department, Assistive Technology Program'''

A component of the undergraduate Electrical and Computer Engineering program, senior ECE students complete a [http://atp.caeds.eng.uml.edu/index.html senior capstone project] aimed at designing and producing an assistive technology device for a person with a disability. Engineering students can apply the knowledge they have learned from their courses and help solve problems for disabled people through creating technological advances. 

== Entrepreneurial Capital Projects and Acquisitions ==

=== '''The Mark and Elisia Saab Emerging Technologies and Innovation Center''' ===

This new UMass Lowell 2012-13 construction is a building developed for bringing innovation and industry together. Faculty and student researchers use the resources available in this building to meet industry challenges and improve lives using UMass Lowell technologies and patents. Core facilities for use in fundamental and translational research are available to faculty and students; it contains class 100, 1,000, and 10,000 cleanroom spaces, wet lab and engineering lab space, and a plastics processing high bay. The ETIC is has LEED Gold Certification, and is considered green. The construction of this building also is estimated to supporting at least 130 new jobs.

 

=== '''Health and Social Sciences Building'''  ===

This new building that houses criminal justice and criminology, nursing, and psychology provides classrooms, simulation laboratories, observation facilities, a demonstration hospital wing, and ample meeting space for community projects. The construction of this new building supported more than 800 construction and related jobs, and provided the much needed resources and space for UMass Lowell’s growing social science population.

= '''University-Industry Collaboration''' =

'''Research Activities'''

UMass Lowell places a large focus on professional research, as evidenced by the ample lab space professors have to work with in buildings such as the ETIC. A comprehensive list of all research areas and information about them can be found on the UMass Lowell website. [http://www.uml.edu/Research/Centers/default.aspx http://www.uml.edu/Research/Centers/default.aspx]

==== Center for Industrial Competitiveness ====

For nearly 20 years, UMass Lowell’s Center for Industrial Competitiveness has conducted research on industrial innovation, regional development, corporate governance, financialization, and sustainable prosperity. Resources available stretch all around the world through collaborative networks and relationships, providing ample information and a global understanding on development. Research also includes local industrial development in Massachusetts. 

UMass Lowell has a page dedicated to the CIC researchers and their work, which can be found here: [http://www.uml.edu/centers/cic/Research/Research.html http://www.uml.edu/centers/cic/Research/Research.html]

= '''Regional and Local Economic Development''' =

'''Economic and Social Development of Regions Department:'''

This graduate program focuses on giving an interdisciplinary education that is tailored to fit the needs of the individual. By educating both the private and public sectors of economic and social development, this program aims to create work ready individuals that can bring innovation and change to shifting social and economic environment.

'''Lowell Makes''' 

“A membership‐driven collaborative space equipped with a wide variety of tools, machines, materials, computers and other resources where individuals can gain and practice modern skills with state‐of‐the‐art technology, access to resources they could not otherwise, and a community of creative minded people who make all kinds of things. “Art is the Handmaid of Human Good” is both the City of Lowell’s motto, and a reminder of Lowell’s rich industrial and artistic history as our inspiration.” - [http://www.lowellmakes.com/proposal/ http://www.lowellmakes.com/proposal/]

Lowell makes was founded to be a space where those who do not have access to certain equipment to bring their ideas to life will have that access they need and have the support they need to push their innovation to the next level. It is a space that has resources tailored for budding entrepreneurs, and can be rented out by anyone with a plan. 

'''Mill No.5'''

Mill No.5 is one of the few non-UML entrepreneurial constructs in the Lowell urban environment. Like many mills in Lowell, it has been renovated and repurposed. Being subdivided and updated to proper code, there are rooms available for offices and start-ups looking to have an office space to centralize their resources. 

= '''Conclusion''' =

Entrepreneurship is a strategic objective at the University of Massachusetts Lowell.  During the last five years, UMass Lowell has re-positioned itself with students, faculty, staff, and the community as a true public enterprise committed to taking an entrepreneurial approach to innovation in all aspects of its structure.   A rapidly expanding innovation ecosystem encourages and guides entrepreneurial action, whether academically or commercially, amongst its faculty and student body -- fostering an entrepreneurial approach to economic development through a variety of programs and activities. UMass Lowell will continue to thrive in all aspects of entrepreneurship and innovation.  

= Related Links =

University Innovation Fellows:
[http://universityinnovation.org/wiki/Stephen_Kender Stephen Kender][[Ana Gouveia|Ana Gouveia]][[James Abdallah|James Abdallah]][[KevinMDesjardins|Kevin Desjardins]][[Jacob Hulme|Jacob Hulme]][[UMass Lowell Student Priorities|UMass Lowell Student Priorities]]
[[Category:Universities]]

School:University of Massachusetts Lowell

2015-10-12T19:15:29Z

Ephenstephen:

<div style="float: right; clear: right;">[[File:UMass-Lowell-logo.png]]</div>
The University of Massachusetts Lowell (also known as UMass Lowell or UML) is a [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Public_university public] [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_research_universities_in_the_United_States doctoral/research] university in [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lowell,_Massachusetts Lowell], [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Massachusetts Massachusetts], [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_States United States],and part of the [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/University_of_Massachusetts University of Massachusetts] system. With more than 1,100 faculty members and more than 16,000 students, it is the largest university in the [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Merrimack_Valley Merrimack Valley] and the second-largest public institution in the state behind UMass Amherst. The university offers more than 120 degree choices, internships, bachelor’s to master’s programs and doctoral studies in the College of Fine Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences; College of Health Sciences; College of Sciences; the Francis College of Engineering; the Graduate School of Education; and the Manning School of Business.

= '''Overview - A Campus On The Move''' =

UMass Lowell has been evolving in every aspect; upgraded classrooms, libraries and labs; new and renovated student living and activity spaces; and enhanced parking facilities are a few on the list of what has been updated and changed over the past decade of campus improvement.

*University Crossing
**Officially completed and operating, this new building hosts student services and activities, bookstore, dining, University police, transportation services, and senior administration offices.
*Pulichino Tong Building
**The University’s current construction project, the Tong Building will replace the now-relocated Honor’s Eames Dorm building on UMass Lowell’s North Campus and will house the entirety of the Robert J. Manning School of Business.
*University Suites
**This brand new dorm on UMass Lowell’s East campus provides housing for 472 students in four- and six-bed suites. There is a ground-floor common area with a café - Hawk's Nest - featuring fresh bakery, grab & go items and a late night Asian menu, in addition to delicious Red Mango frozen yogurt & smoothies and "We proudly serve" Starbucks Coffee. A multi-purpose room is open to the UMass Lowell community. Each residential floor has two common kitchen/lounge areas, two quiet study rooms and a group study room.
*Riverview Suites
**The other half of the two-dorm addition to UMass Lowell in 2013, Riverview Suites has either two or three bedroom suites complete with a live-in kitchen, classroom and meeting rooms inside the building, and a gym inside the facility. The University leases the property from Soho Development, who also built the $42 million facility.
*New Garages
**In the past three years, UMass Lowell has added two large parking garages to each of its largest parking lots, greatly increasing the parking capacity for the strong commuter presence attending the school.
*Health and Social Sciences Building
**In 2013, this new criminal justice and criminology, nursing and psychology building had its grand opening. The construction of this building marked the first new construction in 30 years on the University’s South Campus, including all campuses in the University’s recent wave of evolution.

Since 2009, the University has also been heavily updating the existing buildings while acquiring and renovating new ones. UMass Lowell renovated the newly acquired Inn and Conference Center, added Taco Bell and Subway to the University’s dining partners, renovated the newly acquired Tsongas Center, and heavily updated their Dining Hall in the tallest UMass Lowell building, Fox Hall 

== 2015 Innovation Fellows Plans ==

[https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1ZwhfzohFPyuM4Vutiho8ZAuV8Jmq-JxBJ2vNaGZe-kY/edit?usp=sharing Landscape Canvas]

[https://docs.google.com/presentation/d/1o3F2IN8YoWKMk83r0SoAfr5NH_qUw7RFa2ZxjslksQM/edit?usp=sharing Lean Startup Presentation]

= '''Student Entrepreneurship''' =

==== '''NonSpec ''' ====

[http://www.nonspec.org/ NonSpec] participated in the 2013 first annual DifferenceMaker™ Idea Challenge where they showed dedication and enthusiasm by attending each educational workshop and event throughout the process which aided in their success.  At the Idea Challenge they received the prestigious title of “Campus Wide DifferenceMaker™” and the top award of $5,000. This prize represents the project most likely to make a significant difference in the community, region and the world.

The $5,000 award has allowed Nonspec to move their initiative forward by creating their first batch of prosthetic limbs. With a projected 15% market share in the next five years, Nonspec plans to use this market presence to launch a foundation called “Give a Hand”. The purpose of this foundation would be to spread their mission, goals, charitable cause, and products around the world in order to make a difference in developing nations.

Since Nonspec’s success at the Idea Challenge they have gained great publicity in other arenas.  They were recently named one of the top 10 semi-finalists in Entrepreneur® Magazine’s “College Entrepreneur of 2013 Contest”.  In addition, they were invited to attend [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ppnzNSnxi-g IAPD Plastics Application Design Competition], which was held on October 2, 2013 in Miami, Florida.  Lastly, the team was utilized as a role model by being featured in a [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aLwLg4XHrck video] that was shown at all DifferenceMaker™ freshman orientation sessions throughout the summer due to their motivation and high entrepreneurial spirits.

= Departments and Programs =

== '''Center for Innovation and Entrepreneurship''' ==

The Center for Innovation and Entrepreneurship offers students and faculty of all disciplines the opportunity to work together to develop innovative and entrepreneurial solutions to the major problems facing our community, the region and the world. The Center hosts several programs that encourage social innovation and entrepreneurship among UMass Lowell students as well as the broader community in which we live. The DifferenceMaker program provides training, mentoring and other resources to UMass Lowell students and faculty who wish to address social, environmental and economic problems in our community.

== '''DifferenceMaker™''' ==

The DifferenceMaker™ Program sponsors specific events and activities that support students in solving big problems through innovation and entrepreneurship. The Program is highly experiential by offering students a series of workshops that they can engage in to better understand innovation, entrepreneurship and launching a start-up of their interest.

Students of all majors and disciplines are welcome to join this Program and make a difference at UMass Lowell, in the community or in the world through innovative and entrepreneurial action.

=== Goals of DifferenceMaker™ ===

*Introduce all UMass students to creative problem solving, innovation and entrepreneurship
*Accelerate purpose in each students education
*Connect current students to alumni experience
*Encourage a social responsibility ethos

=== DifferenceMaker™ Available Activities ===

*'''DifferenceMaker™ Enterprise Co-op'''
**Throughout each year, DifferenceMaker™ will hire several students from various majors to participate in paid co-op experiences. Student co-ops assist in conducting and summarizing entrepreneurial research, developing and distributing marketing materials for various center initiatives, and provide center support for faculty and innovation fellows affiliate with the center. 
*'''Freshman Make A Difference Orientation'''
**During the summer sessions, DifferenceMaker™ has a large presence in the Freshman Orientation days. Through the Office of Orientation, Student Activities and Leadership, and ResLife, DifferenceMaker™ was able to present to every attending freshman and gain exposure to all of the new students at UMass Lowell.
*'''Freshman DifferenceMaker™ Convocation'''
**At the beginning of each academic year, we present DifferenceMaker™ to every incoming freshman at Convocation. Each year we perform a fun activity to engage students in our program.
*'''Introduction to DifferenceMaker™'''
**Freshman Seminars-A series of in-class discussions in collaboration with the Manning School of Business, The Francis College of Engineering, The College of Fine Arts, Humanities, and Social Sciences, and The College of Health Sciences in order to introduce the DifferenceMaker™ Program to students of all disciplines and to inspire them to explore their passions through creative problem solving.
*'''Introduction to the DifferenceMaker™ Program'''
**A series of events were held on both the north and south campuses to introduce students to DifferenceMaker™ Program concepts, allow them to share their ideas and interests, explore possible projects and solution, and to connected with each other to form teams. These events included the DifferenceMaker™ Convocation Pitch, the Climate Change Teach-in, a DifferenceMaker™ Team Building Dinner, and others.
*'''DifferenceMaker™ LLC'''
**Having a presence in the student residence halls as well as the classroom is important to motivate students and discover new ideas waiting to happen. The DifferenceMaker™ Living/Learning Community brings new students together in the ResLife environment for innovation and brainstorming outside of the classroom.
*'''Honors DifferenceMaker™ Program'''
**In collaboration with UMass Lowell Honors Program, this concerted effort to embed elements of social entrepreneurship in our Honors Program includes coursework and community-based student efforts that have specific focus on innovation and entrepreneurial practices.
*'''Introduction to Engineering Extra Credit Project'''
**This activity was a collaboration effort between the DifferenceMaker™ Program and The Francis College of Engineering to introduce freshman engineering majors to the DifferenceMaker™ Program, innovation, and entrepreneurship. In this introductory activity, the students’ innovative ideas were explored and presented in a format which would enable their projects to be candidates for both the DifferenceMaker™ Program Idea Challenge and Campus Catalyst program.
*'''Creative Venture Competition'''
**This contest held in October of 2013 hosted by DifferenceMaker™ focused on innovation from Arts, Humanities, and Social Science students. $2500 was awarded to the best entrepreneurial business a proposal, and $250 to each finalist team was also awarded.
*'''Digital Federal Credit Union Innovation Contest''' 
**In November of 2013, DifferenceMaker™ along with DCU hosted an Innovation Contest focusing on banking and financial innovation in the industry. With a grand prize of $500 per team member and peripheral prizes of $100 per team member, the contest gave thousands to innovative teams and cutting edge ideas.
*'''DifferenceMaker™ Reverse Pitch'''
**This pitch event was debuted on November 19, 2013. This event was a spin-off of “normal” idea challenges and hackathons. Instead of students pitching their ideas to funding sources or judges, businesses and community partners actually pitched their existing problems to a student audience in the hopes that they can develop a solution.
*'''DifferenceMaker™ Idea Challenge'''
**''''''DifferenceMaker™ is hosting its fourth annual Idea Challenge; this challenge is for student entrepreneurial teams to come up with sustainable ideas that will make some sort of impact on the world or their community. Help in the form of various workshops in the months leading up to the Idea Challenge is available, teaching students how to properly pitch their ideas and how to flesh out their business plans. There are various subcategories for each team to have a chance at winning spread out across over many different disciplines, encouraging all students to participate and welcoming all ideas.
*'''DifferenceMaker™ Workshops'''
**Team Building Mixer
**Identifying Problems and Opportunities
**Developing Solutions
**Identifying Resources
**Rocket Pitch Coaching
*'''Campus Catalyst Program'''
**''''''The DifferenceMaker™ Program works closely with 'E For All', a community business accelerator funded by the Deshpande Foundation, in order to encourage students to generate and develop their entrepreneurial ideas. The Sandbox Campus Catalyst program provided seed funding for student social and business solutions with potential. 

=== '''DifferenceMaker™ Program Available Resources''' ===

*DifferenceMaker™ Central
**Large open office collaboration space equipped with Wi-Fi, 3 Mac computers, printer/copier, 2 46” LCD TV monitors with projection capabilities, 6 white boards, 10 tables with chairs all equipped with wheels that can be easily rearranged for optimal use and collaboration, refrigerator, sink, cabinet space, coffee maker and other necessary office supplies.
*Hawk  Hatch
**Philanthropic Crowd Funding Source
*Grants
*Networking
**Mentors
**Faculty Fellows and DifferenceMaker™ Staff
*Events
**Series of Educational Entrepreneurial Workshops including materials
**Problem, Opportunity, Solution, Resources, Pitch Coaching
**Team Building Assistance
**TeamMaker Platform, Team Building Mixer

Through the Center for Innovation & Entrepreneurship, along with affiliated faculty and other campus programs, the University has introduced a range of activities that help students make a difference in the world.

=== '''DifferenceMaker™ Inaugural Year Statistics''' ===

*72 DifferenceMaker™ events held in inaugural year
*3,500  students who participates in a DifferenceMaker™ event this past year
*$25,000  of funds awarded to 10 IdeaChallenge finalist teams
*1,265  freshman participating in summer rapid ideation workshops
*112  students who participated in the First Annual IdeaChallenge
*22  cross discipline relationships notes between students among IdeaChallenge teams
*24  academic disciplines represented by students in the IdeaChallenge teams

=== '''2015 DifferenceMaker™ Idea Challenge Finalists''' ===

'''Campus-Wide DifferenceMaker'''

'''Hydraulic Walker ($5,000)'''

They have designed and built a walker that utilizes hydraulics, allowing for the legs of the walker to be quickly adjusted, so that it can be used on stairs.

*Ryan Andrews - Physical Therapy Graduate
*Peter Klausmeyer - Physical Therapy Graduate

'''Significant Social Impact'''

'''1st Place'''''- ''''''Love of the Game ($4,000)'''

Love of the Game is a community outreach program aiming to integrate universities and people with physical and cognitive disabilities through sports.

*Jessica Dion - Exercise Physiology '16
*Dylan Doucette - Exercise Physiology '16
*Lucas Parsons - Exercise Physiology '16
*Rachel Silk - Business Marketing '16
*Daniel Schmith - Business Entrepreneurship '18
*Jennie Pisarik - Exercise Physiology '16

'''2nd Place - Buddies Without Borders ($2,500)'''

Buddies without Borders aims to bridge the gap between domestic students and international students starting with an in-person pair up then followed by a comprehensive website that allows members to define their profiles and micro-blog by text, photo, and video sharing.

*Tugba Arsava - Community Social Psychology Graduate
*Burhan Colak - Civil Engineering Graduate
*Katherine Cox - Psychology '18
*Madeline Ormazza - Business '17
*Shashank Raghuveer - Computer Science Graduate
*Fang Zhang - Chemistry Graduate

'''Contribution to a Healthier Lifestyle'''

'''1st Place - Playable Therapy ($4,000)'''

This project's goal is to create a platform of exercises and games that, with the Microsoft Kinect, will allow for motion tracking of a physical therapy (PT) patient during their exercise routine at home.

*Suhaib Alfageeh - Computer Science '16
*Lucas Brown - English and Math '16
*Chelsea Hayes - Business '16
*Damir Ismagilove - Math '16
*Anthony Pitaro - Exercise Physiology '15
*Mark Mcgrotty - Computer Science '16

'''2nd Place - Solar Electric Vehicles ($2,500)'''

This team is designing a series of low speed and high efficiency commuter vehicles that utilize hub motor technology to allow people to travel using purely the energy of the sun.

*Suhaib Alfageeh - Computer Science '16
*Chukwuma Azubuine - Entrepreneurship Graduate
*Richard Asirifi - Electrical Engineering '16
*Anas Dahany - Electrical Engineering '15
*David Jenkins - Mechanical Engineering '15
*Oliver Kayego - Electrical Engineering '17
*Chris Leger - Electrical Engineering '15
*Jared Mrvos - Computer Engineering '17
*Charles Reid - Mechanical Engineering '15
*Kenneth Sanders - Computer Science '18
*Mukhammaddin Zinaddinov - Electrical Engineering '18

'''Innovative Technology Solution'''

'''1st Place - Masela Dentures ($4,000)'''

Their project aims to develop a fully 3D printable denture system as an alternative solution to expensive dentures manufactured using traditional casting and milling methods.

*Cormac Hondros-McCarthy - Plastics Engineering '15
*Casey McRae - Plastics Engineering '15

'''2nd Place'''''- ''''''KEnDERS Athletic Body Armor'''''(''''''$2,500)'''

They created a novel and revolutionary sports equipment construction centered around an innovative shear-thickening material

*Elizabeth Kender - Plastics Engineering '16
*Laura Kender - Plastics Engineering '16
*Stephen Kender - Plastics Engineering '18

'''First to Market'''

'''1st Place - Mayday ($4,000)'''

This project aims to develop a wearable device connected via Bluetooth technology to a mobile phone, that, when activated, sends emergency alert signals to a list of emergency contacts.

*Cibhi SelVan-  Business Graduate
*Alessandro Agnello-  Computer Science PhD

'''2nd Place - ''''''Word Builder'''''(''''''$2,500)'''

Word Builder is an interactive toy designed to help children build the foundations of reading at an early age.

*Sergio Coronado - Computer Engineering '16
*Ian Copithorne - Computer Engineering '16

'''Honorable Mention'''

'''Low-Income Community Homework Center ($1,500)'''

Their goal is to open a homework center for students from low-income families in a poverty stricken town/city such as Lawrence, Massachusetts.

*Arnaldo Rivera - Psychology '15
*Hector Rivera  - Psychology '15

'''Fan Favorite'''

'''Indoor Hydroponic System ($2,500)'''

Their project is a hydroponic garden that is equipped with an environment monitoring system that ensures optimal growing conditions for plants and requires little to no maintenance.

*Rapheeporn Aungaphinant - Business Graduate
*Katherine Cain - Business Graduate
*Tucker Holladay - Business Graduate
*Shu-Wei Hsu - Business Graduate
*Alima Shamuratova - Business Graduate

=== '''DifferenceMaker™ Future Efforts:''' ===

The DifferenceMaker™ Program plans to continue many of the activities and events initiated in the first year of the program.  Some of these programs will be revised and they intend to launch several new initiatives, including a DifferenceMaker™ Passport Program, a DifferenceMaker™ Mentor Program and a seed grant program to encourage faculty participation in the DifferenceMaker™ program. They also plan to expand our collaboration with several University colleges. 

This year they plan to increase the role of DifferenceMaker™ Living Learning Community students in the DifferenceMaker™ program by training the members to become DifferenceMaker™ ambassadors once they transition into their sophomore year  through weekly meetings and monthly events. The training will allow LLC members to learn more about entrepreneurship and the DifferenceMaker™ Program so they can promote it to student clubs and campus classes.  Once the LLC students become sophomores they will transition into a DifferenceMaker™ Ambassador role, and hopefully will form the nucleus of a yet-to-be-formed DifferenceMaker™ student club.  

In order to assist students to both record and encourage their participation in DifferenceMaker™ events, they are planning the development and implementation of a DifferenceMaker™ Passport Program. Consistent with the goals of the UMass Lowell DifferenceMaker™ Program, the Passport Program will assist students to identify, record and collect experiences meant to: 

*Develop individual entrepreneurial identity
*Develop entrepreneurial skills and self-confidence
*Develop creative and sustainable solutions to complex problems
*Connect with the University, E For All and community entrepreneurial ecosystems

They anticipate that the number of students engaged in the DifferenceMaker™ Program and related activities will increase each year. As they encourage and reward the formation of various types of student ventures and projects, the need for mentors who can consult with student teams will increase. They plan to guide these students and track their progress through a professional Mentor Program. The UMass Lowell Mentor Program will provide a committed network of mentors with a broad set of skills and professional experiences, who can assist UMass Lowell entrepreneurs in developing the knowledge and skills, needed to grow an idea into a successful, new venture.

The DM UMass Lowell Mentor Program will seek to connect DifferenceMaker™ students with successful experienced entrepreneurs and alumnus, as well as faculty and staff.  The Mentor Program will focus on assisting students to further develop solutions as part of the DifferenceMaker™ Program. Mentors will provide guidance in further refining student team objectives and help them in building their entrepreneurial skillsets.

They are planning to offer DifferenceMaker™ Faculty Workshops to help faculty consider how they might engage their own students in DifferenceMaker™ activities through course related activities and through co-curricular activities. Our hope is that by engaging more faculty, they in turn will serve as both mentors and catalysts for students, encouraging and guiding student project selection and development. They have also observed that student teams often need support and guidance from faculty from different disciplines, these workshops and an accompanying seed grant program are meant as catalysts to encourage interdisciplinary engagement among faculty,

While the overarching goal of the DifferenceMaker™ program is to encourage UMass Lowell students to develop sustainable and entrepreneurial solutions to the challenges and opportunities they will confront in this world, they anticipate another, potentially significant impact on the University community itself. Our students will only be successful if they have the support of faculty, alumni, business and community members. During our first year of program activities, they have found these constituents to be most supportive and willing to mentor and work with our students.  Alumni are mentoring and investing in student ventures.  Faculty are working across disciplines to ensure their student teams make progress. Local profit and non-profit businesses are eager to work with student teams, providing real-world problems and opportunities for student projects. In one short year, the DifferenceMaker™ program has been embraced by the greater University community. Our hope and plan is to anchor this program in the curriculum and culture of the University, so all UMass Lowell students have an opportunity to make a difference in this world.

  

== '''Commercial Venture and Intellectual Property Office (CVIP):''' ==

Commercial Ventures and Intellectual Property (CVIP) is responsible for the protection and commercialization of intellectual property at UMass Lowell. 

=== '''CVIP Mission''' ===

The mission of UMass Lowell’s Office of Commercial Ventures and Intellectual Property (CVIP) is to facilitate the transfer of technology arising from government, foundation and industrial sponsored university research to the private sector. They facilitate development of inventions toward commercial relevance and utility, nurture mutually beneficial and sustainable relationships between the University and industry, promote an innovative and entrepreneurial culture at the University and contribute to the economic vibrancy and well-being of the Commonwealth. CVIP’s activities enable the successful transfer of commercially viable technology from the laboratory to the marketplace for public use and benefit. 

=== '''CVIP Functions''' ===

The main objectives of CVIP are:

*to license patents and other protections to industry in order to promote the development of inventions toward practical application;
*to foster a culture of innovation, facilitate commercially promising endeavors, and positively contribute to the University’s entrepreneurial ecosystem;
*to seek new business opportunities and form productive collaborations with industry in an effort to increase research and licensing revenue to the University;
*to generate income for inventors and the University as a whole for use in supporting further research, technology development and transfer;
*to advocate for the research community and seek to create incentives, provide rewards and obtain resources to advance commercialization of the technologies they generate.

== New Venture Initiative ==

New Venture Initiative (NVI) is a mix of university resources and equity investment designed to provide a path to and facilitate more start-up activity at UMass Lowell.  As part of the larger Commercial Venture and Intellectual Property Office (CVIP), the NVI fund focuses on inventions, discoveries, products and services that have been developed in whole or in part at UMass Lowell, have achieved proof of concept (or an early prototype) and are ready for commercial product development, rather than those requiring further basic research.  

== '''Massachusetts Medical Device Development Center (M2D2):''' ==

The Massachusetts Medical Device Development Center (M2D2) is a lifeline for the state’s smaller medical device companies, offering inventors and executives easy, affordable, and coordinated access to world-class researchers and resources at the Lowell and Worcester campuses of the University of Massachusetts.

=== '''M2D2 Available Resources''' ===

*9000 square feet of space on second floor including:
**6 wet laboratory suites
**Two office suites
**Large open office collaboration area
**Board room
**Reception area
**Break Room equipped with a table and chairs, full size refrigerator, microwave, sink, dishwasher, and coffee maker
*5000 square feet of space on first floor including:
**Six individual offices 
**Bright shared kitchen space equipped with a table and chairs, full size refrigerator and sink
**One large state of the art conference room with full pull down screen, computer with web access and a projector  
**All conference rooms contain a 46" Aquos LCD screen, as well as computer with web access and a projector
**Business and medical feasibility assessments
**Product development space
**Medical and clinical pathway assistance
**Connection to additional services such as laboratory use, incubator space for start-ups and clinical trial support through the product life cycle
**SBIR and STTR research
**Access to capital
**Networking events
**New Venture Competitions

== '''Entrepreneurship For All''' ==

'E for All' is a project of the Deshpande Foundation, which has encouraged the use of entrepreneurship and innovation as catalysts for sustainable change in the United States, India and Canada since 1996. Deshpande supported centers including the MIT Deshpande Center for Technological Innovation, the Deshpande Center for Social Innovation in Hubli, India, the Pond-Deshpande Centre at the University of New Brunswick, and our own 'E For All'  at the University of Massachusetts Lowell. 'E for All' includes higher education partners (Middlesex Community College, Merrimack College and Northern Essex Community College) and a host of regional community and business partners.

=== '''E for All Mission''' ===

The mission of 'E For All' is to connect and strengthen the ecosystem in Lowell and Lawrence, Massachusetts, around entrepreneurship and leadership. This mission is supported by the following three principle 'E For All' programs:

·       Catalysts-The Catalyst program provides seed funding and mentoring support to foster initiative around new ideas and programs among local high school and college students.

·       Entrepreneurship-The Entrepreneur Program is a community-wide initiative supporting entrepreneurship. More than 30 partner organizations and institutions are participating in this initiative, which gives entrepreneurs a greater chance at success through pitch contests, workshops and intensive programs. 

·       Leadership-The 'E For All' Leadership Institute (SLI) offers leadership development for individuals that live, work or are interested in the communities of Lawrence and Lowell. 

== Other Organizations ==

'''Entrepreneurial Ventures Association''': EVA is an interdisciplinary organization that is open to all majors; they share resources, advice, and interests with other COM and UML clubs to help students turn their entrepreneurial ideas into reality.  

'''Honors Ambassador Program: '''Students participate in the Honors Ambassador Program to gain valuable experience through courses tailored for higher development and to foster relationships with communities and organizations that the program is involved with.

= '''University Entrepreneurship''' =

=== Creative New Academic Programs ===

'''The Manning School of Business'''  The Manning School of Business offers two academic programs focused on entrepreneurship:

*[http://www.uml.edu/MSB/management/Entrepreneurship.aspx Undergraduate - Entrepreneurship Concentration]: Prepares students to be "outside-of-the-box" thinkers and innovators in today's complex global economy.

The '''entrepreneurship concentration''' prepares students to be an "outside of the box" thinker and innovator in today's complex global economy. Using an interdisciplinary focus, students who complete the concentration will:

*Develop the management skills required to identify and launch new business ventures around innovative products, services and technologies. 
*Develop an understanding of the concepts and activities associated with entrepreneurship and innovation. 
*Understand the financial aspects of an entrepreneurial venture from start-up to "harvest". 
*Discover their individual "entrepreneurial spirit" through experiential learning in interdisciplinary classes and the College's Venture Lab.

The required courses within the Entrepreneurship concentration consist of:

#Starting a New Venture 
#Corporate Entrepreneurship 
#Managing Innovation 
#Finance for Emerging Business Enterprises
#Entrepreneurial Strategy & Implementation (Fall '14 not yet required)
#Study Abroad in India (not required, entrepreneurship focused)

[http://www.uml.edu/MSB/Graduate-Programs/MSITE.aspx Graduate - Master of Science in Innovation and Technological Entrepreneurship (MSITE)]: Provides engineers, business majors and scientists with the skills and knowledge required to drive innovation in today's collaborative, global workforce.

[http://www.uml.edu/MSB/Graduate-Programs/MSITEhealthcare.aspx Graduate - Master of Science in Innovation and Technological Entrepreneurship (MSITE) Healthcare Innovation & Entrepreneurship (HI+E) Option]: This option is targeted towards healthcare professionals, such as hospital managers/administrators, clinicians, physicians and other medical professionals who need to understand and manage the impact of emerging technologies and innovations in the healthcare industry. The Program will also benefit recent graduates who wish to enter the healthcare industries as a career choice.

[http://www.uml.edu/MSB/Program-of-study/New-Venture-Creation.aspx Graduate Certificate - New Venture Creation]: This program is focused specifically on the creation of technology-based ventures and is designed to assist professionals with undergraduate and career experience in science, engineering, technology or business fields in better understanding how to develop and launch a technology-based business.

'''College of Sciences, Computer Science Department'''

The Computer Science Department offers an [http://www.uml.edu/Catalog/Graduate/Sciences/Computer-Science/MS-in-Computer-Science-Entrepreneurship-Option.aspx entrepreneurship option] in their master's degree. It is directed at those with a strong undergraduate background in Computer Science who are interested in both deepening their technical knowledge and in understanding the tools required for developing a company directed towards software services and products.

'''College of Engineering, Electrical and Computer Engineering Department, Assistive Technology Program'''

A component of the undergraduate Electrical and Computer Engineering program, senior ECE students complete a [http://atp.caeds.eng.uml.edu/index.html senior capstone project] aimed at designing and producing an assistive technology device for a person with a disability. Engineering students can apply the knowledge they have learned from their courses and help solve problems for disabled people through creating technological advances. 

== Entrepreneurial Capital Projects and Acquisitions ==

=== '''The Mark and Elisia Saab Emerging Technologies and Innovation Center''' ===

This new UMass Lowell 2012-13 construction is a building developed for bringing innovation and industry together. Faculty and student researchers use the resources available in this building to meet industry challenges and improve lives using UMass Lowell technologies and patents. Core facilities for use in fundamental and translational research are available to faculty and students; it contains class 100, 1,000, and 10,000 cleanroom spaces, wet lab and engineering lab space, and a plastics processing high bay. The ETIC is has LEED Gold Certification, and is considered green. The construction of this building also is estimated to supporting at least 130 new jobs.

 

=== '''Health and Social Sciences Building'''  ===

This new building that houses criminal justice and criminology, nursing, and psychology provides classrooms, simulation laboratories, observation facilities, a demonstration hospital wing, and ample meeting space for community projects. The construction of this new building supported more than 800 construction and related jobs, and provided the much needed resources and space for UMass Lowell’s growing social science population.

= '''University-Industry Collaboration''' =

'''Research Activities'''

UMass Lowell places a large focus on professional research, as evidenced by the ample lab space professors have to work with in buildings such as the ETIC. A comprehensive list of all research areas and information about them can be found on the UMass Lowell website. [http://www.uml.edu/Research/Centers/default.aspx http://www.uml.edu/Research/Centers/default.aspx]

==== Center for Industrial Competitiveness ====

For nearly 20 years, UMass Lowell’s Center for Industrial Competitiveness has conducted research on industrial innovation, regional development, corporate governance, financialization, and sustainable prosperity. Resources available stretch all around the world through collaborative networks and relationships, providing ample information and a global understanding on development. Research also includes local industrial development in Massachusetts. 

UMass Lowell has a page dedicated to the CIC researchers and their work, which can be found here: [http://www.uml.edu/centers/cic/Research/Research.html http://www.uml.edu/centers/cic/Research/Research.html]

= '''Regional and Local Economic Development''' =

'''Economic and Social Development of Regions Department:'''

This graduate program focuses on giving an interdisciplinary education that is tailored to fit the needs of the individual. By educating both the private and public sectors of economic and social development, this program aims to create work ready individuals that can bring innovation and change to shifting social and economic environment.

'''Lowell Makes''' 

“A membership‐driven collaborative space equipped with a wide variety of tools, machines, materials, computers and other resources where individuals can gain and practice modern skills with state‐of‐the‐art technology, access to resources they could not otherwise, and a community of creative minded people who make all kinds of things. “Art is the Handmaid of Human Good” is both the City of Lowell’s motto, and a reminder of Lowell’s rich industrial and artistic history as our inspiration.” - [http://www.lowellmakes.com/proposal/ http://www.lowellmakes.com/proposal/]

Lowell makes was founded to be a space where those who do not have access to certain equipment to bring their ideas to life will have that access they need and have the support they need to push their innovation to the next level. It is a space that has resources tailored for budding entrepreneurs, and can be rented out by anyone with a plan. 

'''Mill No.5'''

Mill No.5 is one of the few non-UML entrepreneurial constructs in the Lowell urban environment. Like many mills in Lowell, it has been renovated and repurposed. Being subdivided and updated to proper code, there are rooms available for offices and start-ups looking to have an office space to centralize their resources. 

= '''Conclusion''' =

Entrepreneurship is a strategic objective at the University of Massachusetts Lowell.  During the last five years, UMass Lowell has re-positioned itself with students, faculty, staff, and the community as a true public enterprise committed to taking an entrepreneurial approach to innovation in all aspects of its structure.   A rapidly expanding innovation ecosystem encourages and guides entrepreneurial action, whether academically or commercially, amongst its faculty and student body -- fostering an entrepreneurial approach to economic development through a variety of programs and activities. UMass Lowell will continue to thrive in all aspects of entrepreneurship and innovation.  

= Related Links =

University Innovation Fellows:
[http://universityinnovation.org/wiki/Stephen_Kender Stephen Kender][[Ana Gouveia|Ana Gouveia]][[James Abdallah|James Abdallah]][[KevinMDesjardins|Kevin Desjardins]][[Jacob Hulme|Jacob Hulme]][[UMass Lowell Student Priorities|UMass Lowell Student Priorities]]
[[Category:Universities]]

School:University of Massachusetts Lowell

2015-10-12T19:14:12Z

Ephenstephen:

<div style="float: right; clear: right;">[[File:UMass-Lowell-logo.png]]</div>
The University of Massachusetts Lowell (also known as UMass Lowell or UML) is a [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Public_university public] [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_research_universities_in_the_United_States doctoral/research] university in [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lowell,_Massachusetts Lowell], [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Massachusetts Massachusetts], [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_States United States],and part of the [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/University_of_Massachusetts University of Massachusetts] system. With more than 1,100 faculty members and more than 16,000 students, it is the largest university in the [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Merrimack_Valley Merrimack Valley] and the second-largest public institution in the state behind UMass Amherst. The university offers more than 120 degree choices, internships, bachelor’s to master’s programs and doctoral studies in the College of Fine Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences; College of Health Sciences; College of Sciences; the Francis College of Engineering; the Graduate School of Education; and the Manning School of Business.

= '''Overview - A Campus On The Move''' =

UMass Lowell has been evolving in every aspect; upgraded classrooms, libraries and labs; new and renovated student living and activity spaces; and enhanced parking facilities are a few on the list of what has been updated and changed over the past decade of campus improvement.

*University Crossing
**Officially completed and operating, this new building hosts student services and activities, bookstore, dining, University police, transportation services, and senior administration offices.
*Pulichino Tong Building
**The University’s current construction project, the Tong Building will replace the now-relocated Honor’s Eames Dorm building on UMass Lowell’s North Campus and will house the entirety of the Robert J. Manning School of Business.
*University Suites
**This brand new dorm on UMass Lowell’s East campus provides housing for 472 students in four- and six-bed suites. There is a ground-floor common area with a café - Hawk's Nest - featuring fresh bakery, grab & go items and a late night Asian menu, in addition to delicious Red Mango frozen yogurt & smoothies and "We proudly serve" Starbucks Coffee. A multi-purpose room is open to the UMass Lowell community. Each residential floor has two common kitchen/lounge areas, two quiet study rooms and a group study room.
*Riverview Suites
**The other half of the two-dorm addition to UMass Lowell in 2013, Riverview Suites has either two or three bedroom suites complete with a live-in kitchen, classroom and meeting rooms inside the building, and a gym inside the facility. The University leases the property from Soho Development, who also built the $42 million facility.
*New Garages
**In the past three years, UMass Lowell has added two large parking garages to each of its largest parking lots, greatly increasing the parking capacity for the strong commuter presence attending the school.
*Health and Social Sciences Building
**In 2013, this new criminal justice and criminology, nursing and psychology building had its grand opening. The construction of this building marked the first new construction in 30 years on the University’s South Campus, including all campuses in the University’s recent wave of evolution.

Since 2009, the University has also been heavily updating the existing buildings while acquiring and renovating new ones. UMass Lowell renovated the newly acquired Inn and Conference Center, added Taco Bell and Subway to the University’s dining partners, renovated the newly acquired Tsongas Center, and heavily updated their Dining Hall in the tallest UMass Lowell building, Fox Hall 

== 2015 Innovation Fellows Plans ==

[https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1ZwhfzohFPyuM4Vutiho8ZAuV8Jmq-JxBJ2vNaGZe-kY/edit?usp=sharing Landscape Canvas]

[https://docs.google.com/presentation/d/1o3F2IN8YoWKMk83r0SoAfr5NH_qUw7RFa2ZxjslksQM/edit?usp=sharing Lean Startup Presentation]

= '''Student Entrepreneurship''' =

==== '''NonSpec ''' ====

[http://www.nonspec.org/ NonSpec] participated in the 2013 first annual DifferenceMaker™ Idea Challenge where they showed dedication and enthusiasm by attending each educational workshop and event throughout the process which aided in their success.  At the Idea Challenge they received the prestigious title of “Campus Wide DifferenceMaker™” and the top award of $5,000. This prize represents the project most likely to make a significant difference in the community, region and the world.

The $5,000 award has allowed Nonspec to move their initiative forward by creating their first batch of prosthetic limbs. With a projected 15% market share in the next five years, Nonspec plans to use this market presence to launch a foundation called “Give a Hand”. The purpose of this foundation would be to spread their mission, goals, charitable cause, and products around the world in order to make a difference in developing nations.

Since Nonspec’s success at the Idea Challenge they have gained great publicity in other arenas.  They were recently named one of the top 10 semi-finalists in Entrepreneur® Magazine’s “College Entrepreneur of 2013 Contest”.  In addition, they were invited to attend [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ppnzNSnxi-g IAPD Plastics Application Design Competition], which was held on October 2, 2013 in Miami, Florida.  Lastly, the team was utilized as a role model by being featured in a [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aLwLg4XHrck video] that was shown at all DifferenceMaker™ freshman orientation sessions throughout the summer due to their motivation and high entrepreneurial spirits.

= Departments and Programs =

== '''Center for Innovation and Entrepreneurship''' ==

The Center for Innovation and Entrepreneurship offers students and faculty of all disciplines the opportunity to work together to develop innovative and entrepreneurial solutions to the major problems facing our community, the region and the world. The Center hosts several programs that encourage social innovation and entrepreneurship among UMass Lowell students as well as the broader community in which we live. The DifferenceMaker program provides training, mentoring and other resources to UMass Lowell students and faculty who wish to address social, environmental and economic problems in our community.

== '''DifferenceMaker™''' ==

The DifferenceMaker™ Program sponsors specific events and activities that support students in solving big problems through innovation and entrepreneurship. The Program is highly experiential by offering students a series of workshops that they can engage in to better understand innovation, entrepreneurship and launching a start-up of their interest.

Students of all majors and disciplines are welcome to join this Program and make a difference at UMass Lowell, in the community or in the world through innovative and entrepreneurial action.

=== Goals of DifferenceMaker™ ===

*Introduce all UMass students to creative problem solving, innovation and entrepreneurship
*Accelerate purpose in each students education
*Connect current students to alumni experience
*Encourage a social responsibility ethos

=== DifferenceMaker™ Available Activities ===

*'''DifferenceMaker™ Enterprise Co-op'''
**Throughout each year, DifferenceMaker™ will hire several students from various majors to participate in paid co-op experiences. Student co-ops assist in conducting and summarizing entrepreneurial research, developing and distributing marketing materials for various center initiatives, and provide center support for faculty and innovation fellows affiliate with the center. 
*'''Freshman Make A Difference Orientation'''
**During the summer sessions, DifferenceMaker™ has a large presence in the Freshman Orientation days. Through the Office of Orientation, Student Activities and Leadership, and ResLife, DifferenceMaker™ was able to present to every attending freshman and gain exposure to all of the new students at UMass Lowell.
*'''Freshman DifferenceMaker™ Convocation'''
**At the beginning of each academic year, we present DifferenceMaker™ to every incoming freshman at Convocation. Each year we perform a fun activity to engage students in our program.
*'''Introduction to DifferenceMaker™'''
**Freshman Seminars-A series of in-class discussions in collaboration with the Manning School of Business, The Francis College of Engineering, The College of Fine Arts, Humanities, and Social Sciences, and The College of Health Sciences in order to introduce the DifferenceMaker™ Program to students of all disciplines and to inspire them to explore their passions through creative problem solving.
*'''Introduction to the DifferenceMaker™ Program'''
**A series of events were held on both the north and south campuses to introduce students to DifferenceMaker™ Program concepts, allow them to share their ideas and interests, explore possible projects and solution, and to connected with each other to form teams. These events included the DifferenceMaker™ Convocation Pitch, the Climate Change Teach-in, a DifferenceMaker™ Team Building Dinner, and others.
*'''DifferenceMaker™ LLC'''
**Having a presence in the student residence halls as well as the classroom is important to motivate students and discover new ideas waiting to happen. The DifferenceMaker™ Living/Learning Community brings new students together in the ResLife environment for innovation and brainstorming outside of the classroom.
*'''Honors DifferenceMaker™ Program'''
**In collaboration with UMass Lowell Honors Program, this concerted effort to embed elements of social entrepreneurship in our Honors Program includes coursework and community-based student efforts that have specific focus on innovation and entrepreneurial practices.
*'''Introduction to Engineering Extra Credit Project'''
**This activity was a collaboration effort between the DifferenceMaker™ Program and The Francis College of Engineering to introduce freshman engineering majors to the DifferenceMaker™ Program, innovation, and entrepreneurship. In this introductory activity, the students’ innovative ideas were explored and presented in a format which would enable their projects to be candidates for both the DifferenceMaker™ Program Idea Challenge and Campus Catalyst program.
*'''Creative Venture Competition'''
**This contest held in October of 2013 hosted by DifferenceMaker™ focused on innovation from Arts, Humanities, and Social Science students. $2500 was awarded to the best entrepreneurial business a proposal, and $250 to each finalist team was also awarded.
*'''Digital Federal Credit Union Innovation Contest''' 
**In November of 2013, DifferenceMaker™ along with DCU hosted an Innovation Contest focusing on banking and financial innovation in the industry. With a grand prize of $500 per team member and peripheral prizes of $100 per team member, the contest gave thousands to innovative teams and cutting edge ideas.
*'''DifferenceMaker™ Reverse Pitch'''
**This pitch event was debuted on November 19, 2013. This event was a spin-off of “normal” idea challenges and hackathons. Instead of students pitching their ideas to funding sources or judges, businesses and community partners actually pitched their existing problems to a student audience in the hopes that they can develop a solution.
*'''DifferenceMaker™ Idea Challenge'''
**''''''DifferenceMaker™ is hosting its fourth annual Idea Challenge; this challenge is for student entrepreneurial teams to come up with sustainable ideas that will make some sort of impact on the world or their community. Help in the form of various workshops in the months leading up to the Idea Challenge is available, teaching students how to properly pitch their ideas and how to flesh out their business plans. There are various subcategories for each team to have a chance at winning spread out across over many different disciplines, encouraging all students to participate and welcoming all ideas.
*'''DifferenceMaker™ Workshops'''
**Team Building Mixer
**Identifying Problems and Opportunities
**Developing Solutions
**Identifying Resources
**Rocket Pitch Coaching
*'''Campus Catalyst Program'''
**''''''The DifferenceMaker™ Program works closely with 'E For All', a community business accelerator funded by the Deshpande Foundation, in order to encourage students to generate and develop their entrepreneurial ideas. The Sandbox Campus Catalyst program provided seed funding for student social and business solutions with potential. 

=== '''DifferenceMaker™ Program Available Resources''' ===

*DifferenceMaker™ Central
**Large open office collaboration space equipped with Wi-Fi, 3 Mac computers, printer/copier, 2 46” LCD TV monitors with projection capabilities, 6 white boards, 10 tables with chairs all equipped with wheels that can be easily rearranged for optimal use and collaboration, refrigerator, sink, cabinet space, coffee maker and other necessary office supplies.
*Hawk  Hatch
**Philanthropic Crowd Funding Source
*Grants
*Networking
**Mentors
**Faculty Fellows and DifferenceMaker™ Staff
*Events
**Series of Educational Entrepreneurial Workshops including materials
**Problem, Opportunity, Solution, Resources, Pitch Coaching
**Team Building Assistance
**TeamMaker Platform, Team Building Mixer

Through the Center for Innovation & Entrepreneurship, along with affiliated faculty and other campus programs, the University has introduced a range of activities that help students make a difference in the world.

=== '''DifferenceMaker™ Inaugural Year Statistics''' ===

*72 DifferenceMaker™ events held in inaugural year
*3,500  students who participates in a DifferenceMaker™ event this past year
*$25,000  of funds awarded to 10 IdeaChallenge finalist teams
*1,265  freshman participating in summer rapid ideation workshops
*112  students who participated in the First Annual IdeaChallenge
*22  cross discipline relationships notes between students among IdeaChallenge teams
*24  academic disciplines represented by students in the IdeaChallenge teams

=== '''2015 DifferenceMaker™ Idea Challenge Finalists''' ===

==== Campus-Wide DifferenceMaker ====

'''Hydraulic Walker ($5,000)'''

They have designed and built a walker that utilizes hydraulics, allowing for the legs of the walker to be quickly adjusted, so that it can be used on stairs.

*Ryan Andrews - Physical Therapy Graduate
*Peter Klausmeyer - Physical Therapy Graduate

==== Significant Social Impact ====

'''1st Place'''''- ''''''Love of the Game ($4,000)'''

Love of the Game is a community outreach program aiming to integrate universities and people with physical and cognitive disabilities through sports.

*Jessica Dion - Exercise Physiology '16
*Dylan Doucette - Exercise Physiology '16
*Lucas Parsons - Exercise Physiology '16
*Rachel Silk - Business Marketing '16
*Daniel Schmith - Business Entrepreneurship '18
*Jennie Pisarik - Exercise Physiology '16

'''2nd Place - Buddies Without Borders ($2,500)'''

Buddies without Borders aims to bridge the gap between domestic students and international students starting with an in-person pair up then followed by a comprehensive website that allows members to define their profiles and micro-blog by text, photo, and video sharing.

*Tugba Arsava - Community Social Psychology Graduate
*Burhan Colak - Civil Engineering Graduate
*Katherine Cox - Psychology '18
*Madeline Ormazza - Business '17
*Shashank Raghuveer - Computer Science Graduate
*Fang Zhang - Chemistry Graduate

==== Contribution to a Healthier Lifestyle ====

'''1st Place - Playable Therapy ($4,000)'''

This project's goal is to create a platform of exercises and games that, with the Microsoft Kinect, will allow for motion tracking of a physical therapy (PT) patient during their exercise routine at home.

*Suhaib Alfageeh - Computer Science '16
*Lucas Brown - English and Math '16
*Chelsea Hayes - Business '16
*Damir Ismagilove - Math '16
*Anthony Pitaro - Exercise Physiology '15
*Mark Mcgrotty - Computer Science '16

'''2nd Place - Solar Electric Vehicles ($2,500)'''

This team is designing a series of low speed and high efficiency commuter vehicles that utilize hub motor technology to allow people to travel using purely the energy of the sun.

*Suhaib Alfageeh - Computer Science '16
*Chukwuma Azubuine - Entrepreneurship Graduate
*Richard Asirifi - Electrical Engineering '16
*Anas Dahany - Electrical Engineering '15
*David Jenkins - Mechanical Engineering '15
*Oliver Kayego - Electrical Engineering '17
*Chris Leger - Electrical Engineering '15
*Jared Mrvos - Computer Engineering '17
*Charles Reid - Mechanical Engineering '15
*Kenneth Sanders - Computer Science '18
*Mukhammaddin Zinaddinov - Electrical Engineering '18

==== Innovative Technology Solution ====

'''1st Place - Masela Dentures ($4,000)'''

Their project aims to develop a fully 3D printable denture system as an alternative solution to expensive dentures manufactured using traditional casting and milling methods.

*Cormac Hondros-McCarthy - Plastics Engineering '15
*Casey McRae - Plastics Engineering '15

'''2nd Place - ''''''KEnDERS Athletic Body Armor'''''(''''''$2,500)'''

They created a novel and revolutionary sports equipment construction centered around an innovative shear-thickening material

*Elizabeth Kender - Plastics Engineering '16
*Laura Kender - Plastics Engineering '16
*Stephen Kender - Plastics Engineering '18

==== First to Market ====

'''1st Place - Mayday ($4,000)'''

This project aims to develop a wearable device connected via Bluetooth technology to a mobile phone, that, when activated, sends emergency alert signals to a list of emergency contacts.

*Cibhi SelVan-  Business Graduate
*Alessandro Agnello-  Computer Science PhD

'''2nd Place - ''''''Word Builder'''''(''''''$2,500)'''

Word Builder is an interactive toy designed to help children build the foundations of reading at an early age.

*Sergio Coronado - Computer Engineering '16
*Ian Copithorne - Computer Engineering '16

==== Honorable Mention ====

'''Low-Income Community Homework Center ($1,500)'''

Their goal is to open a homework center for students from low-income families in a poverty stricken town/city such as Lawrence, Massachusetts.

*Arnaldo Rivera - Psychology '15
*Hector Rivera  - Psychology '15

==== Fan Favorite ====

'''Indoor Hydroponic System ($2,500)'''

Their project is a hydroponic garden that is equipped with an environment monitoring system that ensures optimal growing conditions for plants and requires little to no maintenance.

*Rapheeporn Aungaphinant - Business Graduate
*Katherine Cain - Business Graduate
*Tucker Holladay - Business Graduate
*Shu-Wei Hsu - Business Graduate
*Alima Shamuratova - Business Graduate

=== '''DifferenceMaker™ Future Efforts:''' ===

The DifferenceMaker™ Program plans to continue many of the activities and events initiated in the first year of the program.  Some of these programs will be revised and they intend to launch several new initiatives, including a DifferenceMaker™ Passport Program, a DifferenceMaker™ Mentor Program and a seed grant program to encourage faculty participation in the DifferenceMaker™ program. They also plan to expand our collaboration with several University colleges. 

This year they plan to increase the role of DifferenceMaker™ Living Learning Community students in the DifferenceMaker™ program by training the members to become DifferenceMaker™ ambassadors once they transition into their sophomore year  through weekly meetings and monthly events. The training will allow LLC members to learn more about entrepreneurship and the DifferenceMaker™ Program so they can promote it to student clubs and campus classes.  Once the LLC students become sophomores they will transition into a DifferenceMaker™ Ambassador role, and hopefully will form the nucleus of a yet-to-be-formed DifferenceMaker™ student club.  

In order to assist students to both record and encourage their participation in DifferenceMaker™ events, they are planning the development and implementation of a DifferenceMaker™ Passport Program. Consistent with the goals of the UMass Lowell DifferenceMaker™ Program, the Passport Program will assist students to identify, record and collect experiences meant to: 

*Develop individual entrepreneurial identity
*Develop entrepreneurial skills and self-confidence
*Develop creative and sustainable solutions to complex problems
*Connect with the University, E For All and community entrepreneurial ecosystems

They anticipate that the number of students engaged in the DifferenceMaker™ Program and related activities will increase each year. As they encourage and reward the formation of various types of student ventures and projects, the need for mentors who can consult with student teams will increase. They plan to guide these students and track their progress through a professional Mentor Program. The UMass Lowell Mentor Program will provide a committed network of mentors with a broad set of skills and professional experiences, who can assist UMass Lowell entrepreneurs in developing the knowledge and skills, needed to grow an idea into a successful, new venture.

The DM UMass Lowell Mentor Program will seek to connect DifferenceMaker™ students with successful experienced entrepreneurs and alumnus, as well as faculty and staff.  The Mentor Program will focus on assisting students to further develop solutions as part of the DifferenceMaker™ Program. Mentors will provide guidance in further refining student team objectives and help them in building their entrepreneurial skillsets.

They are planning to offer DifferenceMaker™ Faculty Workshops to help faculty consider how they might engage their own students in DifferenceMaker™ activities through course related activities and through co-curricular activities. Our hope is that by engaging more faculty, they in turn will serve as both mentors and catalysts for students, encouraging and guiding student project selection and development. They have also observed that student teams often need support and guidance from faculty from different disciplines, these workshops and an accompanying seed grant program are meant as catalysts to encourage interdisciplinary engagement among faculty,

While the overarching goal of the DifferenceMaker™ program is to encourage UMass Lowell students to develop sustainable and entrepreneurial solutions to the challenges and opportunities they will confront in this world, they anticipate another, potentially significant impact on the University community itself. Our students will only be successful if they have the support of faculty, alumni, business and community members. During our first year of program activities, they have found these constituents to be most supportive and willing to mentor and work with our students.  Alumni are mentoring and investing in student ventures.  Faculty are working across disciplines to ensure their student teams make progress. Local profit and non-profit businesses are eager to work with student teams, providing real-world problems and opportunities for student projects. In one short year, the DifferenceMaker™ program has been embraced by the greater University community. Our hope and plan is to anchor this program in the curriculum and culture of the University, so all UMass Lowell students have an opportunity to make a difference in this world.

  

== '''Commercial Venture and Intellectual Property Office (CVIP):''' ==

Commercial Ventures and Intellectual Property (CVIP) is responsible for the protection and commercialization of intellectual property at UMass Lowell. 

=== '''CVIP Mission''' ===

The mission of UMass Lowell’s Office of Commercial Ventures and Intellectual Property (CVIP) is to facilitate the transfer of technology arising from government, foundation and industrial sponsored university research to the private sector. They facilitate development of inventions toward commercial relevance and utility, nurture mutually beneficial and sustainable relationships between the University and industry, promote an innovative and entrepreneurial culture at the University and contribute to the economic vibrancy and well-being of the Commonwealth. CVIP’s activities enable the successful transfer of commercially viable technology from the laboratory to the marketplace for public use and benefit. 

=== '''CVIP Functions''' ===

The main objectives of CVIP are:

*to license patents and other protections to industry in order to promote the development of inventions toward practical application;
*to foster a culture of innovation, facilitate commercially promising endeavors, and positively contribute to the University’s entrepreneurial ecosystem;
*to seek new business opportunities and form productive collaborations with industry in an effort to increase research and licensing revenue to the University;
*to generate income for inventors and the University as a whole for use in supporting further research, technology development and transfer;
*to advocate for the research community and seek to create incentives, provide rewards and obtain resources to advance commercialization of the technologies they generate.

== New Venture Initiative ==

New Venture Initiative (NVI) is a mix of university resources and equity investment designed to provide a path to and facilitate more start-up activity at UMass Lowell.  As part of the larger Commercial Venture and Intellectual Property Office (CVIP), the NVI fund focuses on inventions, discoveries, products and services that have been developed in whole or in part at UMass Lowell, have achieved proof of concept (or an early prototype) and are ready for commercial product development, rather than those requiring further basic research.  

== '''Massachusetts Medical Device Development Center (M2D2):''' ==

The Massachusetts Medical Device Development Center (M2D2) is a lifeline for the state’s smaller medical device companies, offering inventors and executives easy, affordable, and coordinated access to world-class researchers and resources at the Lowell and Worcester campuses of the University of Massachusetts.

=== '''M2D2 Available Resources''' ===

*9000 square feet of space on second floor including:
**6 wet laboratory suites
**Two office suites
**Large open office collaboration area
**Board room
**Reception area
**Break Room equipped with a table and chairs, full size refrigerator, microwave, sink, dishwasher, and coffee maker
*5000 square feet of space on first floor including:
**Six individual offices 
**Bright shared kitchen space equipped with a table and chairs, full size refrigerator and sink
**One large state of the art conference room with full pull down screen, computer with web access and a projector  
**All conference rooms contain a 46" Aquos LCD screen, as well as computer with web access and a projector
**Business and medical feasibility assessments
**Product development space
**Medical and clinical pathway assistance
**Connection to additional services such as laboratory use, incubator space for start-ups and clinical trial support through the product life cycle
**SBIR and STTR research
**Access to capital
**Networking events
**New Venture Competitions

== '''Entrepreneurship For All''' ==

'E for All' is a project of the Deshpande Foundation, which has encouraged the use of entrepreneurship and innovation as catalysts for sustainable change in the United States, India and Canada since 1996. Deshpande supported centers including the MIT Deshpande Center for Technological Innovation, the Deshpande Center for Social Innovation in Hubli, India, the Pond-Deshpande Centre at the University of New Brunswick, and our own 'E For All'  at the University of Massachusetts Lowell. 'E for All' includes higher education partners (Middlesex Community College, Merrimack College and Northern Essex Community College) and a host of regional community and business partners.

=== '''E for All Mission''' ===

The mission of 'E For All' is to connect and strengthen the ecosystem in Lowell and Lawrence, Massachusetts, around entrepreneurship and leadership. This mission is supported by the following three principle 'E For All' programs:

·       Catalysts-The Catalyst program provides seed funding and mentoring support to foster initiative around new ideas and programs among local high school and college students.

·       Entrepreneurship-The Entrepreneur Program is a community-wide initiative supporting entrepreneurship. More than 30 partner organizations and institutions are participating in this initiative, which gives entrepreneurs a greater chance at success through pitch contests, workshops and intensive programs. 

·       Leadership-The 'E For All' Leadership Institute (SLI) offers leadership development for individuals that live, work or are interested in the communities of Lawrence and Lowell. 

== Other Organizations ==

'''Entrepreneurial Ventures Association''': EVA is an interdisciplinary organization that is open to all majors; they share resources, advice, and interests with other COM and UML clubs to help students turn their entrepreneurial ideas into reality.  

'''Honors Ambassador Program: '''Students participate in the Honors Ambassador Program to gain valuable experience through courses tailored for higher development and to foster relationships with communities and organizations that the program is involved with.

= '''University Entrepreneurship''' =

=== Creative New Academic Programs ===

'''The Manning School of Business'''  The Manning School of Business offers two academic programs focused on entrepreneurship:

*[http://www.uml.edu/MSB/management/Entrepreneurship.aspx Undergraduate - Entrepreneurship Concentration]: Prepares students to be "outside-of-the-box" thinkers and innovators in today's complex global economy.

The '''entrepreneurship concentration''' prepares students to be an "outside of the box" thinker and innovator in today's complex global economy. Using an interdisciplinary focus, students who complete the concentration will:

*Develop the management skills required to identify and launch new business ventures around innovative products, services and technologies. 
*Develop an understanding of the concepts and activities associated with entrepreneurship and innovation. 
*Understand the financial aspects of an entrepreneurial venture from start-up to "harvest". 
*Discover their individual "entrepreneurial spirit" through experiential learning in interdisciplinary classes and the College's Venture Lab.

The required courses within the Entrepreneurship concentration consist of:

#Starting a New Venture 
#Corporate Entrepreneurship 
#Managing Innovation 
#Finance for Emerging Business Enterprises
#Entrepreneurial Strategy & Implementation (Fall '14 not yet required)
#Study Abroad in India (not required, entrepreneurship focused)

[http://www.uml.edu/MSB/Graduate-Programs/MSITE.aspx Graduate - Master of Science in Innovation and Technological Entrepreneurship (MSITE)]: Provides engineers, business majors and scientists with the skills and knowledge required to drive innovation in today's collaborative, global workforce.

[http://www.uml.edu/MSB/Graduate-Programs/MSITEhealthcare.aspx Graduate - Master of Science in Innovation and Technological Entrepreneurship (MSITE) Healthcare Innovation & Entrepreneurship (HI+E) Option]: This option is targeted towards healthcare professionals, such as hospital managers/administrators, clinicians, physicians and other medical professionals who need to understand and manage the impact of emerging technologies and innovations in the healthcare industry. The Program will also benefit recent graduates who wish to enter the healthcare industries as a career choice.

[http://www.uml.edu/MSB/Program-of-study/New-Venture-Creation.aspx Graduate Certificate - New Venture Creation]: This program is focused specifically on the creation of technology-based ventures and is designed to assist professionals with undergraduate and career experience in science, engineering, technology or business fields in better understanding how to develop and launch a technology-based business.

'''College of Sciences, Computer Science Department'''

The Computer Science Department offers an [http://www.uml.edu/Catalog/Graduate/Sciences/Computer-Science/MS-in-Computer-Science-Entrepreneurship-Option.aspx entrepreneurship option] in their master's degree. It is directed at those with a strong undergraduate background in Computer Science who are interested in both deepening their technical knowledge and in understanding the tools required for developing a company directed towards software services and products.

'''College of Engineering, Electrical and Computer Engineering Department, Assistive Technology Program'''

A component of the undergraduate Electrical and Computer Engineering program, senior ECE students complete a [http://atp.caeds.eng.uml.edu/index.html senior capstone project] aimed at designing and producing an assistive technology device for a person with a disability. Engineering students can apply the knowledge they have learned from their courses and help solve problems for disabled people through creating technological advances. 

== Entrepreneurial Capital Projects and Acquisitions ==

=== '''The Mark and Elisia Saab Emerging Technologies and Innovation Center''' ===

This new UMass Lowell 2012-13 construction is a building developed for bringing innovation and industry together. Faculty and student researchers use the resources available in this building to meet industry challenges and improve lives using UMass Lowell technologies and patents. Core facilities for use in fundamental and translational research are available to faculty and students; it contains class 100, 1,000, and 10,000 cleanroom spaces, wet lab and engineering lab space, and a plastics processing high bay. The ETIC is has LEED Gold Certification, and is considered green. The construction of this building also is estimated to supporting at least 130 new jobs.

 

=== '''Health and Social Sciences Building'''  ===

This new building that houses criminal justice and criminology, nursing, and psychology provides classrooms, simulation laboratories, observation facilities, a demonstration hospital wing, and ample meeting space for community projects. The construction of this new building supported more than 800 construction and related jobs, and provided the much needed resources and space for UMass Lowell’s growing social science population.

= '''University-Industry Collaboration''' =

'''Research Activities'''

UMass Lowell places a large focus on professional research, as evidenced by the ample lab space professors have to work with in buildings such as the ETIC. A comprehensive list of all research areas and information about them can be found on the UMass Lowell website. [http://www.uml.edu/Research/Centers/default.aspx http://www.uml.edu/Research/Centers/default.aspx]

==== Center for Industrial Competitiveness ====

For nearly 20 years, UMass Lowell’s Center for Industrial Competitiveness has conducted research on industrial innovation, regional development, corporate governance, financialization, and sustainable prosperity. Resources available stretch all around the world through collaborative networks and relationships, providing ample information and a global understanding on development. Research also includes local industrial development in Massachusetts. 

UMass Lowell has a page dedicated to the CIC researchers and their work, which can be found here: [http://www.uml.edu/centers/cic/Research/Research.html http://www.uml.edu/centers/cic/Research/Research.html]

= '''Regional and Local Economic Development''' =

'''Economic and Social Development of Regions Department:'''

This graduate program focuses on giving an interdisciplinary education that is tailored to fit the needs of the individual. By educating both the private and public sectors of economic and social development, this program aims to create work ready individuals that can bring innovation and change to shifting social and economic environment.

'''Lowell Makes''' 

“A membership‐driven collaborative space equipped with a wide variety of tools, machines, materials, computers and other resources where individuals can gain and practice modern skills with state‐of‐the‐art technology, access to resources they could not otherwise, and a community of creative minded people who make all kinds of things. “Art is the Handmaid of Human Good” is both the City of Lowell’s motto, and a reminder of Lowell’s rich industrial and artistic history as our inspiration.” - [http://www.lowellmakes.com/proposal/ http://www.lowellmakes.com/proposal/]

Lowell makes was founded to be a space where those who do not have access to certain equipment to bring their ideas to life will have that access they need and have the support they need to push their innovation to the next level. It is a space that has resources tailored for budding entrepreneurs, and can be rented out by anyone with a plan. 

'''Mill No.5'''

Mill No.5 is one of the few non-UML entrepreneurial constructs in the Lowell urban environment. Like many mills in Lowell, it has been renovated and repurposed. Being subdivided and updated to proper code, there are rooms available for offices and start-ups looking to have an office space to centralize their resources. 

= '''Conclusion''' =

Entrepreneurship is a strategic objective at the University of Massachusetts Lowell.  During the last five years, UMass Lowell has re-positioned itself with students, faculty, staff, and the community as a true public enterprise committed to taking an entrepreneurial approach to innovation in all aspects of its structure.   A rapidly expanding innovation ecosystem encourages and guides entrepreneurial action, whether academically or commercially, amongst its faculty and student body -- fostering an entrepreneurial approach to economic development through a variety of programs and activities. UMass Lowell will continue to thrive in all aspects of entrepreneurship and innovation.  

= Related Links =

University Innovation Fellows:
[http://universityinnovation.org/wiki/Stephen_Kender Stephen Kender][[Ana Gouveia|Ana Gouveia]][[James Abdallah|James Abdallah]][[KevinMDesjardins|Kevin Desjardins]][[Jacob Hulme|Jacob Hulme]][[UMass Lowell Student Priorities|UMass Lowell Student Priorities]]
[[Category:Universities]]

School:University of Massachusetts Lowell

2015-10-12T19:00:11Z

Ephenstephen:

<div style="float: right; clear: right;">[[File:UMass-Lowell-logo.png]]</div>
The University of Massachusetts Lowell (also known as UMass Lowell or UML) is a [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Public_university public] [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_research_universities_in_the_United_States doctoral/research] university in [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lowell,_Massachusetts Lowell], [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Massachusetts Massachusetts], [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_States United States],and part of the [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/University_of_Massachusetts University of Massachusetts] system. With more than 1,100 faculty members and more than 16,000 students, it is the largest university in the [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Merrimack_Valley Merrimack Valley] and the second-largest public institution in the state behind UMass Amherst. The university offers more than 120 degree choices, internships, bachelor’s to master’s programs and doctoral studies in the College of Fine Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences; College of Health Sciences; College of Sciences; the Francis College of Engineering; the Graduate School of Education; and the Manning School of Business.

= '''Overview - A Campus On The Move''' =

UMass Lowell has been evolving in every aspect; upgraded classrooms, libraries and labs; new and renovated student living and activity spaces; and enhanced parking facilities are a few on the list of what has been updated and changed over the past decade of campus improvement.

*University Crossing
**Officially completed and operating, this new building hosts student services and activities, bookstore, dining, University police, transportation services, and senior administration offices.
*Pulichino Tong Building
**The University’s current construction project, the Tong Building will replace the now-relocated Honor’s Eames Dorm building on UMass Lowell’s North Campus and will house the entirety of the Robert J. Manning School of Business.
*University Suites
**This brand new dorm on UMass Lowell’s East campus provides housing for 472 students in four- and six-bed suites. There is a ground-floor common area with a café - Hawk's Nest - featuring fresh bakery, grab & go items and a late night Asian menu, in addition to delicious Red Mango frozen yogurt & smoothies and "We proudly serve" Starbucks Coffee. A multi-purpose room is open to the UMass Lowell community. Each residential floor has two common kitchen/lounge areas, two quiet study rooms and a group study room.
*Riverview Suites
**The other half of the two-dorm addition to UMass Lowell in 2013, Riverview Suites has either two or three bedroom suites complete with a live-in kitchen, classroom and meeting rooms inside the building, and a gym inside the facility. The University leases the property from Soho Development, who also built the $42 million facility.
*New Garages
**In the past three years, UMass Lowell has added two large parking garages to each of its largest parking lots, greatly increasing the parking capacity for the strong commuter presence attending the school.
*Health and Social Sciences Building
**In 2013, this new criminal justice and criminology, nursing and psychology building had its grand opening. The construction of this building marked the first new construction in 30 years on the University’s South Campus, including all campuses in the University’s recent wave of evolution.

Since 2009, the University has also been heavily updating the existing buildings while acquiring and renovating new ones. UMass Lowell renovated the newly acquired Inn and Conference Center, added Taco Bell and Subway to the University’s dining partners, renovated the newly acquired Tsongas Center, and heavily updated their Dining Hall in the tallest UMass Lowell building, Fox Hall 

== 2015 Innovation Fellows Plans ==

[https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1ZwhfzohFPyuM4Vutiho8ZAuV8Jmq-JxBJ2vNaGZe-kY/edit?usp=sharing Landscape Canvas]

[https://docs.google.com/presentation/d/1o3F2IN8YoWKMk83r0SoAfr5NH_qUw7RFa2ZxjslksQM/edit?usp=sharing Lean Startup Presentation]

= '''Student Entrepreneurship''' =

==== '''NonSpec ''' ====

[http://www.nonspec.org/ NonSpec] participated in the 2013 first annual DifferenceMaker™ Idea Challenge where they showed dedication and enthusiasm by attending each educational workshop and event throughout the process which aided in their success.  At the Idea Challenge they received the prestigious title of “Campus Wide DifferenceMaker™” and the top award of $5,000. This prize represents the project most likely to make a significant difference in the community, region and the world.

The $5,000 award has allowed Nonspec to move their initiative forward by creating their first batch of prosthetic limbs. With a projected 15% market share in the next five years, Nonspec plans to use this market presence to launch a foundation called “Give a Hand”. The purpose of this foundation would be to spread their mission, goals, charitable cause, and products around the world in order to make a difference in developing nations.

Since Nonspec’s success at the Idea Challenge they have gained great publicity in other arenas.  They were recently named one of the top 10 semi-finalists in Entrepreneur® Magazine’s “College Entrepreneur of 2013 Contest”.  In addition, they were invited to attend [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ppnzNSnxi-g IAPD Plastics Application Design Competition], which was held on October 2, 2013 in Miami, Florida.  Lastly, the team was utilized as a role model by being featured in a [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aLwLg4XHrck video] that was shown at all DifferenceMaker™ freshman orientation sessions throughout the summer due to their motivation and high entrepreneurial spirits.

= Departments and Programs =

== '''Center for Innovation and Entrepreneurship''' ==

The Center for Innovation and Entrepreneurship offers students and faculty of all disciplines the opportunity to work together to develop innovative and entrepreneurial solutions to the major problems facing our community, the region and the world. The Center hosts several programs that encourage social innovation and entrepreneurship among UMass Lowell students as well as the broader community in which we live. The DifferenceMaker program provides training, mentoring and other resources to UMass Lowell students and faculty who wish to address social, environmental and economic problems in our community.

== '''DifferenceMaker™''' ==

The DifferenceMaker™ Program sponsors specific events and activities that support students in solving big problems through innovation and entrepreneurship. The Program is highly experiential by offering students a series of workshops that they can engage in to better understand innovation, entrepreneurship and launching a start-up of their interest.

Students of all majors and disciplines are welcome to join this Program and make a difference at UMass Lowell, in the community or in the world through innovative and entrepreneurial action.

=== Goals of DifferenceMaker™ ===

*Introduce all UMass students to creative problem solving, innovation and entrepreneurship
*Accelerate purpose in each students education
*Connect current students to alumni experience
*Encourage a social responsibility ethos

=== DifferenceMaker™ Available Activities ===

*'''DifferenceMaker™ Enterprise Co-op'''
**Throughout each year, DifferenceMaker™ will hire several students from various majors to participate in paid co-op experiences. Student co-ops assist in conducting and summarizing entrepreneurial research, developing and distributing marketing materials for various center initiatives, and provide center support for faculty and innovation fellows affiliate with the center. 
*'''Freshman Make A Difference Orientation'''
**During the summer sessions, DifferenceMaker™ has a large presence in the Freshman Orientation days. Through the Office of Orientation, Student Activities and Leadership, and ResLife, DifferenceMaker™ was able to present to every attending freshman and gain exposure to all of the new students at UMass Lowell.
*'''Freshman DifferenceMaker™ Convocation'''
**At the beginning of each academic year, we present DifferenceMaker™ to every incoming freshman at Convocation. Each year we perform a fun activity to engage students in our program.
*'''Introduction to DifferenceMaker™'''
**Freshman Seminars-A series of in-class discussions in collaboration with the Manning School of Business, The Francis College of Engineering, The College of Fine Arts, Humanities, and Social Sciences, and The College of Health Sciences in order to introduce the DifferenceMaker™ Program to students of all disciplines and to inspire them to explore their passions through creative problem solving.
*'''Introduction to the DifferenceMaker™ Program'''
**A series of events were held on both the north and south campuses to introduce students to DifferenceMaker™ Program concepts, allow them to share their ideas and interests, explore possible projects and solution, and to connected with each other to form teams. These events included the DifferenceMaker™ Convocation Pitch, the Climate Change Teach-in, a DifferenceMaker™ Team Building Dinner, and others.
*'''DifferenceMaker™ LLC'''
**Having a presence in the student residence halls as well as the classroom is important to motivate students and discover new ideas waiting to happen. The DifferenceMaker™ Living/Learning Community brings new students together in the ResLife environment for innovation and brainstorming outside of the classroom.
*'''Honors DifferenceMaker™ Program'''
**In collaboration with UMass Lowell Honors Program, this concerted effort to embed elements of social entrepreneurship in our Honors Program includes coursework and community-based student efforts that have specific focus on innovation and entrepreneurial practices.
*'''Introduction to Engineering Extra Credit Project'''
**This activity was a collaboration effort between the DifferenceMaker™ Program and The Francis College of Engineering to introduce freshman engineering majors to the DifferenceMaker™ Program, innovation, and entrepreneurship. In this introductory activity, the students’ innovative ideas were explored and presented in a format which would enable their projects to be candidates for both the DifferenceMaker™ Program Idea Challenge and Campus Catalyst program.
*'''Creative Venture Competition'''
**This contest held in October of 2013 hosted by DifferenceMaker™ focused on innovation from Arts, Humanities, and Social Science students. $2500 was awarded to the best entrepreneurial business a proposal, and $250 to each finalist team was also awarded.
*'''Digital Federal Credit Union Innovation Contest''' 
**In November of 2013, DifferenceMaker™ along with DCU hosted an Innovation Contest focusing on banking and financial innovation in the industry. With a grand prize of $500 per team member and peripheral prizes of $100 per team member, the contest gave thousands to innovative teams and cutting edge ideas.
*'''DifferenceMaker™ Reverse Pitch'''
**This pitch event was debuted on November 19, 2013. This event was a spin-off of “normal” idea challenges and hackathons. Instead of students pitching their ideas to funding sources or judges, businesses and community partners actually pitched their existing problems to a student audience in the hopes that they can develop a solution.
*'''DifferenceMaker™ Idea Challenge'''
**''''''DifferenceMaker™ is hosting its fourth annual Idea Challenge; this challenge is for student entrepreneurial teams to come up with sustainable ideas that will make some sort of impact on the world or their community. Help in the form of various workshops in the months leading up to the Idea Challenge is available, teaching students how to properly pitch their ideas and how to flesh out their business plans. There are various subcategories for each team to have a chance at winning spread out across over many different disciplines, encouraging all students to participate and welcoming all ideas.
*'''DifferenceMaker™ Workshops'''
**Team Building Mixer
**Identifying Problems and Opportunities
**Developing Solutions
**Identifying Resources
**Rocket Pitch Coaching
*'''Campus Catalyst Program'''
**''''''The DifferenceMaker™ Program works closely with 'E For All', a community business accelerator funded by the Deshpande Foundation, in order to encourage students to generate and develop their entrepreneurial ideas. The Sandbox Campus Catalyst program provided seed funding for student social and business solutions with potential. 

=== '''DifferenceMaker™ Program Available Resources''' ===

*DifferenceMaker™ Central
**Large open office collaboration space equipped with Wi-Fi, 3 Mac computers, printer/copier, 2 46” LCD TV monitors with projection capabilities, 6 white boards, 10 tables with chairs all equipped with wheels that can be easily rearranged for optimal use and collaboration, refrigerator, sink, cabinet space, coffee maker and other necessary office supplies.
*Hawk  Hatch
**Philanthropic Crowd Funding Source
*Grants
*Networking
**Mentors
**Faculty Fellows and DifferenceMaker™ Staff
*Events
**Series of Educational Entrepreneurial Workshops including materials
**Problem, Opportunity, Solution, Resources, Pitch Coaching
**Team Building Assistance
**TeamMaker Platform, Team Building Mixer

Through the Center for Innovation & Entrepreneurship, along with affiliated faculty and other campus programs, the University has introduced a range of activities that help students make a difference in the world.

=== '''DifferenceMaker™ Inaugural Year Statistics''' ===

*72 DifferenceMaker™ events held in inaugural year
*3,500  students who participates in a DifferenceMaker™ event this past year
*$25,000  of funds awarded to 10 IdeaChallenge finalist teams
*1,265  freshman participating in summer rapid ideation workshops
*112  students who participated in the First Annual IdeaChallenge
*22  cross discipline relationships notes between students among IdeaChallenge teams
*24  academic disciplines represented by students in the IdeaChallenge teams

=== '''2015 DifferenceMaker™ Idea Challenge Finalists''' ===

==== Campus-Wide DifferenceMaker ====

'''Hydraulic Walker ($5,000)'''

They have designed and built a walker that utilizes hydraulics, allowing for the legs of the walker to be quickly adjusted, so that it can be used on stairs.

*Ryan Andrews - Physical Therapy Graduate
*Peter Klausmeyer - Physical Therapy Graduate

==== Significant Social Impact ====

'''1st Place - ''''''Love of the Game ($4,000)'''

Love of the Game is a community outreach program aiming to integrate universities and people with physical and cognitive disabilities through sports.

*Jessica Dion - Exercise Physiology '16
*Dylan Doucette - Exercise Physiology '16
*Lucas Parsons - Exercise Physiology '16
*Rachel Silk - Business Marketing '16
*Daniel Schmith - Business Entrepreneurship '18
*Jennie Pisarik - Exercise Physiology '16

'''2nd Place - Buddies Without Borders ($2,500)'''

Buddies without Borders aims to bridge the gap between domestic students and international students starting with an in-person pair up then followed by a comprehensive website that allows members to define their profiles and micro-blog by text, photo, and video sharing.

*Tugba Arsava - Community Social Psychology Graduate
*Burhan Colak - Civil Engineering Graduate
*Katherine Cox - Psychology '18
*Madeline Ormazza - Business '17
*Shashank Raghuveer - Computer Science Graduate
*Fang Zhang - Chemistry Graduate

==== Contribution to a Healthier Lifestyle ====

'''1st Place - Playable Therapy ($4,000)'''

This project's goal is to create a platform of exercises and games that, with the Microsoft Kinect, will allow for motion tracking of a physical therapy (PT) patient during their exercise routine at home.

*Suhaib Alfageeh - Computer Science '16
*Lucas Brown - English and Math '16
*Chelsea Hayes - Business '16
*Damir Ismagilove - Math '16
*Anthony Pitaro - Exercise Physiology '15
*Mark Mcgrotty - Computer Science '16

'''2nd Place - Solar Electric Vehicles ($2,500)'''

This team is designing a series of low speed and high efficiency commuter vehicles that utilize hub motor technology to allow people to travel using purely the energy of the sun.

*Suhaib Alfageeh - Computer Science '16
*Chukwuma Azubuine - Entrepreneurship Graduate
*Richard Asirifi - Electrical Engineering '16
*Anas Dahany - Electrical Engineering '15
*David Jenkins - Mechanical Engineering '15
*Oliver Kayego - Electrical Engineering '17
*Chris Leger - Electrical Engineering '15
*Jared Mrvos - Computer Engineering '17
*Charles Reid - Mechanical Engineering '15
*Kenneth Sanders - Computer Science '18
*Mukhammaddin Zinaddinov - Electrical Engineering '18

==== Innovative Technology Solution ====

'''1st Place - Masela Dentures ($4,000)'''

Their project aims to develop a fully 3D printable denture system as an alternative solution to expensive dentures manufactured using traditional casting and milling methods.

*Cormac Hondros-McCarthy - Plastics Engineering '15
*Casey McRae - Plastics Engineering '15

'''2nd Place - ''''''KEnDERS Athletic Body Armor (''''''$2,500)'''

They created a novel and revolutionary sports equipment construction centered around an innovative shear-thickening material

*Elizabeth Kender - Plastics Engineering '16
*Laura Kender - Plastics Engineering '16
*Stephen Kender - Plastics Engineering '18

==== First to Market ====

'''1st Place - Mayday ($4,000)'''

This project aims to develop a wearable device connected via Bluetooth technology to a mobile phone, that, when activated, sends emergency alert signals to a list of emergency contacts.

*Cibhi SelVan-  Business Graduate
*Alessandro Agnello-  Computer Science PhD

'''2nd Place - ''''''Word Builder (''''''$2,500)'''

Word Builder is an interactive toy designed to help children build the foundations of reading at an early age.

*Sergio Coronado - Computer Engineering '16
*Ian Copithorne - Computer Engineering '16

==== Honorable Mention ====

'''Low-Income Community Homework Center ($1,500)'''

Their goal is to open a homework center for students from low-income families in a poverty stricken town/city such as Lawrence, Massachusetts.

*Arnaldo Rivera - Psychology '15
*Hector Rivera  - Psychology '15

==== Fan Favorite ====

'''Indoor Hydroponic System ($2,500)'''

Their project is a hydroponic garden that is equipped with an environment monitoring system that ensures optimal growing conditions for plants and requires little to no maintenance.

*Rapheeporn Aungaphinant - Business Graduate
*Katherine Cain - Business Graduate
*Tucker Holladay - Business Graduate
*Shu-Wei Hsu - Business Graduate
*Alima Shamuratova - Business Graduate

'''DifferenceMaker™ Future Efforts:'''

The DifferenceMaker™ Program plans to continue many of the activities and events initiated in the first year of the program.  Some of these programs will be revised and they intend to launch several new initiatives, including a DifferenceMaker™ Passport Program, a DifferenceMaker™ Mentor Program and a seed grant program to encourage faculty participation in the DifferenceMaker™ program. They also plan to expand our collaboration with several University colleges. 

This year they plan to increase the role of DifferenceMaker™ Living Learning Community students in the DifferenceMaker™ program by training the members to become DifferenceMaker™ ambassadors once they transition into their sophomore year  through weekly meetings and monthly events. The training will allow LLC members to learn more about entrepreneurship and the DifferenceMaker™ Program so they can promote it to student clubs and campus classes.  Once the LLC students become sophomores they will transition into a DifferenceMaker™ Ambassador role, and hopefully will form the nucleus of a yet-to-be-formed DifferenceMaker™ student club.  

In order to assist students to both record and encourage their participation in DifferenceMaker™ events, they are planning the development and implementation of a DifferenceMaker™ Passport Program. Consistent with the goals of the UMass Lowell DifferenceMaker™ Program, the Passport Program will assist students to identify, record and collect experiences meant to: 

·      Develop individual entrepreneurial identity

·      Develop entrepreneurial skills and self-confidence

·      Develop creative and sustainable solutions to complex problems

·      Connect with the University, E For All and community entrepreneurial ecosystems

They anticipate that the number of students engaged in the DifferenceMaker™ Program and related activities will increase each year. As they encourage and reward the formation of various types of student ventures and projects, the need for mentors who can consult with student teams will increase. They plan to guide these students and track their progress through a professional Mentor Program. The UMass Lowell Mentor Program will provide a committed network of mentors with a broad set of skills and professional experiences, who can assist UMass Lowell entrepreneurs in developing the knowledge and skills, needed to grow an idea into a successful, new venture.

The DM UMass Lowell Mentor Program will seek to connect DifferenceMaker™ students with successful experienced entrepreneurs and alumnus, as well as faculty and staff.  The Mentor Program will focus on assisting students to further develop solutions as part of the DifferenceMaker™ Program. Mentors will provide guidance in further refining student team objectives and help them in building their entrepreneurial skillsets.

They are planning to offer DifferenceMaker™ Faculty Workshops to help faculty consider how they might engage their own students in DifferenceMaker™ activities through course related activities and through co-curricular activities. Our hope is that by engaging more faculty, they in turn will serve as both mentors and catalysts for students, encouraging and guiding student project selection and development. They have also observed that student teams often need support and guidance from faculty from different disciplines, these workshops and an accompanying seed grant program are meant as catalysts to encourage interdisciplinary engagement among faculty,

While the overarching goal of the DifferenceMaker™ program is to encourage UMass Lowell students to develop sustainable and entrepreneurial solutions to the challenges and opportunities they will confront in this world, they anticipate another, potentially significant impact on the University community itself. Our students will only be successful if they have the support of faculty, alumni, business and community members. During our first year of program activities, they have found these constituents to be most supportive and willing to mentor and work with our students.  Alumni are mentoring and investing in student ventures.  Faculty are working across disciplines to ensure their student teams make progress. Local profit and non-profit businesses are eager to work with student teams, providing real-world problems and opportunities for student projects. In one short year, the DifferenceMaker™ program has been embraced by the greater University community. Our hope and plan is to anchor this program in the curriculum and culture of the University, so all UMass Lowell students have an opportunity to make a difference in this world.

 

'''DifferenceMaker™ Contact:'''

[mailto:differencemaker@uml.edu differencemaker@uml.edu]

'''facebook.com/differenceUML'''

'''twitter: @difference_UML'''

 

=== '''Commercial Venture and Intellectual Property Office (CVIP):''' ===

Commercial Ventures and Intellectual Property (CVIP) is responsible for the protection and commercialization of intellectual property at UMass Lowell. 

 

'''CVIP Mission: ''' 

The mission of UMass Lowell’s Office of Commercial Ventures and Intellectual Property (CVIP) is to facilitate the transfer of technology arising from government, foundation and industrial sponsored university research to the private sector. They facilitate development of inventions toward commercial relevance and utility, nurture mutually beneficial and sustainable relationships between the University and industry, promote an innovative and entrepreneurial culture at the University and contribute to the economic vibrancy and well-being of the Commonwealth. CVIP’s activities enable the successful transfer of commercially viable technology from the laboratory to the marketplace for public use and benefit. 

'''CVIP Functions:'''

  The main objectives of CVIP are:

·       to license patents and other protections to industry in order to promote the development of inventions toward practical application;

·       to foster a culture of innovation, facilitate commercially promising endeavors, and positively contribute to the University’s entrepreneurial ecosystem;

·       to seek new business opportunities and form productive collaborations with industry in an effort to increase research and licensing revenue to the University;

·       to generate income for inventors and the University as a whole for use in supporting further research, technology development and transfer;

·       to advocate for the research community and seek to create incentives, provide rewards and obtain resources to advance commercialization of the technologies they generate.

 

'''CVIP--Contact:'''

*[mailto:Jill_Murthi@uml.edu Jill S. Murthi], Director of CVIP by email: [mailto:Jill_Murthi@uml.edu Jill_Murthi@uml.edu] or phone: 978-934-4722
*[mailto:Rajnish_Kaushik@uml.edu Rajnish Kaushik], Licensing & Business Development Manager of CVIP by email: [mailto:Rajnish_Kaushik@uml.edu Rajnish_Kaushik@uml.edu] or phone: 978-934-4708

=== New Venture Initiative: ===

New Venture Initiative (NVI) is a mix of university resources and equity investment designed to provide a path to and facilitate more start-up activity at UMass Lowell.  As part of the larger Commercial Venture and Intellectual Property Office (CVIP), the NVI fund focuses on inventions, discoveries, products and services that have been developed in whole or in part at UMass Lowell, have achieved proof of concept (or an early prototype) and are ready for commercial product development, rather than those requiring further basic research.  For more information please contact [mailto:Nancy_Saucier@uml.edu Nancy Saucier], Director of New Venture Development.

 

=== '''Massachusetts Medical Device Development Center (M2D2):''' ===

The Massachusetts Medical Device Development Center (M2D2) is a lifeline for the state’s smaller medical device companies, offering inventors and executives easy, affordable, and coordinated access to world-class researchers and resources at the Lowell and Worcester campuses of the University of Massachusetts.

'''M2D2 Available Resources:'''

*9000 square feet of space on second floor including:
**6 wet laboratory suites
**Two office suites
**Large open office collaboration area
**Board room
**Reception area
**Break Room equipped with a table and chairs, full size refrigerator, microwave, sink, dishwasher, and coffee maker
*5000 square feet of space on first floor including:
**Six individual offices 
**Bright shared kitchen space equipped with a table and chairs, full size refrigerator and sink
**One large state of the art conference room with full pull down screen, computer with web access and a projector  
**All conference rooms contain a 46" Aquos LCD screen, as well as computer with web access and a projector
**Business and medical feasibility assessments
**Product development space
**Medical and clinical pathway assistance
**Connection to additional services such as laboratory use, incubator space for start-ups and clinical trial support through the product life cycle
**SBIR and STTR research
**Access to capital
**Networking events
**New Venture Competitions

 

'''M2D2--Contact'''

[mailto:Stephen_McCarthy@uml.edu Stephen McCarthy], Co-Director of M2D2

 

=== '''E For All (Formerly Merrimack Valley Sandbox)''' ===

'E for All' is a project of the Deshpande Foundation, which has encouraged the use of entrepreneurship and innovation as catalysts for sustainable change in the United States, India and Canada since 1996. Deshpande supported centers including the MIT Deshpande Center for Technological Innovation, the Deshpande Center for Social Innovation in Hubli, India, the Pond-Deshpande Centre at the University of New Brunswick, and our own 'E For All'  at the University of Massachusetts Lowell. 'E for All' includes higher education partners (Middlesex Community College, Merrimack College and Northern Essex Community College) and a host of regional community and business partners.

'''E for All Mission'''

The mission of 'E For All' is to connect and strengthen the ecosystem in Lowell and Lawrence, Massachusetts, around entrepreneurship and leadership. This mission is supported by the following three principle 'E For All' programs:

·       Catalysts-The Catalyst program provides seed funding and mentoring support to foster initiative around new ideas and programs among local high school and college students.

·       Entrepreneurship-The Entrepreneur Program is a community-wide initiative supporting entrepreneurship. More than 30 partner organizations and institutions are participating in this initiative, which gives entrepreneurs a greater chance at success through pitch contests, workshops and intensive programs. 

·       Leadership-The 'E For All' Leadership Institute (SLI) offers leadership development for individuals that live, work or are interested in the communities of Lawrence and Lowell. 

'''Learn more''': [http://www.uml.edu/Innovation-Entrepreneurship/MV-Sandbox.aspx http://www.uml.edu/Innovation-Entrepreneurship/MV-Sandbox.aspx]

=== Other Organizations ===

'''Entrepreneurial Ventures Association''': EVA is an interdisciplinary organization that is open to all majors; they share resources, advice, and interests with other COM and UML clubs to help students turn their entrepreneurial ideas into reality.  [https://umasslowellclubs.collegiatelink.net/organization/entrepreneurial-ventures-association/about https://umasslowellclubs.collegiatelink.net/organization/entrepreneurial-ventures-association/about]

'''Honors Ambassador Program: '''Students participate in the Honors Ambassador Program to gain valuable experience through courses tailored for higher development and to foster relationships with communities and organizations that the program is involved with. [http://www.umlhonors.com/ http://www.umlhonors.com/]

UMass Lowell hosts over 140 different clubs and communities, most of which are geared towards equipping students to become leaders and innovators in society. A full list full of information can be found here: [https://umasslowellclubs.collegiatelink.net/Organizations https://umasslowellclubs.collegiatelink.net/Organizations]

= '''University Entrepreneurship''' =

=== Creative New Academic Programs ===

'''The Manning School of Business'''  The Manning School of Business offers two academic programs focused on entrepreneurship:

*[http://www.uml.edu/MSB/management/Entrepreneurship.aspx Undergraduate - Entrepreneurship Concentration]: Prepares students to be "outside-of-the-box" thinkers and innovators in today's complex global economy.

The '''entrepreneurship concentration''' prepares students to be an "outside of the box" thinker and innovator in today's complex global economy. Using an interdisciplinary focus, students who complete the concentration will:

*Develop the management skills required to identify and launch new business ventures around innovative products, services and technologies. 
*Develop an understanding of the concepts and activities associated with entrepreneurship and innovation. 
*Understand the financial aspects of an entrepreneurial venture from start-up to "harvest". 
*Discover their individual "entrepreneurial spirit" through experiential learning in interdisciplinary classes and the College's Venture Lab.

The required courses within the Entrepreneurship concentration consist of:

#Starting a New Venture 
#Corporate Entrepreneurship 
#Managing Innovation 
#Finance for Emerging Business Enterprises
#Entrepreneurial Strategy & Implementation (Fall '14 not yet required)
#Study Abroad in India (not required, entrepreneurship focused)

[http://www.uml.edu/MSB/Graduate-Programs/MSITE.aspx Graduate - Master of Science in Innovation and Technological Entrepreneurship (MSITE)]: Provides engineers, business majors and scientists with the skills and knowledge required to drive innovation in today's collaborative, global workforce.

[http://www.uml.edu/MSB/Graduate-Programs/MSITEhealthcare.aspx Graduate - Master of Science in Innovation and Technological Entrepreneurship (MSITE) Healthcare Innovation & Entrepreneurship (HI+E) Option]: This option is targeted towards healthcare professionals, such as hospital managers/administrators, clinicians, physicians and other medical professionals who need to understand and manage the impact of emerging technologies and innovations in the healthcare industry. The Program will also benefit recent graduates who wish to enter the healthcare industries as a career choice.

[http://www.uml.edu/MSB/Program-of-study/New-Venture-Creation.aspx Graduate Certificate - New Venture Creation]: This program is focused specifically on the creation of technology-based ventures and is designed to assist professionals with undergraduate and career experience in science, engineering, technology or business fields in better understanding how to develop and launch a technology-based business.

'''College of Sciences, Computer Science Department'''

The Computer Science Department offers an [http://www.uml.edu/Catalog/Graduate/Sciences/Computer-Science/MS-in-Computer-Science-Entrepreneurship-Option.aspx entrepreneurship option] in their master's degree. It is directed at those with a strong undergraduate background in Computer Science who are interested in both deepening their technical knowledge and in understanding the tools required for developing a company directed towards software services and products.

'''College of Engineering, Electrical and Computer Engineering Department, Assistive Technology Program'''

A component of the undergraduate Electrical and Computer Engineering program, senior ECE students complete a [http://atp.caeds.eng.uml.edu/index.html senior capstone project] aimed at designing and producing an assistive technology device for a person with a disability. Engineering students can apply the knowledge they have learned from their courses and help solve problems for disabled people through creating technological advances. 

== Entrepreneurial Capital Projects and Acquisitions ==

=== '''The Mark and Elisia Saab Emerging Technologies and Innovation Center''' ===

This new UMass Lowell 2012-13 construction is a building developed for bringing innovation and industry together. Faculty and student researchers use the resources available in this building to meet industry challenges and improve lives using UMass Lowell technologies and patents. Core facilities for use in fundamental and translational research are available to faculty and students; it contains class 100, 1,000, and 10,000 cleanroom spaces, wet lab and engineering lab space, and a plastics processing high bay. The ETIC is has LEED Gold Certification, and is considered green. The construction of this building also is estimated to supporting at least 130 new jobs.

 

=== '''Health and Social Sciences Building'''  ===

This new building that houses criminal justice and criminology, nursing, and psychology provides classrooms, simulation laboratories, observation facilities, a demonstration hospital wing, and ample meeting space for community projects. The construction of this new building supported more than 800 construction and related jobs, and provided the much needed resources and space for UMass Lowell’s growing social science population.

= '''University-Industry Collaboration''' =

'''Research Activities'''

UMass Lowell places a large focus on professional research, as evidenced by the ample lab space professors have to work with in buildings such as the ETIC. A comprehensive list of all research areas and information about them can be found on the UMass Lowell website. [http://www.uml.edu/Research/Centers/default.aspx http://www.uml.edu/Research/Centers/default.aspx]

==== Center for Industrial Competitiveness ====

For nearly 20 years, UMass Lowell’s Center for Industrial Competitiveness has conducted research on industrial innovation, regional development, corporate governance, financialization, and sustainable prosperity. Resources available stretch all around the world through collaborative networks and relationships, providing ample information and a global understanding on development. Research also includes local industrial development in Massachusetts. 

UMass Lowell has a page dedicated to the CIC researchers and their work, which can be found here: [http://www.uml.edu/centers/cic/Research/Research.html http://www.uml.edu/centers/cic/Research/Research.html]

= '''Regional and Local Economic Development''' =

'''Economic and Social Development of Regions Department:'''

This graduate program focuses on giving an interdisciplinary education that is tailored to fit the needs of the individual. By educating both the private and public sectors of economic and social development, this program aims to create work ready individuals that can bring innovation and change to shifting social and economic environment.

'''Lowell Makes''' 

“A membership‐driven collaborative space equipped with a wide variety of tools, machines, materials, computers and other resources where individuals can gain and practice modern skills with state‐of‐the‐art technology, access to resources they could not otherwise, and a community of creative minded people who make all kinds of things. “Art is the Handmaid of Human Good” is both the City of Lowell’s motto, and a reminder of Lowell’s rich industrial and artistic history as our inspiration.” - [http://www.lowellmakes.com/proposal/ http://www.lowellmakes.com/proposal/]

Lowell makes was founded to be a space where those who do not have access to certain equipment to bring their ideas to life will have that access they need and have the support they need to push their innovation to the next level. It is a space that has resources tailored for budding entrepreneurs, and can be rented out by anyone with a plan. 

'''Mill No.5'''

Mill No.5 is one of the few non-UML entrepreneurial constructs in the Lowell urban environment. Like many mills in Lowell, it has been renovated and repurposed. Being subdivided and updated to proper code, there are rooms available for offices and start-ups looking to have an office space to centralize their resources. 

= '''Conclusion''' =

Entrepreneurship is a strategic objective at the University of Massachusetts Lowell.  During the last five years, UMass Lowell has re-positioned itself with students, faculty, staff, and the community as a true public enterprise committed to taking an entrepreneurial approach to innovation in all aspects of its structure.   A rapidly expanding innovation ecosystem encourages and guides entrepreneurial action, whether academically or commercially, amongst its faculty and student body -- fostering an entrepreneurial approach to economic development through a variety of programs and activities. UMass Lowell will continue to thrive in all aspects of entrepreneurship and innovation.  

= Related Links =

University Innovation Fellows:
[http://universityinnovation.org/wiki/Stephen_Kender Stephen Kender][[Ana Gouveia|Ana Gouveia]][[James Abdallah|James Abdallah]][[KevinMDesjardins|Kevin Desjardins]][[Jacob Hulme|Jacob Hulme]][[UMass Lowell Student Priorities|UMass Lowell Student Priorities]]
[[Category:Universities]]

School:University of Massachusetts Lowell

2015-10-12T18:42:37Z

Ephenstephen:

School:University of Massachusetts Lowell

2015-10-12T18:36:17Z

Ephenstephen:

<div style="float: right; clear: right;">[[File:UMass-Lowell-logo.png]]</div>
The University of Massachusetts Lowell (also known as UMass Lowell or UML) is a [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Public_university public] [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_research_universities_in_the_United_States doctoral/research] university in [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lowell,_Massachusetts Lowell], [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Massachusetts Massachusetts], [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_States United States],and part of the [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/University_of_Massachusetts University of Massachusetts] system. With more than 1,100 faculty members and more than 16,000 students, it is the largest university in the [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Merrimack_Valley Merrimack Valley] and the second-largest public institution in the state behind UMass Amherst. The university offers more than 120 degree choices, internships, bachelor’s to master’s programs and doctoral studies in the College of Fine Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences; College of Health Sciences; College of Sciences; the Francis College of Engineering; the Graduate School of Education; and the Manning School of Business.

= '''Overview - A Campus On The Move''' =

UMass Lowell has been evolving in every aspect; upgraded classrooms, libraries and labs; new and renovated student living and activity spaces; and enhanced parking facilities are a few on the list of what has been updated and changed over the past decade of campus improvement.

*University Crossing: Officially completed and operating, this new building hosts student services and activities, bookstore, dining, University police, transportation services, and senior administration offices.
*Pulichino Tong Building: The University’s current construction project, the Tong Building will replace the now-relocated Honor’s Eames Dorm building on UMass Lowell’s North Campus and will house the entirety of the Robert J. Manning School of Business.
*University Suites: This brand new dorm on UMass Lowell’s East campus provides housing for 472 students in four- and six-bed suites. There is a ground-floor common area with a café - Hawk's Nest - featuring fresh bakery, grab & go items and a late night Asian menu, in addition to delicious Red Mango frozen yogurt & smoothies and "We proudly serve" Starbucks Coffee. A multi-purpose room is open to the UMass Lowell community. Each residential floor has two common kitchen/lounge areas, two quiet study rooms and a group study room.
*Riverview Suites: The other half of the two-dorm addition to UMass Lowell in 2013, Riverview Suites has either two or three bedroom suites complete with a live-in kitchen, classroom and meeting rooms inside the building, and a gym inside the facility. The University leases the property from Soho Development, who also built the $42 million facility.
*New Garages: In the past three years, UMass Lowell has added two large parking garages to each of its largest parking lots, greatly increasing the parking capacity for the strong commuter presence attending the school.
*Health and Social Sciences Building: In 2013, this new criminal justice and criminology, nursing and psychology building had its grand opening. The construction of this building marked the first new construction in 30 years on the University’s South Campus, including all campuses in the University’s recent wave of evolution.

Since 2009, the University has also been heavily updating the existing buildings while acquiring and renovating new ones. UMass Lowell renovated the newly acquired Inn and Conference Center, added Taco Bell and Subway to the University’s dining partners, renovated the newly acquired Tsongas Center, and heavily updated their Dining Hall in the tallest UMass Lowell building, Fox Hall 

== 2015 Innovation Fellows Plans ==

[https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1ZwhfzohFPyuM4Vutiho8ZAuV8Jmq-JxBJ2vNaGZe-kY/edit?usp=sharing Landscape Canvas]

[https://docs.google.com/presentation/d/1o3F2IN8YoWKMk83r0SoAfr5NH_qUw7RFa2ZxjslksQM/edit?usp=sharing Lean Startup Presentation]

= '''Student Entrepreneurship''' =

==== '''NonSpec ''' ====

[http://www.nonspec.org/ NonSpec] participated in the 2013 first annual DifferenceMaker™ Idea Challenge where they showed dedication and enthusiasm by attending each educational workshop and event throughout the process which aided in their success.  At the Idea Challenge they received the prestigious title of “Campus Wide DifferenceMaker™” and the top award of $5,000. This prize represents the project most likely to make a significant difference in the community, region and the world.

The $5,000 award has allowed Nonspec to move their initiative forward by creating their first batch of prosthetic limbs. With a projected 15% market share in the next five years, Nonspec plans to use this market presence to launch a foundation called “Give a Hand”. The purpose of this foundation would be to spread their mission, goals, charitable cause, and products around the world in order to make a difference in developing nations.

Since Nonspec’s success at the Idea Challenge they have gained great publicity in other arenas.  They were recently named one of the top 10 semi-finalists in Entrepreneur® Magazine’s “College Entrepreneur of 2013 Contest”.  In addition, they were invited to attend [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ppnzNSnxi-g IAPD Plastics Application Design Competition], which was held on October 2, 2013 in Miami, Florida.  Lastly, the team was utilized as a role model by being featured in a [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aLwLg4XHrck video] that was shown at all DifferenceMaker™ freshman orientation sessions throughout the summer due to their motivation and high entrepreneurial spirits.

=== ===

= DEPARTMENTS AND PROGRAMS =

== '''Center for Innovation and Entrepreneurship''' ==

The Center for Innovation and Entrepreneurship offers students and faculty of all disciplines the opportunity to work together to develop innovative and entrepreneurial solutions to the major problems facing our community, the region and the world. The Center hosts several programs that encourage social innovation and entrepreneurship among UMass Lowell students as well as the broader community in which we live. The DifferenceMaker program provides training, mentoring and other resources to UMass Lowell students and faculty who wish to address social, environmental and economic problems in our community.

== '''DifferenceMaker™''' ==

The DifferenceMaker™ Program sponsors specific events and activities that support students in solving big problems through innovation and entrepreneurship. The Program is highly experiential by offering students a series of workshops that they can engage in to better understand innovation, entrepreneurship and launching a start-up of their interest.

Students of all majors and disciplines are welcome to join this Program and make a difference at UMass Lowell, in the community or in the world through innovative and entrepreneurial action.

=== Goals of DifferenceMaker™ ===

·         Introduce all UMass students to creative problem solving, innovation and entrepreneurship

·         Accelerate purpose in each students education

·         Connect current students to alumni experience

·         Encourage a social responsibility ethos

 

=== DifferenceMaker™ Available Activities ===

*'''DifferenceMaker™ Central'''
**DifferenceMaker™ Central was opened in May 2013.  This space is a dedicated entrepreneurial area with a vibrant start-up community atmosphere.  The space was made for all entrepreneurial teams to come together to work, brainstorm, and network. Student teams have access to flexible workstations, televisions, computers, mentors, and a dynamic meeting space to develop their ideas and collaborate amongst their teammates and fellow students.
*'''DifferenceMaker™ Enterprise Co-op'''
**Throughout each year, DifferenceMaker™ will hire several students from various majors to participate in paid co-op experiences. Student co-ops assist in conducting and summarizing entrepreneurial research, developing and distributing marketing materials for various center initiatives, and provide center support for faculty and innovation fellows affiliate with the center. 
*'''Freshman Make A Difference Orientation'''
**During the summer sessions, DifferenceMaker™ has a large presence in the Freshman Orientation days. Through the Office of Orientation, Student Activities and Leadership, and ResLife, DifferenceMaker™ was able to present to every attending freshman and gain exposure to all of the new students at UMass Lowell.
*'''Freshman DifferenceMaker™ Convocation'''
**At the beginning of each academic year, we present DifferenceMaker™ to every incoming freshman at Convocation. Each year we perform a fun activity to engage students in our program.
*'''Introduction to DifferenceMaker™'''
**Freshman Seminars-A series of in-class discussions in collaboration with the Manning School of Business, The Francis College of Engineering, The College of Fine Arts, Humanities, and Social Sciences, and The College of Health Sciences in order to introduce the DifferenceMaker™ Program to students of all disciplines and to inspire them to explore their passions through creative problem solving.
*'''Introduction to the DifferenceMaker™ Program'''
**A series of events were held on both the north and south campuses to introduce students to DifferenceMaker™ Program concepts, allow them to share their ideas and interests, explore possible projects and solution, and to connected with each other to form teams. These events included the DifferenceMaker™ Convocation Pitch, the Climate Change Teach-in, a DifferenceMaker™ Team Building Dinner, and others.
*'''DifferenceMaker™ LLC'''
**Having a presence in the student residence halls as well as the classroom is important to motivate students and discover new ideas waiting to happen. The DifferenceMaker™ Living/Learning Community brings new students together in the ResLife environment for innovation and brainstorming outside of the classroom.
*'''Honors DifferenceMaker™ Program'''
**In collaboration with UMass Lowell Honors Program, this concerted effort to embed elements of social entrepreneurship in our Honors Program includes coursework and community-based student efforts that have specific focus on innovation and entrepreneurial practices.
*'''Introduction to Engineering Extra Credit Project'''
**This activity was a collaboration effort between the DifferenceMaker™ Program and The Francis College of Engineering to introduce freshman engineering majors to the DifferenceMaker™ Program, innovation, and entrepreneurship. In this introductory activity, the students’ innovative ideas were explored and presented in a format which would enable their projects to be candidates for both the DifferenceMaker™ Program Idea Challenge and Campus Catalyst program.
*'''Creative Venture Competition'''
**This contest held in October of 2013 hosted by DifferenceMaker™ focused on innovation from Arts, Humanities, and Social Science students. $2500 was awarded to the best entrepreneurial business a proposal, and $250 to each finalist team was also awarded.
*'''Digital Federal Credit Union Innovation Contest''' 
**In November of 2013, DifferenceMaker™ along with DCU hosted an Innovation Contest focusing on banking and financial innovation in the industry. With a grand prize of $500 per team member and peripheral prizes of $100 per team member, the contest gave thousands to innovative teams and cutting edge ideas.
*'''DifferenceMaker™ Reverse Pitch'''
**This pitch event was debuted on November 19, 2013. This event was a spin-off of “normal” idea challenges and hackathons. Instead of students pitching their ideas to funding sources or judges, businesses and community partners actually pitched their existing problems to a student audience in the hopes that they can develop a solution. The pitches included Merrimack Valley Housing Partnership, Lowell Telecommunications Corporation, Habitat for Humanity of Greater Lowell, Catie’s Closet and the Natick Soldier Research Development and Engineering Center. Students will be able to solve these problems and present them at the Annual Idea Challenge for funding opportunities.
*'''Freshman Business Class Lego Problem Solving'''
**This Lego activity was a collaboration effort between the DifferenceMaker™ Program and the Manning School of Business to introduce students to the ideation development process and problem solving method, as well as helping them strengthen their ability to work in a team. Sessions were conducted in 9 classes with over 400 students participating. Prof. Deborah Finch of the Manning School of Business led this effort.
*'''DifferenceMaker™ Idea Challenge'''
**DifferenceMaker™ is hosting its second annual Idea Challenge; this challenge is for student entrepreneurial teams to come up with sustainable ideas that will make some sort of impact on the world or their community. Help in the form of various workshops in the months leading up to the Idea Challenge is available, teaching students how to properly pitch their ideas and how to flesh out their business plans. There are various subcategories for each team to have a chance at winning spread out across over many different disciplines, encouraging all students to participate and welcoming all ideas.
*'''DifferenceMaker™ Workshops'''
*In preparation for the annual DifferenceMaker™ IdeaChallenge, we offer our students a series of educational entrepreneurial workshops throughout the spring semester.
**Team Building Mixer
**Identifying Problems and Opportunities
**Developing Solutions
**Identifying Resources
**Rocket Pitch Coaching
*'''Campus Catalyst Program''' - The DifferenceMaker™ Program works closely with 'E For All', a community business accelerator funded by the Deshpande Foundation, in order to encourage students to generate and develop their entrepreneurial ideas. The Sandbox Campus Catalyst program provided seed funding for student social and business solutions with potential. Catalyst information was provided to students at all DifferenceMaker™ events. Students also received consultation when applying to the Campus Catalyst Program.  The DifferenceMaker™ application and Campus Catalyst application were similar in content so that unity between these programs would be maximized. 
*'''DifferenceMaker™ Program Promotion '''- In order to promote awareness of, and participation in, DifferenceMaker™ activities among faculty, staff, and students, a variety of outreach materials were developed and distributed across the University. These activities included program launch events, a DifferenceMaker™ website, a Facebook site, a Twitter feed (UML_Difference), various posters, postcards, presentations to classrooms, workshops, office hours, email blasts, and information tables.
*'''TeamMaker Platform''' - Allows students to build their project teams by posting their project ideas and information online where they can then search for “seekers” (students interested in becoming part of a team). On the other hand, “seekers” can utilize the TeamMaker Platform by posting their project interests and skills, and seeking projects/teams to work with. This platform facilitates team formation. 

=== '''DifferenceMaker™ Program Available Resources''' ===

DifferenceMaker™ Central

Large open office collaboration space equipped with Wi-Fi, 3 Mac computers, printer/copier, 2 46” LCD TV monitors with projection capabilities, 6 white boards, 10 tables with chairs all equipped with wheels that can be easily rearranged for optimal use and collaboration, refrigerator, sink, cabinet space, coffee maker and other necessary office supplies.

Funding Opportunities

Idea Challenge

Other competitions:

DCU Innovation Contest

FAHSS Creative Venture Competition

Hawk  Hatch

Philanthropic Crowd Funding Source

Grants

Networking

Connection to faculty, staff, and alumni

Mentors

Faculty Fellows and DifferenceMaker™ Staff

Events

Series of Educational Entrepreneurial Workshops including materials

Problem, Opportunity, Solution, Resources, Pitch Coaching

Team Building Assistance

TeamMaker Platform, Team Building Mixer

Enterprise co-op positions

Through the Center for Innovation & Entrepreneurship, along with affiliated faculty and other campus programs, the University has introduced a range of activities that help students make a difference in the world.

 

'''DifferenceMaker™ Inaugural Year Statistics'''

·       72 DifferenceMaker™ events held in inaugural year

·       3,500  students who participates in a DifferenceMaker™ event this past year

·       $25,000  of funds awarded to 10 IdeaChallenge finalist teams

·       1,265  freshman participating in summer rapid ideation workshops

·       112  students who participated in the First Annual IdeaChallenge

·       22  cross discipline relationships notes between students among IdeaChallenge teams

·       24  academic disciplines represented by students in the IdeaChallenge teams

  

'''2015 DifferenceMaker™ IdeaChallenge Finalists'''

'''Campus-Wide DifferenceMaker™'''

'''$7,000'''

'''Significant Social Impact'''

'''1st Place - $4,000'''

 

'''2nd Place - $2,000'''

 

'''Sustainable Environment'''

'''Innovative Technology'''

'''1st Place - $4,000''' '''OTTOnomous'''

'''First to Market'''

'''1st Place - $4,000'''

'''2nd Place - $2,000'''

'''2nd Place - $2,000'''

<div>'''Honorable Mention DifferenceMaker™'''</div>
'''$1000'''

 

'''Fan Favorite'''


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'''DifferenceMaker™ Future Efforts:'''

The DifferenceMaker™ Program plans to continue many of the activities and events initiated in the first year of the program.  Some of these programs will be revised and they intend to launch several new initiatives, including a DifferenceMaker™ Passport Program, a DifferenceMaker™ Mentor Program and a seed grant program to encourage faculty participation in the DifferenceMaker™ program. They also plan to expand our collaboration with several University colleges. 

This year they plan to increase the role of DifferenceMaker™ Living Learning Community students in the DifferenceMaker™ program by training the members to become DifferenceMaker™ ambassadors once they transition into their sophomore year  through weekly meetings and monthly events. The training will allow LLC members to learn more about entrepreneurship and the DifferenceMaker™ Program so they can promote it to student clubs and campus classes.  Once the LLC students become sophomores they will transition into a DifferenceMaker™ Ambassador role, and hopefully will form the nucleus of a yet-to-be-formed DifferenceMaker™ student club.  

In order to assist students to both record and encourage their participation in DifferenceMaker™ events, they are planning the development and implementation of a DifferenceMaker™ Passport Program. Consistent with the goals of the UMass Lowell DifferenceMaker™ Program, the Passport Program will assist students to identify, record and collect experiences meant to: 

·      Develop individual entrepreneurial identity

·      Develop entrepreneurial skills and self-confidence

·      Develop creative and sustainable solutions to complex problems

·      Connect with the University, E For All and community entrepreneurial ecosystems

They anticipate that the number of students engaged in the DifferenceMaker™ Program and related activities will increase each year. As they encourage and reward the formation of various types of student ventures and projects, the need for mentors who can consult with student teams will increase. They plan to guide these students and track their progress through a professional Mentor Program. The UMass Lowell Mentor Program will provide a committed network of mentors with a broad set of skills and professional experiences, who can assist UMass Lowell entrepreneurs in developing the knowledge and skills, needed to grow an idea into a successful, new venture.

The DM UMass Lowell Mentor Program will seek to connect DifferenceMaker™ students with successful experienced entrepreneurs and alumnus, as well as faculty and staff.  The Mentor Program will focus on assisting students to further develop solutions as part of the DifferenceMaker™ Program. Mentors will provide guidance in further refining student team objectives and help them in building their entrepreneurial skillsets.

They are planning to offer DifferenceMaker™ Faculty Workshops to help faculty consider how they might engage their own students in DifferenceMaker™ activities through course related activities and through co-curricular activities. Our hope is that by engaging more faculty, they in turn will serve as both mentors and catalysts for students, encouraging and guiding student project selection and development. They have also observed that student teams often need support and guidance from faculty from different disciplines, these workshops and an accompanying seed grant program are meant as catalysts to encourage interdisciplinary engagement among faculty,

While the overarching goal of the DifferenceMaker™ program is to encourage UMass Lowell students to develop sustainable and entrepreneurial solutions to the challenges and opportunities they will confront in this world, they anticipate another, potentially significant impact on the University community itself. Our students will only be successful if they have the support of faculty, alumni, business and community members. During our first year of program activities, they have found these constituents to be most supportive and willing to mentor and work with our students.  Alumni are mentoring and investing in student ventures.  Faculty are working across disciplines to ensure their student teams make progress. Local profit and non-profit businesses are eager to work with student teams, providing real-world problems and opportunities for student projects. In one short year, the DifferenceMaker™ program has been embraced by the greater University community. Our hope and plan is to anchor this program in the curriculum and culture of the University, so all UMass Lowell students have an opportunity to make a difference in this world.

 

'''DifferenceMaker™ Contact:'''

[mailto:differencemaker@uml.edu differencemaker@uml.edu]

'''facebook.com/differenceUML'''

'''twitter: @difference_UML'''

 

=== '''Commercial Venture and Intellectual Property Office (CVIP):''' ===

Commercial Ventures and Intellectual Property (CVIP) is responsible for the protection and commercialization of intellectual property at UMass Lowell. 

 

'''CVIP Mission: ''' 

The mission of UMass Lowell’s Office of Commercial Ventures and Intellectual Property (CVIP) is to facilitate the transfer of technology arising from government, foundation and industrial sponsored university research to the private sector. They facilitate development of inventions toward commercial relevance and utility, nurture mutually beneficial and sustainable relationships between the University and industry, promote an innovative and entrepreneurial culture at the University and contribute to the economic vibrancy and well-being of the Commonwealth. CVIP’s activities enable the successful transfer of commercially viable technology from the laboratory to the marketplace for public use and benefit. 

'''CVIP Functions:'''

  The main objectives of CVIP are:

·       to license patents and other protections to industry in order to promote the development of inventions toward practical application;

·       to foster a culture of innovation, facilitate commercially promising endeavors, and positively contribute to the University’s entrepreneurial ecosystem;

·       to seek new business opportunities and form productive collaborations with industry in an effort to increase research and licensing revenue to the University;

·       to generate income for inventors and the University as a whole for use in supporting further research, technology development and transfer;

·       to advocate for the research community and seek to create incentives, provide rewards and obtain resources to advance commercialization of the technologies they generate.

 

'''CVIP--Contact:'''

*[mailto:Jill_Murthi@uml.edu Jill S. Murthi], Director of CVIP by email: [mailto:Jill_Murthi@uml.edu Jill_Murthi@uml.edu] or phone: 978-934-4722
*[mailto:Rajnish_Kaushik@uml.edu Rajnish Kaushik], Licensing & Business Development Manager of CVIP by email: [mailto:Rajnish_Kaushik@uml.edu Rajnish_Kaushik@uml.edu] or phone: 978-934-4708

=== New Venture Initiative: ===

New Venture Initiative (NVI) is a mix of university resources and equity investment designed to provide a path to and facilitate more start-up activity at UMass Lowell.  As part of the larger Commercial Venture and Intellectual Property Office (CVIP), the NVI fund focuses on inventions, discoveries, products and services that have been developed in whole or in part at UMass Lowell, have achieved proof of concept (or an early prototype) and are ready for commercial product development, rather than those requiring further basic research.  For more information please contact [mailto:Nancy_Saucier@uml.edu Nancy Saucier], Director of New Venture Development.

 

=== '''Massachusetts Medical Device Development Center (M2D2):''' ===

The Massachusetts Medical Device Development Center (M2D2) is a lifeline for the state’s smaller medical device companies, offering inventors and executives easy, affordable, and coordinated access to world-class researchers and resources at the Lowell and Worcester campuses of the University of Massachusetts.

'''M2D2 Available Resources:'''

*9000 square feet of space on second floor including:
**6 wet laboratory suites
**Two office suites
**Large open office collaboration area
**Board room
**Reception area
**Break Room equipped with a table and chairs, full size refrigerator, microwave, sink, dishwasher, and coffee maker
*5000 square feet of space on first floor including:
**Six individual offices 
**Bright shared kitchen space equipped with a table and chairs, full size refrigerator and sink
**One large state of the art conference room with full pull down screen, computer with web access and a projector  
**All conference rooms contain a 46" Aquos LCD screen, as well as computer with web access and a projector
**Business and medical feasibility assessments
**Product development space
**Medical and clinical pathway assistance
**Connection to additional services such as laboratory use, incubator space for start-ups and clinical trial support through the product life cycle
**SBIR and STTR research
**Access to capital
**Networking events
**New Venture Competitions

 

'''M2D2--Contact'''

[mailto:Stephen_McCarthy@uml.edu Stephen McCarthy], Co-Director of M2D2

 

=== '''E For All (Formerly Merrimack Valley Sandbox)''' ===

'E for All' is a project of the Deshpande Foundation, which has encouraged the use of entrepreneurship and innovation as catalysts for sustainable change in the United States, India and Canada since 1996. Deshpande supported centers including the MIT Deshpande Center for Technological Innovation, the Deshpande Center for Social Innovation in Hubli, India, the Pond-Deshpande Centre at the University of New Brunswick, and our own 'E For All'  at the University of Massachusetts Lowell. 'E for All' includes higher education partners (Middlesex Community College, Merrimack College and Northern Essex Community College) and a host of regional community and business partners.

'''E for All Mission'''

The mission of 'E For All' is to connect and strengthen the ecosystem in Lowell and Lawrence, Massachusetts, around entrepreneurship and leadership. This mission is supported by the following three principle 'E For All' programs:

·       Catalysts-The Catalyst program provides seed funding and mentoring support to foster initiative around new ideas and programs among local high school and college students.

·       Entrepreneurship-The Entrepreneur Program is a community-wide initiative supporting entrepreneurship. More than 30 partner organizations and institutions are participating in this initiative, which gives entrepreneurs a greater chance at success through pitch contests, workshops and intensive programs. 

·       Leadership-The 'E For All' Leadership Institute (SLI) offers leadership development for individuals that live, work or are interested in the communities of Lawrence and Lowell. 

'''Learn more''': [http://www.uml.edu/Innovation-Entrepreneurship/MV-Sandbox.aspx http://www.uml.edu/Innovation-Entrepreneurship/MV-Sandbox.aspx]

=== Other Organizations ===

'''Entrepreneurial Ventures Association''': EVA is an interdisciplinary organization that is open to all majors; they share resources, advice, and interests with other COM and UML clubs to help students turn their entrepreneurial ideas into reality.  [https://umasslowellclubs.collegiatelink.net/organization/entrepreneurial-ventures-association/about https://umasslowellclubs.collegiatelink.net/organization/entrepreneurial-ventures-association/about]

'''Honors Ambassador Program: '''Students participate in the Honors Ambassador Program to gain valuable experience through courses tailored for higher development and to foster relationships with communities and organizations that the program is involved with. [http://www.umlhonors.com/ http://www.umlhonors.com/]

UMass Lowell hosts over 140 different clubs and communities, most of which are geared towards equipping students to become leaders and innovators in society. A full list full of information can be found here: [https://umasslowellclubs.collegiatelink.net/Organizations https://umasslowellclubs.collegiatelink.net/Organizations]

= '''University Entrepreneurship''' =

=== Creative New Academic Programs ===

'''The Manning School of Business'''  The Manning School of Business offers two academic programs focused on entrepreneurship:

*[http://www.uml.edu/MSB/management/Entrepreneurship.aspx Undergraduate - Entrepreneurship Concentration]: Prepares students to be "outside-of-the-box" thinkers and innovators in today's complex global economy.

The '''entrepreneurship concentration''' prepares students to be an "outside of the box" thinker and innovator in today's complex global economy. Using an interdisciplinary focus, students who complete the concentration will:

*Develop the management skills required to identify and launch new business ventures around innovative products, services and technologies. 
*Develop an understanding of the concepts and activities associated with entrepreneurship and innovation. 
*Understand the financial aspects of an entrepreneurial venture from start-up to "harvest". 
*Discover their individual "entrepreneurial spirit" through experiential learning in interdisciplinary classes and the College's Venture Lab.

The required courses within the Entrepreneurship concentration consist of:

#Starting a New Venture 
#Corporate Entrepreneurship 
#Managing Innovation 
#Finance for Emerging Business Enterprises
#Entrepreneurial Strategy & Implementation (Fall '14 not yet required)
#Study Abroad in India (not required, entrepreneurship focused)

[http://www.uml.edu/MSB/Graduate-Programs/MSITE.aspx Graduate - Master of Science in Innovation and Technological Entrepreneurship (MSITE)]: Provides engineers, business majors and scientists with the skills and knowledge required to drive innovation in today's collaborative, global workforce.

[http://www.uml.edu/MSB/Graduate-Programs/MSITEhealthcare.aspx Graduate - Master of Science in Innovation and Technological Entrepreneurship (MSITE) Healthcare Innovation & Entrepreneurship (HI+E) Option]: This option is targeted towards healthcare professionals, such as hospital managers/administrators, clinicians, physicians and other medical professionals who need to understand and manage the impact of emerging technologies and innovations in the healthcare industry. The Program will also benefit recent graduates who wish to enter the healthcare industries as a career choice.

[http://www.uml.edu/MSB/Program-of-study/New-Venture-Creation.aspx Graduate Certificate - New Venture Creation]: This program is focused specifically on the creation of technology-based ventures and is designed to assist professionals with undergraduate and career experience in science, engineering, technology or business fields in better understanding how to develop and launch a technology-based business.

'''College of Sciences, Computer Science Department'''

The Computer Science Department offers an [http://www.uml.edu/Catalog/Graduate/Sciences/Computer-Science/MS-in-Computer-Science-Entrepreneurship-Option.aspx entrepreneurship option] in their master's degree. It is directed at those with a strong undergraduate background in Computer Science who are interested in both deepening their technical knowledge and in understanding the tools required for developing a company directed towards software services and products.

'''College of Engineering, Electrical and Computer Engineering Department, Assistive Technology Program'''

A component of the undergraduate Electrical and Computer Engineering program, senior ECE students complete a [http://atp.caeds.eng.uml.edu/index.html senior capstone project] aimed at designing and producing an assistive technology device for a person with a disability. Engineering students can apply the knowledge they have learned from their courses and help solve problems for disabled people through creating technological advances. 

== Entrepreneurial Capital Projects and Acquisitions ==

=== '''The Mark and Elisia Saab Emerging Technologies and Innovation Center''' ===

This new UMass Lowell 2012-13 construction is a building developed for bringing innovation and industry together. Faculty and student researchers use the resources available in this building to meet industry challenges and improve lives using UMass Lowell technologies and patents. Core facilities for use in fundamental and translational research are available to faculty and students; it contains class 100, 1,000, and 10,000 cleanroom spaces, wet lab and engineering lab space, and a plastics processing high bay. The ETIC is has LEED Gold Certification, and is considered green. The construction of this building also is estimated to supporting at least 130 new jobs.

 

=== '''Health and Social Sciences Building'''  ===

This new building that houses criminal justice and criminology, nursing, and psychology provides classrooms, simulation laboratories, observation facilities, a demonstration hospital wing, and ample meeting space for community projects. The construction of this new building supported more than 800 construction and related jobs, and provided the much needed resources and space for UMass Lowell’s growing social science population.

= '''University-Industry Collaboration''' =

'''Research Activities'''

UMass Lowell places a large focus on professional research, as evidenced by the ample lab space professors have to work with in buildings such as the ETIC. A comprehensive list of all research areas and information about them can be found on the UMass Lowell website. [http://www.uml.edu/Research/Centers/default.aspx http://www.uml.edu/Research/Centers/default.aspx]

==== Center for Industrial Competitiveness ====

For nearly 20 years, UMass Lowell’s Center for Industrial Competitiveness has conducted research on industrial innovation, regional development, corporate governance, financialization, and sustainable prosperity. Resources available stretch all around the world through collaborative networks and relationships, providing ample information and a global understanding on development. Research also includes local industrial development in Massachusetts. 

UMass Lowell has a page dedicated to the CIC researchers and their work, which can be found here: [http://www.uml.edu/centers/cic/Research/Research.html http://www.uml.edu/centers/cic/Research/Research.html]

= '''Regional and Local Economic Development''' =

'''Economic and Social Development of Regions Department:'''

This graduate program focuses on giving an interdisciplinary education that is tailored to fit the needs of the individual. By educating both the private and public sectors of economic and social development, this program aims to create work ready individuals that can bring innovation and change to shifting social and economic environment.

'''Lowell Makes''' 

“A membership‐driven collaborative space equipped with a wide variety of tools, machines, materials, computers and other resources where individuals can gain and practice modern skills with state‐of‐the‐art technology, access to resources they could not otherwise, and a community of creative minded people who make all kinds of things. “Art is the Handmaid of Human Good” is both the City of Lowell’s motto, and a reminder of Lowell’s rich industrial and artistic history as our inspiration.” - [http://www.lowellmakes.com/proposal/ http://www.lowellmakes.com/proposal/]

Lowell makes was founded to be a space where those who do not have access to certain equipment to bring their ideas to life will have that access they need and have the support they need to push their innovation to the next level. It is a space that has resources tailored for budding entrepreneurs, and can be rented out by anyone with a plan. 

'''Mill No.5'''

Mill No.5 is one of the few non-UML entrepreneurial constructs in the Lowell urban environment. Like many mills in Lowell, it has been renovated and repurposed. Being subdivided and updated to proper code, there are rooms available for offices and start-ups looking to have an office space to centralize their resources. 

= '''Conclusion''' =

Entrepreneurship is a strategic objective at the University of Massachusetts Lowell.  During the last five years, UMass Lowell has re-positioned itself with students, faculty, staff, and the community as a true public enterprise committed to taking an entrepreneurial approach to innovation in all aspects of its structure.   A rapidly expanding innovation ecosystem encourages and guides entrepreneurial action, whether academically or commercially, amongst its faculty and student body -- fostering an entrepreneurial approach to economic development through a variety of programs and activities. UMass Lowell will continue to thrive in all aspects of entrepreneurship and innovation.  

= Related Links =

University Innovation Fellows:
[http://universityinnovation.org/wiki/Stephen_Kender Stephen Kender][[Ana Gouveia|Ana Gouveia]][[James Abdallah|James Abdallah]][[KevinMDesjardins|Kevin Desjardins]][[Jacob Hulme|Jacob Hulme]][[UMass Lowell Student Priorities|UMass Lowell Student Priorities]]
[[Category:Universities]]

School:University of Massachusetts Lowell

2015-10-12T18:28:37Z

Ephenstephen:

<div style="float: right; clear: right;">[[File:UMass-Lowell-logo.png]]</div>
The University of Massachusetts Lowell (also known as UMass Lowell or UML) is a [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Public_university public] [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_research_universities_in_the_United_States doctoral/research] university in [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lowell,_Massachusetts Lowell], [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Massachusetts Massachusetts], [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_States United States],and part of the [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/University_of_Massachusetts University of Massachusetts] system. With more than 1,100 faculty members and more than 16,000 students, it is the largest university in the [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Merrimack_Valley Merrimack Valley] and the second-largest public institution in the state behind UMass Amherst. The university offers more than 120 degree choices, internships, bachelor’s to master’s programs and doctoral studies in the College of Fine Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences; College of Health Sciences; College of Sciences; the Francis College of Engineering; the Graduate School of Education; and the Manning School of Business.

= '''Overview - A Campus on the Move''' =

UMass Lowell has been evolving in every aspect; upgraded classrooms, libraries and labs; new and renovated student living and activity spaces; and enhanced parking facilities are a few on the list of what has been updated and changed over the past decade of campus improvement.

*University Crossing: Officially completed and operating, this new building hosts student services and activities, bookstore, dining, University police, transportation services, and senior administration offices.
*Pulichino Tong Building: The University’s current construction project, the Tong Building will replace the now-relocated Honor’s Eames Dorm building on UMass Lowell’s North Campus and will house the entirety of the Robert J. Manning School of Business.
*University Suites: This brand new dorm on UMass Lowell’s East campus provides housing for 472 students in four- and six-bed suites. There is a ground-floor common area with a café - Hawk's Nest - featuring fresh bakery, grab & go items and a late night Asian menu, in addition to delicious Red Mango frozen yogurt & smoothies and "We proudly serve" Starbucks Coffee. A multi-purpose room is open to the UMass Lowell community. Each residential floor has two common kitchen/lounge areas, two quiet study rooms and a group study room.
*Riverview Suites: The other half of the two-dorm addition to UMass Lowell in 2013, Riverview Suites has either two or three bedroom suites complete with a live-in kitchen, classroom and meeting rooms inside the building, and a gym inside the facility. The University leases the property from Soho Development, who also built the $42 million facility.
*New Garages: In the past three years, UMass Lowell has added two large parking garages to each of its largest parking lots, greatly increasing the parking capacity for the strong commuter presence attending the school.
*Health and Social Sciences Building: In 2013, this new criminal justice and criminology, nursing and psychology building had its grand opening. The construction of this building marked the first new construction in 30 years on the University’s South Campus, including all campuses in the University’s recent wave of evolution.

Since 2009, the University has also been heavily updating the existing buildings while acquiring and renovating new ones. UMass Lowell renovated the newly acquired Inn and Conference Center, added Taco Bell and Subway to the University’s dining partners, renovated the newly acquired Tsongas Center, and heavily updated their Dining Hall in the tallest UMass Lowell building, Fox Hall 

== 2015 Innovation Fellows Plans ==

[https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1ZwhfzohFPyuM4Vutiho8ZAuV8Jmq-JxBJ2vNaGZe-kY/edit?usp=sharing Landscape Canvas ]

[https://docs.google.com/presentation/d/1o3F2IN8YoWKMk83r0SoAfr5NH_qUw7RFa2ZxjslksQM/edit?usp=sharing Startup Lean Presentation]

= '''Student Entrepreneurship''' =

'''NonSpec '''

[http://www.nonspec.org/ NonSpec] participated in the 2013 first annual DifferenceMaker™ Idea Challenge where they showed dedication and enthusiasm by attending each educational workshop and event throughout the process which aided in their success.  At the Idea Challenge they received the prestigious title of “Campus Wide DifferenceMaker™” and the top award of $5,000. This prize represents the project most likely to make a significant difference in the community, region and the world.

The $5,000 award has allowed Nonspec to move their initiative forward by creating their first batch of prosthetic limbs. With a projected 15% market share in the next five years, Nonspec plans to use this market presence to launch a foundation called “Give a Hand”. The purpose of this foundation would be to spread their mission, goals, charitable cause, and products around the world in order to make a difference in developing nations.

Since Nonspec’s success at the Idea Challenge they have gained great publicity in other arenas.  They were recently named one of the top 10 semi-finalists in Entrepreneur® Magazine’s “College Entrepreneur of 2013 Contest”.  In addition, they were invited to attend [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ppnzNSnxi-g IAPD Plastics Application Design Competition], which was held on October 2, 2013 in Miami, Florida.  Lastly, the team was utilized as a role model by being featured in a [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aLwLg4XHrck video] that was shown at all DifferenceMaker™ freshman orientation sessions throughout the summer due to their motivation and high entrepreneurial spirits.

=== ===

DEPARTMENTS AND PROGRAMS

'''Center for Innovation and Entrepreneurship'''

The Center for Innovation and Entrepreneurship offers students and faculty of all disciplines the opportunity to work together to develop innovative and entrepreneurial solutions to the major problems facing our community, the region and the world. The Center hosts several programs that encourage social innovation and entrepreneurship among UMass Lowell students as well as the broader community in which we live. The DifferenceMaker program provides training, mentoring and other resources to UMass Lowell students and faculty who wish to address social, environmental and economic problems in our community.

'''DifferenceMaker™'''

The DifferenceMaker™ Program sponsors specific events and activities that support students in solving big problems through innovation and entrepreneurship. The Program is highly experiential by offering students a series of workshops that they can engage in to better understand innovation, entrepreneurship and launching a start-up of their interest.

Students of all majors and disciplines are welcome to join this Program and make a difference at UMass Lowell, in the community or in the world through innovative and entrepreneurial action.

Goals of DifferenceMaker™:

·         Introduce all UMass students to creative problem solving, innovation and entrepreneurship

·         Accelerate purpose in each students education

·         Connect current students to alumni experience

·         Encourage a social responsibility ethos

 

DifferenceMaker™ Available Activities Include:

·         DifferenceMaker™ Central – DifferenceMaker™ Central was opened in May 2013.  This space is a dedicated entrepreneurial area with a vibrant start-up community atmosphere.  The space was made for all entrepreneurial teams to come together to work, brainstorm, and network. Student teams have access to flexible workstations, televisions, computers, mentors, and a dynamic meeting space to develop their ideas and collaborate amongst their teammates and fellow students.

·         DifferenceMaker™ Enterprise Co-op in the Center for Innovation and Entrepreneurship – Throughout each year, DifferenceMaker™ will hire several students from various majors to participate in paid co-op experiences. Student co-ops assist in conducting and summarizing entrepreneurial research, developing and distributing marketing materials for various center initiatives, and provide center support for faculty and innovation fellows affiliate with the center. 

·         Freshman Make A Difference Orientation – During the summer sessions, DifferenceMaker™ has a large presence in the Freshman Orientation days. Through the Office of Orientation, Student Activities and Leadership, and ResLife, DifferenceMaker™ was able to present to every attending freshman and gain exposure to all of the new students at UMass Lowell.

·         Freshman DifferenceMaker™ Convocation – At the beginning of each academic year, we present DifferenceMaker™ to every incoming freshman at Convocation. Each year we perform a fun activity to engage students in our program.

·         Introduction to DifferenceMaker™ - Freshman Seminars-A series of in-class discussions in collaboration with the Manning School of Business, The Francis College of Engineering, The College of Fine Arts, Humanities, and Social Sciences, and The College of Health Sciences in order to introduce the DifferenceMaker™ Program to students of all disciplines and to inspire them to explore their passions through creative problem solving.

 

·         Introduction to the DifferenceMaker™ Program-A series of events were held on both the north and south campuses to introduce students to DifferenceMaker™ Program concepts, allow them to share their ideas and interests, explore possible projects and solution, and to connected with each other to form teams. These events included the DifferenceMaker™ Convocation Pitch, the Climate Change Teach-in, a DifferenceMaker™ Team Building Dinner, and others.

·         DifferenceMaker™ LLC – Having a presence in the student residence halls as well as the classroom is important to motivate students and discover new ideas waiting to happen. The DifferenceMaker™ Living/Learning Community brings new students together in the ResLife environment for innovation and brainstorming outside of the classroom.

·         Honors DifferenceMaker™ Program – In collaboration with UMass Lowell Honors Program, this concerted effort to embed elements of social entrepreneurship in our Honors Program includes coursework and community-based student efforts that have specific focus on innovation and entrepreneurial practices.

·         Introduction to Engineering-Extra Credit Project-This activity was a collaboration effort between the DifferenceMaker™ Program and The Francis College of Engineering to introduce freshman engineering majors to the DifferenceMaker™ Program, innovation, and entrepreneurship. In this introductory activity, the students’ innovative ideas were explored and presented in a format which would enable their projects to be candidates for both the DifferenceMaker™ Program Idea Challenge and Campus Catalyst program.

·         Creative Venture Competition - This contest held in October of 2013 hosted by DifferenceMaker™ focused on innovation from Arts, Humanities, and Social Science students. $2500 was awarded to the best entrepreneurial business a proposal, and $250 to each finalist team was also awarded.

·         Digital Federal Credit Union Innovation Contest – In November of 2013, DifferenceMaker™ along with DCU hosted an Innovation Contest focusing on banking and financial innovation in the industry. With a grand prize of $500 per team member and peripheral prizes of $100 per team member, the contest gave thousands to innovative teams and cutting edge ideas.

·         DifferenceMaker™ Reverse Pitch – This pitch event was debuted on November 19, 2013. This event was a spin-off of “normal” idea challenges and hackathons. Instead of students pitching their ideas to funding sources or judges, businesses and community partners actually pitched their existing problems to a student audience in the hopes that they can develop a solution. The pitches included Merrimack Valley Housing Partnership, Lowell Telecommunications Corporation, Habitat for Humanity of Greater Lowell, Catie’s Closet and the Natick Soldier Research Development and Engineering Center. Students will be able to solve these problems and present them at the Annual Idea Challenge for funding opportunities.

·         Freshman Business Class-Lego Problem Solving-This Lego activity was a collaboration effort between the DifferenceMaker™ Program and the Manning School of Business to introduce students to the ideation development process and problem solving method, as well as helping them strengthen their ability to work in a team. Sessions were conducted in 9 classes with over 400 students participating. Prof. Deborah Finch of the Manning School of Business led this effort.

·         DifferenceMaker™ Idea Challenge– DifferenceMaker™ is hosting its second annual Idea Challenge; this challenge is for student entrepreneurial teams to come up with sustainable ideas that will make some sort of impact on the world or their community. Help in the form of various workshops in the months leading up to the Idea Challenge is available, teaching students how to properly pitch their ideas and how to flesh out their business plans. There are various subcategories for each team to have a chance at winning spread out across over many different disciplines, encouraging all students to participate and welcoming all ideas.

·         DifferenceMaker™ Workshops-In preparation for the annual DifferenceMaker™ IdeaChallenge, we offer our students a series of educational entrepreneurial workshops throughout the spring semester.

o   Team Building Mixer

o   Identifying Problems and Opportunities

o   Developing Solutions

o   Identifying Resources

o   Rocket Pitch Coaching

·         Promoting the Campus Catalyst Program-The DifferenceMaker™ Program works closely with 'E For All', a community business accelerator funded by the Deshpande Foundation, in order to encourage students to generate and develop their entrepreneurial ideas. The Sandbox Campus Catalyst program provided seed funding for student social and business solutions with potential. Catalyst information was provided to students at all DifferenceMaker™ events. Students also received consultation when applying to the Campus Catalyst Program.  The DifferenceMaker™ application and Campus Catalyst application were similar in content so that unity between these programs would be maximized. 

·         DifferenceMaker™ Program Promotion-In order to promote awareness of, and participation in, DifferenceMaker™ activities among faculty, staff, and students, a variety of outreach materials were developed and distributed across the University. These activities included program launch events, a DifferenceMaker™ website, a Facebook site, a Twitter feed (UML_Difference), various posters, postcards, presentations to classrooms, workshops, office hours, email blasts, and information tables.

·         TeamMaker Platform - Allows students to build their project teams by posting their project ideas and information online where they can then search for “seekers” (students interested in becoming part of a team). On the other hand, “seekers” can utilize the TeamMaker Platform by posting their project interests and skills, and seeking projects/teams to work with. This platform facilitates team formation. 

=

'''DifferenceMaker™ Program Available Resources Include:'''

•       DifferenceMaker™ Central

•       Large open office collaboration space equipped with Wi-Fi, 3 Mac computers, printer/copier, 2 46” LCD TV monitors with projection capabilities, 6 white boards, 10 tables with chairs all equipped with wheels that can be easily rearranged for optimal use and collaboration, refrigerator, sink, cabinet space, coffee maker and other necessary office supplies.

•       Funding Opportunities

•       Idea Challenge

•       Other competitions:

•       DCU Innovation Contest

•       FAHSS Creative Venture Competition

•       Hawk  Hatch

•       Philanthropic Crowd Funding Source

•       Grants

•       Networking

•       Connection to faculty, staff, and alumni

•       Mentors

•       Faculty Fellows and DifferenceMaker™ Staff

•       Events

•       Series of Educational Entrepreneurial Workshops including materials

•       Problem, Opportunity, Solution, Resources, Pitch Coaching

•       Team Building Assistance

•       TeamMaker Platform, Team Building Mixer

•       Enterprise co-op positions

Through the Center for Innovation & Entrepreneurship, along with affiliated faculty and other campus programs, the University has introduced a range of activities that help students make a difference in the world.

 

'''DifferenceMaker™ Inaugural Year Statistics'''

·       72 DifferenceMaker™ events held in inaugural year

·       3,500  students who participates in a DifferenceMaker™ event this past year

·       $25,000  of funds awarded to 10 IdeaChallenge finalist teams

·       1,265  freshman participating in summer rapid ideation workshops

·       112  students who participated in the First Annual IdeaChallenge

·       22  cross discipline relationships notes between students among IdeaChallenge teams

·       24  academic disciplines represented by students in the IdeaChallenge teams

  

'''2015 DifferenceMaker™ IdeaChallenge Finalists'''

'''Campus-Wide DifferenceMaker™'''

'''$7,000'''

'''Significant Social Impact'''

'''1st Place - $4,000'''

 

'''2nd Place - $2,000'''

 

'''Sustainable Environment'''

'''Innovative Technology'''

'''1st Place - $4,000''' '''OTTOnomous'''

'''First to Market'''

'''1st Place - $4,000'''

'''2nd Place - $2,000'''

'''2nd Place - $2,000'''

<div>'''Honorable Mention DifferenceMaker™'''</div>
'''$1000'''

 

'''Fan Favorite'''


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'''DifferenceMaker™ Future Efforts:'''

The DifferenceMaker™ Program plans to continue many of the activities and events initiated in the first year of the program.  Some of these programs will be revised and they intend to launch several new initiatives, including a DifferenceMaker™ Passport Program, a DifferenceMaker™ Mentor Program and a seed grant program to encourage faculty participation in the DifferenceMaker™ program. They also plan to expand our collaboration with several University colleges. 

This year they plan to increase the role of DifferenceMaker™ Living Learning Community students in the DifferenceMaker™ program by training the members to become DifferenceMaker™ ambassadors once they transition into their sophomore year  through weekly meetings and monthly events. The training will allow LLC members to learn more about entrepreneurship and the DifferenceMaker™ Program so they can promote it to student clubs and campus classes.  Once the LLC students become sophomores they will transition into a DifferenceMaker™ Ambassador role, and hopefully will form the nucleus of a yet-to-be-formed DifferenceMaker™ student club.  

In order to assist students to both record and encourage their participation in DifferenceMaker™ events, they are planning the development and implementation of a DifferenceMaker™ Passport Program. Consistent with the goals of the UMass Lowell DifferenceMaker™ Program, the Passport Program will assist students to identify, record and collect experiences meant to: 

·      Develop individual entrepreneurial identity

·      Develop entrepreneurial skills and self-confidence

·      Develop creative and sustainable solutions to complex problems

·      Connect with the University, E For All and community entrepreneurial ecosystems

They anticipate that the number of students engaged in the DifferenceMaker™ Program and related activities will increase each year. As they encourage and reward the formation of various types of student ventures and projects, the need for mentors who can consult with student teams will increase. They plan to guide these students and track their progress through a professional Mentor Program. The UMass Lowell Mentor Program will provide a committed network of mentors with a broad set of skills and professional experiences, who can assist UMass Lowell entrepreneurs in developing the knowledge and skills, needed to grow an idea into a successful, new venture.

The DM UMass Lowell Mentor Program will seek to connect DifferenceMaker™ students with successful experienced entrepreneurs and alumnus, as well as faculty and staff.  The Mentor Program will focus on assisting students to further develop solutions as part of the DifferenceMaker™ Program. Mentors will provide guidance in further refining student team objectives and help them in building their entrepreneurial skillsets.

They are planning to offer DifferenceMaker™ Faculty Workshops to help faculty consider how they might engage their own students in DifferenceMaker™ activities through course related activities and through co-curricular activities. Our hope is that by engaging more faculty, they in turn will serve as both mentors and catalysts for students, encouraging and guiding student project selection and development. They have also observed that student teams often need support and guidance from faculty from different disciplines, these workshops and an accompanying seed grant program are meant as catalysts to encourage interdisciplinary engagement among faculty,

While the overarching goal of the DifferenceMaker™ program is to encourage UMass Lowell students to develop sustainable and entrepreneurial solutions to the challenges and opportunities they will confront in this world, they anticipate another, potentially significant impact on the University community itself. Our students will only be successful if they have the support of faculty, alumni, business and community members. During our first year of program activities, they have found these constituents to be most supportive and willing to mentor and work with our students.  Alumni are mentoring and investing in student ventures.  Faculty are working across disciplines to ensure their student teams make progress. Local profit and non-profit businesses are eager to work with student teams, providing real-world problems and opportunities for student projects. In one short year, the DifferenceMaker™ program has been embraced by the greater University community. Our hope and plan is to anchor this program in the curriculum and culture of the University, so all UMass Lowell students have an opportunity to make a difference in this world.

 

'''DifferenceMaker™ Contact:'''

[mailto:differencemaker@uml.edu differencemaker@uml.edu]

'''facebook.com/differenceUML'''

'''twitter: @difference_UML'''

 

=== '''Commercial Venture and Intellectual Property Office (CVIP):''' ===

Commercial Ventures and Intellectual Property (CVIP) is responsible for the protection and commercialization of intellectual property at UMass Lowell. 

 

'''CVIP Mission: ''' 

The mission of UMass Lowell’s Office of Commercial Ventures and Intellectual Property (CVIP) is to facilitate the transfer of technology arising from government, foundation and industrial sponsored university research to the private sector. They facilitate development of inventions toward commercial relevance and utility, nurture mutually beneficial and sustainable relationships between the University and industry, promote an innovative and entrepreneurial culture at the University and contribute to the economic vibrancy and well-being of the Commonwealth. CVIP’s activities enable the successful transfer of commercially viable technology from the laboratory to the marketplace for public use and benefit. 

'''CVIP Functions:'''

  The main objectives of CVIP are:

·       to license patents and other protections to industry in order to promote the development of inventions toward practical application;

·       to foster a culture of innovation, facilitate commercially promising endeavors, and positively contribute to the University’s entrepreneurial ecosystem;

·       to seek new business opportunities and form productive collaborations with industry in an effort to increase research and licensing revenue to the University;

·       to generate income for inventors and the University as a whole for use in supporting further research, technology development and transfer;

·       to advocate for the research community and seek to create incentives, provide rewards and obtain resources to advance commercialization of the technologies they generate.

 

'''CVIP--Contact:'''

*[mailto:Jill_Murthi@uml.edu Jill S. Murthi], Director of CVIP by email: [mailto:Jill_Murthi@uml.edu Jill_Murthi@uml.edu] or phone: 978-934-4722
*[mailto:Rajnish_Kaushik@uml.edu Rajnish Kaushik], Licensing & Business Development Manager of CVIP by email: [mailto:Rajnish_Kaushik@uml.edu Rajnish_Kaushik@uml.edu] or phone: 978-934-4708

=== New Venture Initiative: ===

New Venture Initiative (NVI) is a mix of university resources and equity investment designed to provide a path to and facilitate more start-up activity at UMass Lowell.  As part of the larger Commercial Venture and Intellectual Property Office (CVIP), the NVI fund focuses on inventions, discoveries, products and services that have been developed in whole or in part at UMass Lowell, have achieved proof of concept (or an early prototype) and are ready for commercial product development, rather than those requiring further basic research.  For more information please contact [mailto:Nancy_Saucier@uml.edu Nancy Saucier], Director of New Venture Development.

 

=== '''Massachusetts Medical Device Development Center (M2D2):''' ===

The Massachusetts Medical Device Development Center (M2D2) is a lifeline for the state’s smaller medical device companies, offering inventors and executives easy, affordable, and coordinated access to world-class researchers and resources at the Lowell and Worcester campuses of the University of Massachusetts.

'''M2D2 Available Resources:'''

*9000 square feet of space on second floor including:
**6 wet laboratory suites
**Two office suites
**Large open office collaboration area
**Board room
**Reception area
**Break Room equipped with a table and chairs, full size refrigerator, microwave, sink, dishwasher, and coffee maker
*5000 square feet of space on first floor including:
**Six individual offices 
**Bright shared kitchen space equipped with a table and chairs, full size refrigerator and sink
**One large state of the art conference room with full pull down screen, computer with web access and a projector  
**All conference rooms contain a 46" Aquos LCD screen, as well as computer with web access and a projector
**Business and medical feasibility assessments
**Product development space
**Medical and clinical pathway assistance
**Connection to additional services such as laboratory use, incubator space for start-ups and clinical trial support through the product life cycle
**SBIR and STTR research
**Access to capital
**Networking events
**New Venture Competitions

 

'''M2D2--Contact'''

[mailto:Stephen_McCarthy@uml.edu Stephen McCarthy], Co-Director of M2D2

 

=== '''E For All (Formerly Merrimack Valley Sandbox)''' ===

'E for All' is a project of the Deshpande Foundation, which has encouraged the use of entrepreneurship and innovation as catalysts for sustainable change in the United States, India and Canada since 1996. Deshpande supported centers including the MIT Deshpande Center for Technological Innovation, the Deshpande Center for Social Innovation in Hubli, India, the Pond-Deshpande Centre at the University of New Brunswick, and our own 'E For All'  at the University of Massachusetts Lowell. 'E for All' includes higher education partners (Middlesex Community College, Merrimack College and Northern Essex Community College) and a host of regional community and business partners.

'''E for All Mission'''

The mission of 'E For All' is to connect and strengthen the ecosystem in Lowell and Lawrence, Massachusetts, around entrepreneurship and leadership. This mission is supported by the following three principle 'E For All' programs:

·       Catalysts-The Catalyst program provides seed funding and mentoring support to foster initiative around new ideas and programs among local high school and college students.

·       Entrepreneurship-The Entrepreneur Program is a community-wide initiative supporting entrepreneurship. More than 30 partner organizations and institutions are participating in this initiative, which gives entrepreneurs a greater chance at success through pitch contests, workshops and intensive programs. 

·       Leadership-The 'E For All' Leadership Institute (SLI) offers leadership development for individuals that live, work or are interested in the communities of Lawrence and Lowell. 

'''Learn more''': [http://www.uml.edu/Innovation-Entrepreneurship/MV-Sandbox.aspx http://www.uml.edu/Innovation-Entrepreneurship/MV-Sandbox.aspx]

=== Other Organizations ===

'''Entrepreneurial Ventures Association''': EVA is an interdisciplinary organization that is open to all majors; they share resources, advice, and interests with other COM and UML clubs to help students turn their entrepreneurial ideas into reality.  [https://umasslowellclubs.collegiatelink.net/organization/entrepreneurial-ventures-association/about https://umasslowellclubs.collegiatelink.net/organization/entrepreneurial-ventures-association/about]

'''Honors Ambassador Program: '''Students participate in the Honors Ambassador Program to gain valuable experience through courses tailored for higher development and to foster relationships with communities and organizations that the program is involved with. [http://www.umlhonors.com/ http://www.umlhonors.com/]

UMass Lowell hosts over 140 different clubs and communities, most of which are geared towards equipping students to become leaders and innovators in society. A full list full of information can be found here: [https://umasslowellclubs.collegiatelink.net/Organizations https://umasslowellclubs.collegiatelink.net/Organizations]

= '''University Entrepreneurship''' =

=== Creative New Academic Programs ===

'''The Manning School of Business'''  The Manning School of Business offers two academic programs focused on entrepreneurship:

*[http://www.uml.edu/MSB/management/Entrepreneurship.aspx Undergraduate - Entrepreneurship Concentration]: Prepares students to be "outside-of-the-box" thinkers and innovators in today's complex global economy.

The '''entrepreneurship concentration''' prepares students to be an "outside of the box" thinker and innovator in today's complex global economy. Using an interdisciplinary focus, students who complete the concentration will:

*Develop the management skills required to identify and launch new business ventures around innovative products, services and technologies. 
*Develop an understanding of the concepts and activities associated with entrepreneurship and innovation. 
*Understand the financial aspects of an entrepreneurial venture from start-up to "harvest". 
*Discover their individual "entrepreneurial spirit" through experiential learning in interdisciplinary classes and the College's Venture Lab.

The required courses within the Entrepreneurship concentration consist of:

#Starting a New Venture 
#Corporate Entrepreneurship 
#Managing Innovation 
#Finance for Emerging Business Enterprises
#Entrepreneurial Strategy & Implementation (Fall '14 not yet required)
#Study Abroad in India (not required, entrepreneurship focused)

[http://www.uml.edu/MSB/Graduate-Programs/MSITE.aspx Graduate - Master of Science in Innovation and Technological Entrepreneurship (MSITE)]: Provides engineers, business majors and scientists with the skills and knowledge required to drive innovation in today's collaborative, global workforce.

[http://www.uml.edu/MSB/Graduate-Programs/MSITEhealthcare.aspx Graduate - Master of Science in Innovation and Technological Entrepreneurship (MSITE) Healthcare Innovation & Entrepreneurship (HI+E) Option]: This option is targeted towards healthcare professionals, such as hospital managers/administrators, clinicians, physicians and other medical professionals who need to understand and manage the impact of emerging technologies and innovations in the healthcare industry. The Program will also benefit recent graduates who wish to enter the healthcare industries as a career choice.

[http://www.uml.edu/MSB/Program-of-study/New-Venture-Creation.aspx Graduate Certificate - New Venture Creation]: This program is focused specifically on the creation of technology-based ventures and is designed to assist professionals with undergraduate and career experience in science, engineering, technology or business fields in better understanding how to develop and launch a technology-based business.

'''College of Sciences, Computer Science Department'''

The Computer Science Department offers an [http://www.uml.edu/Catalog/Graduate/Sciences/Computer-Science/MS-in-Computer-Science-Entrepreneurship-Option.aspx entrepreneurship option] in their master's degree. It is directed at those with a strong undergraduate background in Computer Science who are interested in both deepening their technical knowledge and in understanding the tools required for developing a company directed towards software services and products.

'''College of Engineering, Electrical and Computer Engineering Department, Assistive Technology Program'''

A component of the undergraduate Electrical and Computer Engineering program, senior ECE students complete a [http://atp.caeds.eng.uml.edu/index.html senior capstone project] aimed at designing and producing an assistive technology device for a person with a disability. Engineering students can apply the knowledge they have learned from their courses and help solve problems for disabled people through creating technological advances. 

== Entrepreneurial Capital Projects and Acquisitions ==

=== '''The Mark and Elisia Saab Emerging Technologies and Innovation Center''' ===

This new UMass Lowell 2012-13 construction is a building developed for bringing innovation and industry together. Faculty and student researchers use the resources available in this building to meet industry challenges and improve lives using UMass Lowell technologies and patents. Core facilities for use in fundamental and translational research are available to faculty and students; it contains class 100, 1,000, and 10,000 cleanroom spaces, wet lab and engineering lab space, and a plastics processing high bay. The ETIC is has LEED Gold Certification, and is considered green. The construction of this building also is estimated to supporting at least 130 new jobs.

 

=== '''Health and Social Sciences Building'''  ===

This new building that houses criminal justice and criminology, nursing, and psychology provides classrooms, simulation laboratories, observation facilities, a demonstration hospital wing, and ample meeting space for community projects. The construction of this new building supported more than 800 construction and related jobs, and provided the much needed resources and space for UMass Lowell’s growing social science population.

= '''University-Industry Collaboration''' =

'''Research Activities'''

UMass Lowell places a large focus on professional research, as evidenced by the ample lab space professors have to work with in buildings such as the ETIC. A comprehensive list of all research areas and information about them can be found on the UMass Lowell website. [http://www.uml.edu/Research/Centers/default.aspx http://www.uml.edu/Research/Centers/default.aspx]

==== Center for Industrial Competitiveness ====

For nearly 20 years, UMass Lowell’s Center for Industrial Competitiveness has conducted research on industrial innovation, regional development, corporate governance, financialization, and sustainable prosperity. Resources available stretch all around the world through collaborative networks and relationships, providing ample information and a global understanding on development. Research also includes local industrial development in Massachusetts. 

UMass Lowell has a page dedicated to the CIC researchers and their work, which can be found here: [http://www.uml.edu/centers/cic/Research/Research.html http://www.uml.edu/centers/cic/Research/Research.html]

= '''Regional and Local Economic Development''' =

'''Economic and Social Development of Regions Department:'''

This graduate program focuses on giving an interdisciplinary education that is tailored to fit the needs of the individual. By educating both the private and public sectors of economic and social development, this program aims to create work ready individuals that can bring innovation and change to shifting social and economic environment.

'''Lowell Makes''' 

“A membership‐driven collaborative space equipped with a wide variety of tools, machines, materials, computers and other resources where individuals can gain and practice modern skills with state‐of‐the‐art technology, access to resources they could not otherwise, and a community of creative minded people who make all kinds of things. “Art is the Handmaid of Human Good” is both the City of Lowell’s motto, and a reminder of Lowell’s rich industrial and artistic history as our inspiration.” - [http://www.lowellmakes.com/proposal/ http://www.lowellmakes.com/proposal/]

Lowell makes was founded to be a space where those who do not have access to certain equipment to bring their ideas to life will have that access they need and have the support they need to push their innovation to the next level. It is a space that has resources tailored for budding entrepreneurs, and can be rented out by anyone with a plan. 

'''Mill No.5'''

Mill No.5 is one of the few non-UML entrepreneurial constructs in the Lowell urban environment. Like many mills in Lowell, it has been renovated and repurposed. Being subdivided and updated to proper code, there are rooms available for offices and start-ups looking to have an office space to centralize their resources. 

= '''Conclusion''' =

Entrepreneurship is a strategic objective at the University of Massachusetts Lowell.  During the last five years, UMass Lowell has re-positioned itself with students, faculty, staff, and the community as a true public enterprise committed to taking an entrepreneurial approach to innovation in all aspects of its structure.   A rapidly expanding innovation ecosystem encourages and guides entrepreneurial action, whether academically or commercially, amongst its faculty and student body -- fostering an entrepreneurial approach to economic development through a variety of programs and activities. UMass Lowell will continue to thrive in all aspects of entrepreneurship and innovation.  

= Related Links =

University Innovation Fellows:
[http://universityinnovation.org/wiki/Stephen_Kender Stephen Kender][[Ana Gouveia|Ana Gouveia]][[James Abdallah|James Abdallah]][[KevinMDesjardins|Kevin Desjardins]][[Jacob Hulme|Jacob Hulme]][[UMass Lowell Student Priorities|UMass Lowell Student Priorities]]
[[Category:Universities]]

School:University of Massachusetts Lowell

2015-10-12T18:27:17Z

Ephenstephen:

<div style="float: right; clear: right;">[[File:UMass-Lowell-logo.png]]</div>
The University of Massachusetts Lowell (also known as UMass Lowell or UML) is a [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Public_university public] [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_research_universities_in_the_United_States doctoral/research] university in [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lowell,_Massachusetts Lowell], [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Massachusetts Massachusetts], [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_States United States],and part of the [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/University_of_Massachusetts University of Massachusetts] system. With more than 1,100 faculty members and more than 16,000 students, it is the largest university in the [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Merrimack_Valley Merrimack Valley] and the second-largest public institution in the state behind UMass Amherst. The university offers more than 120 degree choices, internships, bachelor’s to master’s programs and doctoral studies in the College of Fine Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences; College of Health Sciences; College of Sciences; the Francis College of Engineering; the Graduate School of Education; and the Manning School of Business.

= '''Overview - A Campus on the Move''' =

UMass Lowell has been evolving in every aspect; upgraded classrooms, libraries and labs; new and renovated student living and activity spaces; and enhanced parking facilities are a few on the list of what has been updated and changed over the past decade of campus improvement.

*University Crossing: Officially completed and operating, this new building hosts student services and activities, bookstore, dining, University police, transportation services, and senior administration offices.
*Pulichino Tong Building: The University’s current construction project, the Tong Building will replace the now-relocated Honor’s Eames Dorm building on UMass Lowell’s North Campus and will house the entirety of the Robert J. Manning School of Business.
*University Suites: This brand new dorm on UMass Lowell’s East campus provides housing for 472 students in four- and six-bed suites. There is a ground-floor common area with a café - Hawk's Nest - featuring fresh bakery, grab & go items and a late night Asian menu, in addition to delicious Red Mango frozen yogurt & smoothies and "We proudly serve" Starbucks Coffee. A multi-purpose room is open to the UMass Lowell community. Each residential floor has two common kitchen/lounge areas, two quiet study rooms and a group study room.
*Riverview Suites: The other half of the two-dorm addition to UMass Lowell in 2013, Riverview Suites has either two or three bedroom suites complete with a live-in kitchen, classroom and meeting rooms inside the building, and a gym inside the facility. The University leases the property from Soho Development, who also built the $42 million facility.
*New Garages: In the past three years, UMass Lowell has added two large parking garages to each of its largest parking lots, greatly increasing the parking capacity for the strong commuter presence attending the school.
*Health and Social Sciences Building: In 2013, this new criminal justice and criminology, nursing and psychology building had its grand opening. The construction of this building marked the first new construction in 30 years on the University’s South Campus, including all campuses in the University’s recent wave of evolution.

Since 2009, the University has also been heavily updating the existing buildings while acquiring and renovating new ones. UMass Lowell renovated the newly acquired Inn and Conference Center, added Taco Bell and Subway to the University’s dining partners, renovated the newly acquired Tsongas Center, and heavily updated their Dining Hall in the tallest UMass Lowell building, Fox Hall 

== 2015 Innovation Fellows Plans ==

[https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1ZwhfzohFPyuM4Vutiho8ZAuV8Jmq-JxBJ2vNaGZe-kY/edit?usp=sharing Landscape Canvas ]

[https://docs.google.com/presentation/d/1o3F2IN8YoWKMk83r0SoAfr5NH_qUw7RFa2ZxjslksQM/edit?usp=sharing Startup Lean Presentation]

= '''Student Entrepreneurship''' =

'''NonSpec '''

[http://www.nonspec.org/ NonSpec] participated in the 2013 first annual DifferenceMaker™ Idea Challenge where they showed dedication and enthusiasm by attending each educational workshop and event throughout the process which aided in their success.  At the Idea Challenge they received the prestigious title of “Campus Wide DifferenceMaker™” and the top award of $5,000. This prize represents the project most likely to make a significant difference in the community, region and the world.

The $5,000 award has allowed Nonspec to move their initiative forward by creating their first batch of prosthetic limbs. With a projected 15% market share in the next five years, Nonspec plans to use this market presence to launch a foundation called “Give a Hand”. The purpose of this foundation would be to spread their mission, goals, charitable cause, and products around the world in order to make a difference in developing nations.

Since Nonspec’s success at the Idea Challenge they have gained great publicity in other arenas.  They were recently named one of the top 10 semi-finalists in Entrepreneur® Magazine’s “College Entrepreneur of 2013 Contest”.  In addition, they were invited to attend [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ppnzNSnxi-g IAPD Plastics Application Design Competition], which was held on October 2, 2013 in Miami, Florida.  Lastly, the team was utilized as a role model by being featured in a [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aLwLg4XHrck video] that was shown at all DifferenceMaker™ freshman orientation sessions throughout the summer due to their motivation and high entrepreneurial spirits.

=== ===

= Departments and Programs =

== '''Center for Innovation and Entrepreneurship''' ==

 “ The Center for Innovation and Entrepreneurship offers students and faculty of all disciplines the opportunity to work together to develop innovative and entrepreneurial solutions to the major problems facing our community, the region and the world. The Center hosts several programs that encourage social innovation and entrepreneurship among UMass Lowell students as well as the broader community in which we live. The DifferenceMaker program provides training, mentoring and other resources to UMass Lowell students and faculty who wish to address social, environmental and economic problems in our community. “

 

=== '''DifferenceMaker™''' ===

'''About DifferenceMaker™:''' 

The DifferenceMaker™ Program sponsors specific events and activities that support students in solving big problems through innovation and entrepreneurship. The Program is highly experiential by offering students a series of workshops that they can engage in to better understand innovation, entrepreneurship and launching a start-up of their interest.

Students of all majors and disciplines are welcome to join this Program and make a difference at UMass Lowell, in the community or in the world through innovative and entrepreneurial action. These DifferenceMaker™ projects include interdisciplinary student teams from all majors and skill sets. 

 

'''Goals of DifferenceMaker™:''' 

·      Introduce all UMass students to creative problem solving, innovation and entrepreneurship

·      Accelerate purpose in each students education

·      Connect current students to alumni experience

·      Encourage a social responsibility ethos

 

'''DifferenceMaker™ Available Activities Include:'''

·       '''DifferenceMaker™ Central-'''DifferenceMaker™ Central was opened in May 2013.  This space is a dedicated entrepreneurial area with a vibrant start-up community atmosphere.  The space was made for all entrepreneurial teams to come together to work, brainstorm, and network. Student teams have access to flexible workstations, televisions, computers, mentors, and a dynamic meeting space to develop their ideas and collaborate amongst their teammates and fellow students.

·       '''DifferenceMaker™ Enterprise Co-op''''''in the Center for Innovation and Entrepreneurship''''''-'''Throughout each year, DifferenceMaker™ will hire several students from various majors to participate in paid co-op experiences. Student co-ops assist in conducting and summarizing entrepreneurial research, developing and distributing marketing materials for various center initiatives, and provide center support for faculty and innovation fellows affiliate with the center.  

·       '''Freshman Make A Difference Orientation – '''During the summer sessions, DifferenceMaker™ has a large presence in the Freshman Orientation days. Through the Office of Orientation, Student Activities and Leadership, and ResLife, DifferenceMaker™ was able to present to every attending freshman and gain exposure to all of the new students at UMass Lowell. 

·       '''Freshman DifferenceMaker™ Convocation-''' At the beginning of each academic year, we present DifferenceMaker™ to every incoming freshman at Convocation. Each year we perform a fun activity to engage students in our program.

·       '''Introduction to DifferenceMaker™-Freshman Seminars-'''A series of in-class discussions in collaboration with the Manning School of Business, The Francis College of Engineering, The College of Fine Arts, Humanities, and Social Sciences, and The College of Health Sciences in order to introduce the DifferenceMaker™ Program to students of all disciplines and to inspire them to explore their passions through creative problem solving.

·       '''Introduction to the DifferenceMaker™ Program-'''A series of events were held on both the north and south campuses to introduce students to DifferenceMaker™ Program concepts, allow them to share their ideas and interests, explore possible projects and solution, and to connected with each other to form teams. These events included the DifferenceMaker™ Convocation Pitch, the Climate Change Teach-in, a DifferenceMaker™ Team Building Dinner, and others.

·       '''DifferenceMaker™ LLC – '''Having a presence in the student residence halls as well as the classroom is important to motivate students and discover new ideas waiting to happen. The DifferenceMaker™ Living/Learning Community brings new students together in the ResLife environment for innovation and brainstorming outside of the classroom. 

·       '''Honors DifferenceMaker™ Program –''' In collaboration with UMass Lowell Honors Program, this concerted effort to embed elements of social entrepreneurship in our Honors Program includes coursework and community-based student efforts that have specific focus on innovation and entrepreneurial practices.

·       '''Introduction to Engineering-'''Extra Credit Project-This activity was a collaboration effort between the DifferenceMaker™ Program and The Francis College of Engineering to introduce freshman engineering majors to the DifferenceMaker™ Program, innovation, and entrepreneurship. In this introductory activity, the students’ innovative ideas were explored and presented in a format which would enable their projects to be candidates for both the DifferenceMaker™ Program Idea Challenge and Campus Catalyst program.

·       '''Creative Venture Competition - '''This contest held in October of 2013 hosted by DifferenceMaker™ focused on innovation from Arts, Humanities, and Social Science students. $2500 was awarded to the best entrepreneurial business a proposal, and $250 to each finalist team was also awarded. 

·       '''Digital Federal Credit Union Innovation Contest – '''In November of 2013, DifferenceMaker™ along with DCU hosted an Innovation Contest focusing on banking and financial innovation in the industry. With a grand prize of $500 per team member and peripheral prizes of $100 per team member, the contest gave thousands to innovative teams and cutting edge ideas. 

·       '''DifferenceMaker™ Reverse Pitch – '''This pitch event was debuted on November 19, 2013. This event was a spin off of “normal” idea challenges and hackathons. Instead of students pitching their ideas to funding sources or judges, businesses and community partners actually pitched their existing problems to a student audience in the hopes that they can develop a solution. The pitches included Merrimack Valley Housing Partnership, Lowell Telecommunications Corporation, Habitat for Humanity of Greater Lowell, Catie’s Closet and the Natick Soldier Research Development and Engineering Center. Students will be able to solve these problems and present them at the Annual IdeaChallenge for funding opportunities. 

·       '''Freshman Business Class-Lego Problem Solving-'''This Lego activity was a collaboration effort between the DifferenceMaker™ Program and the Manning School of Business to introduce students to the ideation development process and problem solving method, as well as helping them strengthen their ability to work in a team. Sessions were conducted in 9 classes with over 400 students participating. Prof. Deborah Finch of the Manning School of Business led this effort. 

·       '''DifferenceMaker™ Idea Challenge– '''DifferenceMaker™ is hosting its second annual Idea Challenge; this challenge is for student entrepreneurial teams to come up with sustainable ideas that will make some sort of impact on the world or their community. Help in the form of various workshops in the months leading up to the Idea Challenge is available, teaching students how to properly pitch their ideas and how to flesh out their business plans. There are various subcategories for each team to have a chance at winning spread out across over many different disciplines, encouraging all students to participate and welcoming all ideas. 

·       '''DifferenceMaker™ Workshops-'''In preparation for the annual DifferenceMaker™ IdeaChallenge, we offer our students a series of educational entrepreneurial workshops throughout the spring semester.

o   Team Building Mixer

o   Identifying Problems and Opportunities

o   Developing Solutions

o   Identifying Resources

o   Rocket Pitch Coaching 

·       '''Promoting the Campus Catalyst Program'''-The DifferenceMaker™ Program works closely with 'E For All', a community business accelerator funded by the Deshpande Foundation, in order to encourage students to generate and develop their entrepreneurial ideas. The Sandbox Campus Catalyst program provided seed funding for student social and business solutions with potential. Catalyst information was provided to students at all DifferenceMaker™ events. Students also received consultation when applying to the Campus Catalyst Program.  The DifferenceMaker™ application and Campus Catalyst application were similar in content so that unity between these programs would be maximized.  

·       '''DifferenceMaker™ Program Promotion-'''In order to promote awareness of, and participation in, DifferenceMaker™ activities among faculty, staff, and students, a variety of outreach materials were developed and distributed across the University. These activities included program launch events, a DifferenceMaker™ website, a Facebook site, a Twitter feed (UML_Difference), various posters, postcards, presentations to classrooms, workshops, office hours, email blasts, and information tables. 

·       '''TeamMaker Platform''' - Allows students to build their project teams by posting their project ideas and information online where they can then search for “seekers” (students interested in becoming part of a team). On the other hand, “seekers” can utilize the TeamMaker Platform by posting their project interests and skills, and seeking projects/teams to work with. This platform facilitates team formation. 

 

'''DifferenceMaker™ Program Available Resources Include:'''

•       DifferenceMaker™ Central

•       Large open office collaboration space equipped with Wi-Fi, 3 Mac computers, printer/copier, 2 46” LCD TV monitors with projection capabilities, 6 white boards, 10 tables with chairs all equipped with wheels that can be easily rearranged for optimal use and collaboration, refrigerator, sink, cabinet space, coffee maker and other necessary office supplies.

•       Funding Opportunities

•       Idea Challenge

•       Other competitions:

•       DCU Innovation Contest

•       FAHSS Creative Venture Competition

•       Hawk  Hatch

•       Philanthropic Crowd Funding Source

•       Grants

•       Networking

•       Connection to faculty, staff, and alumni

•       Mentors

•       Faculty Fellows and DifferenceMaker™ Staff

•       Events

•       Series of Educational Entrepreneurial Workshops including materials

•       Problem, Opportunity, Solution, Resources, Pitch Coaching

•       Team Building Assistance

•       TeamMaker Platform, Team Building Mixer

•       Enterprise co-op positions

Through the Center for Innovation & Entrepreneurship, along with affiliated faculty and other campus programs, the University has introduced a range of activities that help students make a difference in the world.

 

'''DifferenceMaker™ Inaugural Year Statistics'''

·       72 DifferenceMaker™ events held in inaugural year

·       3,500  students who participates in a DifferenceMaker™ event this past year

·       $25,000  of funds awarded to 10 IdeaChallenge finalist teams

·       1,265  freshman participating in summer rapid ideation workshops

·       112  students who participated in the First Annual IdeaChallenge

·       22  cross discipline relationships notes between students among IdeaChallenge teams

·       24  academic disciplines represented by students in the IdeaChallenge teams

  

'''2015 DifferenceMaker™ IdeaChallenge Finalists'''

'''Campus-Wide DifferenceMaker™'''

'''$7,000'''

'''Significant Social Impact'''

'''1st Place - $4,000'''

 

'''2nd Place - $2,000'''

 

'''Sustainable Environment'''

'''Innovative Technology'''

'''1st Place - $4,000''' '''OTTOnomous'''

'''First to Market'''

'''1st Place - $4,000'''

'''2nd Place - $2,000'''

'''2nd Place - $2,000'''

<div>'''Honorable Mention DifferenceMaker™'''</div>
'''$1000'''

 

 

'''Fan Favorite'''


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'''DifferenceMaker™ Future Efforts:'''

The DifferenceMaker™ Program plans to continue many of the activities and events initiated in the first year of the program.  Some of these programs will be revised and they intend to launch several new initiatives, including a DifferenceMaker™ Passport Program, a DifferenceMaker™ Mentor Program and a seed grant program to encourage faculty participation in the DifferenceMaker™ program. They also plan to expand our collaboration with several University colleges. 

This year they plan to increase the role of DifferenceMaker™ Living Learning Community students in the DifferenceMaker™ program by training the members to become DifferenceMaker™ ambassadors once they transition into their sophomore year  through weekly meetings and monthly events. The training will allow LLC members to learn more about entrepreneurship and the DifferenceMaker™ Program so they can promote it to student clubs and campus classes.  Once the LLC students become sophomores they will transition into a DifferenceMaker™ Ambassador role, and hopefully will form the nucleus of a yet-to-be-formed DifferenceMaker™ student club.  

In order to assist students to both record and encourage their participation in DifferenceMaker™ events, they are planning the development and implementation of a DifferenceMaker™ Passport Program. Consistent with the goals of the UMass Lowell DifferenceMaker™ Program, the Passport Program will assist students to identify, record and collect experiences meant to: 

·      Develop individual entrepreneurial identity

·      Develop entrepreneurial skills and self-confidence

·      Develop creative and sustainable solutions to complex problems

·      Connect with the University, E For All and community entrepreneurial ecosystems

They anticipate that the number of students engaged in the DifferenceMaker™ Program and related activities will increase each year. As they encourage and reward the formation of various types of student ventures and projects, the need for mentors who can consult with student teams will increase. They plan to guide these students and track their progress through a professional Mentor Program. The UMass Lowell Mentor Program will provide a committed network of mentors with a broad set of skills and professional experiences, who can assist UMass Lowell entrepreneurs in developing the knowledge and skills, needed to grow an idea into a successful, new venture.

The DM UMass Lowell Mentor Program will seek to connect DifferenceMaker™ students with successful experienced entrepreneurs and alumnus, as well as faculty and staff.  The Mentor Program will focus on assisting students to further develop solutions as part of the DifferenceMaker™ Program. Mentors will provide guidance in further refining student team objectives and help them in building their entrepreneurial skillsets.

They are planning to offer DifferenceMaker™ Faculty Workshops to help faculty consider how they might engage their own students in DifferenceMaker™ activities through course related activities and through co-curricular activities. Our hope is that by engaging more faculty, they in turn will serve as both mentors and catalysts for students, encouraging and guiding student project selection and development. They have also observed that student teams often need support and guidance from faculty from different disciplines, these workshops and an accompanying seed grant program are meant as catalysts to encourage interdisciplinary engagement among faculty,

While the overarching goal of the DifferenceMaker™ program is to encourage UMass Lowell students to develop sustainable and entrepreneurial solutions to the challenges and opportunities they will confront in this world, they anticipate another, potentially significant impact on the University community itself. Our students will only be successful if they have the support of faculty, alumni, business and community members. During our first year of program activities, they have found these constituents to be most supportive and willing to mentor and work with our students.  Alumni are mentoring and investing in student ventures.  Faculty are working across disciplines to ensure their student teams make progress. Local profit and non-profit businesses are eager to work with student teams, providing real-world problems and opportunities for student projects. In one short year, the DifferenceMaker™ program has been embraced by the greater University community. Our hope and plan is to anchor this program in the curriculum and culture of the University, so all UMass Lowell students have an opportunity to make a difference in this world.

 

'''DifferenceMaker™ Contact:'''

[mailto:differencemaker@uml.edu differencemaker@uml.edu]

'''facebook.com/differenceUML'''

'''twitter: @difference_UML'''

 

=== '''Commercial Venture and Intellectual Property Office (CVIP):''' ===

Commercial Ventures and Intellectual Property (CVIP) is responsible for the protection and commercialization of intellectual property at UMass Lowell. 

 

'''CVIP Mission: ''' 

The mission of UMass Lowell’s Office of Commercial Ventures and Intellectual Property (CVIP) is to facilitate the transfer of technology arising from government, foundation and industrial sponsored university research to the private sector. They facilitate development of inventions toward commercial relevance and utility, nurture mutually beneficial and sustainable relationships between the University and industry, promote an innovative and entrepreneurial culture at the University and contribute to the economic vibrancy and well-being of the Commonwealth. CVIP’s activities enable the successful transfer of commercially viable technology from the laboratory to the marketplace for public use and benefit. 

'''CVIP Functions:'''

  The main objectives of CVIP are:

·       to license patents and other protections to industry in order to promote the development of inventions toward practical application;

·       to foster a culture of innovation, facilitate commercially promising endeavors, and positively contribute to the University’s entrepreneurial ecosystem;

·       to seek new business opportunities and form productive collaborations with industry in an effort to increase research and licensing revenue to the University;

·       to generate income for inventors and the University as a whole for use in supporting further research, technology development and transfer;

·       to advocate for the research community and seek to create incentives, provide rewards and obtain resources to advance commercialization of the technologies they generate.

 

'''CVIP--Contact:'''

*[mailto:Jill_Murthi@uml.edu Jill S. Murthi], Director of CVIP by email: [mailto:Jill_Murthi@uml.edu Jill_Murthi@uml.edu] or phone: 978-934-4722
*[mailto:Rajnish_Kaushik@uml.edu Rajnish Kaushik], Licensing & Business Development Manager of CVIP by email: [mailto:Rajnish_Kaushik@uml.edu Rajnish_Kaushik@uml.edu] or phone: 978-934-4708

 

=== New Venture Initiative: ===

New Venture Initiative (NVI) is a mix of university resources and equity investment designed to provide a path to and facilitate more start-up activity at UMass Lowell.  As part of the larger Commercial Venture and Intellectual Property Office (CVIP), the NVI fund focuses on inventions, discoveries, products and services that have been developed in whole or in part at UMass Lowell, have achieved proof of concept (or an early prototype) and are ready for commercial product development, rather than those requiring further basic research.  For more information please contact [mailto:Nancy_Saucier@uml.edu Nancy Saucier], Director of New Venture Development.

 

=== '''Massachusetts Medical Device Development Center (M2D2):''' ===

The Massachusetts Medical Device Development Center (M2D2) is a lifeline for the state’s smaller medical device companies, offering inventors and executives easy, affordable, and coordinated access to world-class researchers and resources at the Lowell and Worcester campuses of the University of Massachusetts.

'''M2D2 Available Resources:'''

*9000 square feet of space on second floor including:
**6 wet laboratory suites
**Two office suites
**Large open office collaboration area
**Board room
**Reception area
**Break Room equipped with a table and chairs, full size refrigerator, microwave, sink, dishwasher, and coffee maker
*5000 square feet of space on first floor including:
**Six individual offices 
**Bright shared kitchen space equipped with a table and chairs, full size refrigerator and sink
**One large state of the art conference room with full pull down screen, computer with web access and a projector  
**All conference rooms contain a 46" Aquos LCD screen, as well as computer with web access and a projector
**Business and medical feasibility assessments
**Product development space
**Medical and clinical pathway assistance
**Connection to additional services such as laboratory use, incubator space for start-ups and clinical trial support through the product life cycle
**SBIR and STTR research
**Access to capital
**Networking events
**New Venture Competitions

 

'''M2D2--Contact'''

[mailto:Stephen_McCarthy@uml.edu Stephen McCarthy], Co-Director of M2D2

 

=== '''E For All (Formerly Merrimack Valley Sandbox)''' ===

'E for All' is a project of the Deshpande Foundation, which has encouraged the use of entrepreneurship and innovation as catalysts for sustainable change in the United States, India and Canada since 1996. Deshpande supported centers including the MIT Deshpande Center for Technological Innovation, the Deshpande Center for Social Innovation in Hubli, India, the Pond-Deshpande Centre at the University of New Brunswick, and our own 'E For All'  at the University of Massachusetts Lowell. 'E for All' includes higher education partners (Middlesex Community College, Merrimack College and Northern Essex Community College) and a host of regional community and business partners.

'''E for All Mission'''

The mission of 'E For All' is to connect and strengthen the ecosystem in Lowell and Lawrence, Massachusetts, around entrepreneurship and leadership. This mission is supported by the following three principle 'E For All' programs:

·       Catalysts-The Catalyst program provides seed funding and mentoring support to foster initiative around new ideas and programs among local high school and college students.

·       Entrepreneurship-The Entrepreneur Program is a community-wide initiative supporting entrepreneurship. More than 30 partner organizations and institutions are participating in this initiative, which gives entrepreneurs a greater chance at success through pitch contests, workshops and intensive programs. 

·       Leadership-The 'E For All' Leadership Institute (SLI) offers leadership development for individuals that live, work or are interested in the communities of Lawrence and Lowell. 

'''Learn more''': [http://www.uml.edu/Innovation-Entrepreneurship/MV-Sandbox.aspx http://www.uml.edu/Innovation-Entrepreneurship/MV-Sandbox.aspx]

=== Other Organizations ===

'''Entrepreneurial Ventures Association''': EVA is an interdisciplinary organization that is open to all majors; they share resources, advice, and interests with other COM and UML clubs to help students turn their entrepreneurial ideas into reality.  [https://umasslowellclubs.collegiatelink.net/organization/entrepreneurial-ventures-association/about https://umasslowellclubs.collegiatelink.net/organization/entrepreneurial-ventures-association/about]

'''Honors Ambassador Program: '''Students participate in the Honors Ambassador Program to gain valuable experience through courses tailored for higher development and to foster relationships with communities and organizations that the program is involved with. [http://www.umlhonors.com/ http://www.umlhonors.com/]

UMass Lowell hosts over 140 different clubs and communities, most of which are geared towards equipping students to become leaders and innovators in society. A full list full of information can be found here: [https://umasslowellclubs.collegiatelink.net/Organizations https://umasslowellclubs.collegiatelink.net/Organizations]

= '''University Entrepreneurship''' =

=== Creative New Academic Programs ===

'''The Manning School of Business'''  The Manning School of Business offers two academic programs focused on entrepreneurship:

*[http://www.uml.edu/MSB/management/Entrepreneurship.aspx Undergraduate - Entrepreneurship Concentration]: Prepares students to be "outside-of-the-box" thinkers and innovators in today's complex global economy.

The '''entrepreneurship concentration''' prepares students to be an "outside of the box" thinker and innovator in today's complex global economy. Using an interdisciplinary focus, students who complete the concentration will:

*Develop the management skills required to identify and launch new business ventures around innovative products, services and technologies. 
*Develop an understanding of the concepts and activities associated with entrepreneurship and innovation. 
*Understand the financial aspects of an entrepreneurial venture from start-up to "harvest". 
*Discover their individual "entrepreneurial spirit" through experiential learning in interdisciplinary classes and the College's Venture Lab.

The required courses within the Entrepreneurship concentration consist of:

#Starting a New Venture 
#Corporate Entrepreneurship 
#Managing Innovation 
#Finance for Emerging Business Enterprises
#Entrepreneurial Strategy & Implementation (Fall '14 not yet required)
#Study Abroad in India (not required, entrepreneurship focused)

[http://www.uml.edu/MSB/Graduate-Programs/MSITE.aspx Graduate - Master of Science in Innovation and Technological Entrepreneurship (MSITE)]: Provides engineers, business majors and scientists with the skills and knowledge required to drive innovation in today's collaborative, global workforce.

[http://www.uml.edu/MSB/Graduate-Programs/MSITEhealthcare.aspx Graduate - Master of Science in Innovation and Technological Entrepreneurship (MSITE) Healthcare Innovation & Entrepreneurship (HI+E) Option]: This option is targeted towards healthcare professionals, such as hospital managers/administrators, clinicians, physicians and other medical professionals who need to understand and manage the impact of emerging technologies and innovations in the healthcare industry. The Program will also benefit recent graduates who wish to enter the healthcare industries as a career choice.

[http://www.uml.edu/MSB/Program-of-study/New-Venture-Creation.aspx Graduate Certificate - New Venture Creation]: This program is focused specifically on the creation of technology-based ventures and is designed to assist professionals with undergraduate and career experience in science, engineering, technology or business fields in better understanding how to develop and launch a technology-based business.

'''College of Sciences, Computer Science Department'''

The Computer Science Department offers an [http://www.uml.edu/Catalog/Graduate/Sciences/Computer-Science/MS-in-Computer-Science-Entrepreneurship-Option.aspx entrepreneurship option] in their master's degree. It is directed at those with a strong undergraduate background in Computer Science who are interested in both deepening their technical knowledge and in understanding the tools required for developing a company directed towards software services and products.

'''College of Engineering, Electrical and Computer Engineering Department, Assistive Technology Program'''

A component of the undergraduate Electrical and Computer Engineering program, senior ECE students complete a [http://atp.caeds.eng.uml.edu/index.html senior capstone project] aimed at designing and producing an assistive technology device for a person with a disability. Engineering students can apply the knowledge they have learned from their courses and help solve problems for disabled people through creating technological advances. 

== Entrepreneurial Capital Projects and Acquisitions ==

=== '''The Mark and Elisia Saab Emerging Technologies and Innovation Center''' ===

This new UMass Lowell 2012-13 construction is a building developed for bringing innovation and industry together. Faculty and student researchers use the resources available in this building to meet industry challenges and improve lives using UMass Lowell technologies and patents. Core facilities for use in fundamental and translational research are available to faculty and students; it contains class 100, 1,000, and 10,000 cleanroom spaces, wet lab and engineering lab space, and a plastics processing high bay. The ETIC is has LEED Gold Certification, and is considered green. The construction of this building also is estimated to supporting at least 130 new jobs.

 

=== '''Health and Social Sciences Building'''  ===

This new building that houses criminal justice and criminology, nursing, and psychology provides classrooms, simulation laboratories, observation facilities, a demonstration hospital wing, and ample meeting space for community projects. The construction of this new building supported more than 800 construction and related jobs, and provided the much needed resources and space for UMass Lowell’s growing social science population.

= '''University-Industry Collaboration''' =

'''Research Activities'''

UMass Lowell places a large focus on professional research, as evidenced by the ample lab space professors have to work with in buildings such as the ETIC. A comprehensive list of all research areas and information about them can be found on the UMass Lowell website. [http://www.uml.edu/Research/Centers/default.aspx http://www.uml.edu/Research/Centers/default.aspx]

==== Center for Industrial Competitiveness ====

For nearly 20 years, UMass Lowell’s Center for Industrial Competitiveness has conducted research on industrial innovation, regional development, corporate governance, financialization, and sustainable prosperity. Resources available stretch all around the world through collaborative networks and relationships, providing ample information and a global understanding on development. Research also includes local industrial development in Massachusetts. 

UMass Lowell has a page dedicated to the CIC researchers and their work, which can be found here: [http://www.uml.edu/centers/cic/Research/Research.html http://www.uml.edu/centers/cic/Research/Research.html]

= '''Regional and Local Economic Development''' =

'''Economic and Social Development of Regions Department:'''

This graduate program focuses on giving an interdisciplinary education that is tailored to fit the needs of the individual. By educating both the private and public sectors of economic and social development, this program aims to create work ready individuals that can bring innovation and change to shifting social and economic environment.

'''Lowell Makes''' 

“A membership‐driven collaborative space equipped with a wide variety of tools, machines, materials, computers and other resources where individuals can gain and practice modern skills with state‐of‐the‐art technology, access to resources they could not otherwise, and a community of creative minded people who make all kinds of things. “Art is the Handmaid of Human Good” is both the City of Lowell’s motto, and a reminder of Lowell’s rich industrial and artistic history as our inspiration.” - [http://www.lowellmakes.com/proposal/ http://www.lowellmakes.com/proposal/]

Lowell makes was founded to be a space where those who do not have access to certain equipment to bring their ideas to life will have that access they need and have the support they need to push their innovation to the next level. It is a space that has resources tailored for budding entrepreneurs, and can be rented out by anyone with a plan. 

'''Mill No.5'''

Mill No.5 is one of the few non-UML entrepreneurial constructs in the Lowell urban environment. Like many mills in Lowell, it has been renovated and repurposed. Being subdivided and updated to proper code, there are rooms available for offices and start-ups looking to have an office space to centralize their resources. 

= '''Conclusion''' =

Entrepreneurship is a strategic objective at the University of Massachusetts Lowell.  During the last five years, UMass Lowell has re-positioned itself with students, faculty, staff, and the community as a true public enterprise committed to taking an entrepreneurial approach to innovation in all aspects of its structure.   A rapidly expanding innovation ecosystem encourages and guides entrepreneurial action, whether academically or commercially, amongst its faculty and student body -- fostering an entrepreneurial approach to economic development through a variety of programs and activities. UMass Lowell will continue to thrive in all aspects of entrepreneurship and innovation.  

= Related Links =

University Innovation Fellows:
[http://universityinnovation.org/wiki/Stephen_Kender Stephen Kender][[Ana Gouveia|Ana Gouveia]][[James Abdallah|James Abdallah]][[KevinMDesjardins|Kevin Desjardins]][[Jacob Hulme|Jacob Hulme]][[UMass Lowell Student Priorities|UMass Lowell Student Priorities]]
[[Category:Universities]]

School:University of Massachusetts Lowell

2015-10-12T18:21:32Z

Ephenstephen:

<div style="float: right; clear: right;">[[File:UMass-Lowell-logo.png]]</div>
The University of Massachusetts Lowell (also known as UMass Lowell or UML) is a [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Public_university public] [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_research_universities_in_the_United_States doctoral/research] university in [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lowell,_Massachusetts Lowell], [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Massachusetts Massachusetts], [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_States United States],and part of the [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/University_of_Massachusetts University of Massachusetts] system. With more than 1,100 faculty members and more than 16,000 students, it is the largest university in the [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Merrimack_Valley Merrimack Valley] and the second-largest public institution in the state behind UMass Amherst. The university offers more than 120 degree choices, internships, bachelor’s to master’s programs and doctoral studies in the College of Fine Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences; College of Health Sciences; College of Sciences; the Francis College of Engineering; the Graduate School of Education; and the Manning School of Business.

= '''Overview - A Campus on the Move''' =

UMass Lowell has been evolving in every aspect; upgraded classrooms, libraries and labs; new and renovated student living and activity spaces; and enhanced parking facilities are a few on the list of what has been updated and changed over the past decade of campus improvement.

*University Crossing: Officially completed and operating, this new building hosts student services and activities, bookstore, dining, University police, transportation services, and senior administration offices.
*Pulichino Tong Building: The University’s current construction project, the Tong Building will replace the now-relocated Honor’s Eames Dorm building on UMass Lowell’s North Campus and will house the entirety of the Robert J. Manning School of Business.
*University Suites: This brand new dorm on UMass Lowell’s East campus provides housing for 472 students in four- and six-bed suites. There is a ground-floor common area with a café - Hawk's Nest - featuring fresh bakery, grab & go items and a late night Asian menu, in addition to delicious Red Mango frozen yogurt & smoothies and "We proudly serve" Starbucks Coffee. A multi-purpose room is open to the UMass Lowell community. Each residential floor has two common kitchen/lounge areas, two quiet study rooms and a group study room.
*Riverview Suites: The other half of the two-dorm addition to UMass Lowell in 2013, Riverview Suites has either two or three bedroom suites complete with a live-in kitchen, classroom and meeting rooms inside the building, and a gym inside the facility. The University leases the property from Soho Development, who also built the $42 million facility.
*New Garages: In the past three years, UMass Lowell has added two large parking garages to each of its largest parking lots, greatly increasing the parking capacity for the strong commuter presence attending the school.
*Health and Social Sciences Building: In 2013, this new criminal justice and criminology, nursing and psychology building had its grand opening. The construction of this building marked the first new construction in 30 years on the University’s South Campus, including all campuses in the University’s recent wave of evolution.

Since 2009, the University has also been heavily updating the existing buildings while acquiring and renovating new ones. UMass Lowell renovated the newly acquired Inn and Conference Center, added Taco Bell and Subway to the University’s dining partners, renovated the newly acquired Tsongas Center, and heavily updated their Dining Hall in the tallest UMass Lowell building, Fox Hall 

== 2015 Innovation Fellows Plans ==

[https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1ZwhfzohFPyuM4Vutiho8ZAuV8Jmq-JxBJ2vNaGZe-kY/edit?usp=sharing Landscape Canvas ]

[https://docs.google.com/presentation/d/1o3F2IN8YoWKMk83r0SoAfr5NH_qUw7RFa2ZxjslksQM/edit?usp=sharing Startup Lean Presentation]

= '''Student Entrepreneurship''' =

'''NonSpec '''

[http://www.nonspec.org/ NonSpec] participated in the 2013 first annual DifferenceMaker™ Idea Challenge where they showed dedication and enthusiasm by attending each educational workshop and event throughout the process which aided in their success.  At the Idea Challenge they received the prestigious title of “Campus Wide DifferenceMaker™” and the top award of $5,000. This prize represents the project most likely to make a significant difference in the community, region and the world.

The $5,000 award has allowed Nonspec to move their initiative forward by creating their first batch of prosthetic limbs. With a projected 15% market share in the next five years, Nonspec plans to use this market presence to launch a foundation called “Give a Hand”. The purpose of this foundation would be to spread their mission, goals, charitable cause, and products around the world in order to make a difference in developing nations.

Since Nonspec’s success at the Idea Challenge they have gained great publicity in other arenas.  They were recently named one of the top 10 semi-finalists in Entrepreneur® Magazine’s “College Entrepreneur of 2013 Contest”.  In addition, they were invited to attend [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ppnzNSnxi-g The International Association of Plastics Distribution (IAPD) “Plastics Application Design Competition”], which was held on October 2, 2013 in Miami, Florida.  Lastly, the team was utilized as a role model by being featured in a [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aLwLg4XHrck video] that was shown at all DifferenceMaker™ freshman orientation sessions throughout the summer due to their motivation and high entrepreneurial spirits.

=== ===

= Departments and Programs =

== '''Center for Innovation and Entrepreneurship''' ==

 “ The Center for Innovation and Entrepreneurship offers students and faculty of all disciplines the opportunity to work together to develop innovative and entrepreneurial solutions to the major problems facing our community, the region and the world. The Center hosts several programs that encourage social innovation and entrepreneurship among UMass Lowell students as well as the broader community in which we live. The DifferenceMaker program provides training, mentoring and other resources to UMass Lowell students and faculty who wish to address social, environmental and economic problems in our community. “

 

=== '''DifferenceMaker™''' ===

'''About DifferenceMaker™:''' 

The DifferenceMaker™ Program sponsors specific events and activities that support students in solving big problems through innovation and entrepreneurship. The Program is highly experiential by offering students a series of workshops that they can engage in to better understand innovation, entrepreneurship and launching a start-up of their interest.

Students of all majors and disciplines are welcome to join this Program and make a difference at UMass Lowell, in the community or in the world through innovative and entrepreneurial action. These DifferenceMaker™ projects include interdisciplinary student teams from all majors and skill sets. 

 

'''Goals of DifferenceMaker™:''' 

·      Introduce all UMass students to creative problem solving, innovation and entrepreneurship

·      Accelerate purpose in each students education

·      Connect current students to alumni experience

·      Encourage a social responsibility ethos

 

'''DifferenceMaker™ Available Activities Include:'''

·       '''DifferenceMaker™ Central-'''DifferenceMaker™ Central was opened in May 2013.  This space is a dedicated entrepreneurial area with a vibrant start-up community atmosphere.  The space was made for all entrepreneurial teams to come together to work, brainstorm, and network. Student teams have access to flexible workstations, televisions, computers, mentors, and a dynamic meeting space to develop their ideas and collaborate amongst their teammates and fellow students.

·       '''DifferenceMaker™ Enterprise Co-op''''''in the Center for Innovation and Entrepreneurship''''''-'''Throughout each year, DifferenceMaker™ will hire several students from various majors to participate in paid co-op experiences. Student co-ops assist in conducting and summarizing entrepreneurial research, developing and distributing marketing materials for various center initiatives, and provide center support for faculty and innovation fellows affiliate with the center.  

·       '''Freshman Make A Difference Orientation – '''During the summer sessions, DifferenceMaker™ has a large presence in the Freshman Orientation days. Through the Office of Orientation, Student Activities and Leadership, and ResLife, DifferenceMaker™ was able to present to every attending freshman and gain exposure to all of the new students at UMass Lowell. 

·       '''Freshman DifferenceMaker™ Convocation-''' At the beginning of each academic year, we present DifferenceMaker™ to every incoming freshman at Convocation. Each year we perform a fun activity to engage students in our program.

·       '''Introduction to DifferenceMaker™-Freshman Seminars-'''A series of in-class discussions in collaboration with the Manning School of Business, The Francis College of Engineering, The College of Fine Arts, Humanities, and Social Sciences, and The College of Health Sciences in order to introduce the DifferenceMaker™ Program to students of all disciplines and to inspire them to explore their passions through creative problem solving.

·       '''Introduction to the DifferenceMaker™ Program-'''A series of events were held on both the north and south campuses to introduce students to DifferenceMaker™ Program concepts, allow them to share their ideas and interests, explore possible projects and solution, and to connected with each other to form teams. These events included the DifferenceMaker™ Convocation Pitch, the Climate Change Teach-in, a DifferenceMaker™ Team Building Dinner, and others.

·       '''DifferenceMaker™ LLC – '''Having a presence in the student residence halls as well as the classroom is important to motivate students and discover new ideas waiting to happen. The DifferenceMaker™ Living/Learning Community brings new students together in the ResLife environment for innovation and brainstorming outside of the classroom. 

·       '''Honors DifferenceMaker™ Program –''' In collaboration with UMass Lowell Honors Program, this concerted effort to embed elements of social entrepreneurship in our Honors Program includes coursework and community-based student efforts that have specific focus on innovation and entrepreneurial practices.

·       '''Introduction to Engineering-'''Extra Credit Project-This activity was a collaboration effort between the DifferenceMaker™ Program and The Francis College of Engineering to introduce freshman engineering majors to the DifferenceMaker™ Program, innovation, and entrepreneurship. In this introductory activity, the students’ innovative ideas were explored and presented in a format which would enable their projects to be candidates for both the DifferenceMaker™ Program Idea Challenge and Campus Catalyst program.

·       '''Creative Venture Competition - '''This contest held in October of 2013 hosted by DifferenceMaker™ focused on innovation from Arts, Humanities, and Social Science students. $2500 was awarded to the best entrepreneurial business a proposal, and $250 to each finalist team was also awarded. 

·       '''Digital Federal Credit Union Innovation Contest – '''In November of 2013, DifferenceMaker™ along with DCU hosted an Innovation Contest focusing on banking and financial innovation in the industry. With a grand prize of $500 per team member and peripheral prizes of $100 per team member, the contest gave thousands to innovative teams and cutting edge ideas. 

·       '''DifferenceMaker™ Reverse Pitch – '''This pitch event was debuted on November 19, 2013. This event was a spin off of “normal” idea challenges and hackathons. Instead of students pitching their ideas to funding sources or judges, businesses and community partners actually pitched their existing problems to a student audience in the hopes that they can develop a solution. The pitches included Merrimack Valley Housing Partnership, Lowell Telecommunications Corporation, Habitat for Humanity of Greater Lowell, Catie’s Closet and the Natick Soldier Research Development and Engineering Center. Students will be able to solve these problems and present them at the Annual IdeaChallenge for funding opportunities. 

·       '''Freshman Business Class-Lego Problem Solving-'''This Lego activity was a collaboration effort between the DifferenceMaker™ Program and the Manning School of Business to introduce students to the ideation development process and problem solving method, as well as helping them strengthen their ability to work in a team. Sessions were conducted in 9 classes with over 400 students participating. Prof. Deborah Finch of the Manning School of Business led this effort. 

·       '''DifferenceMaker™ Idea Challenge– '''DifferenceMaker™ is hosting its second annual Idea Challenge; this challenge is for student entrepreneurial teams to come up with sustainable ideas that will make some sort of impact on the world or their community. Help in the form of various workshops in the months leading up to the Idea Challenge is available, teaching students how to properly pitch their ideas and how to flesh out their business plans. There are various subcategories for each team to have a chance at winning spread out across over many different disciplines, encouraging all students to participate and welcoming all ideas. 

·       '''DifferenceMaker™ Workshops-'''In preparation for the annual DifferenceMaker™ IdeaChallenge, we offer our students a series of educational entrepreneurial workshops throughout the spring semester.

o   Team Building Mixer

o   Identifying Problems and Opportunities

o   Developing Solutions

o   Identifying Resources

o   Rocket Pitch Coaching 

·       '''Promoting the Campus Catalyst Program'''-The DifferenceMaker™ Program works closely with 'E For All', a community business accelerator funded by the Deshpande Foundation, in order to encourage students to generate and develop their entrepreneurial ideas. The Sandbox Campus Catalyst program provided seed funding for student social and business solutions with potential. Catalyst information was provided to students at all DifferenceMaker™ events. Students also received consultation when applying to the Campus Catalyst Program.  The DifferenceMaker™ application and Campus Catalyst application were similar in content so that unity between these programs would be maximized.  

·       '''DifferenceMaker™ Program Promotion-'''In order to promote awareness of, and participation in, DifferenceMaker™ activities among faculty, staff, and students, a variety of outreach materials were developed and distributed across the University. These activities included program launch events, a DifferenceMaker™ website, a Facebook site, a Twitter feed (UML_Difference), various posters, postcards, presentations to classrooms, workshops, office hours, email blasts, and information tables. 

·       '''TeamMaker Platform''' - Allows students to build their project teams by posting their project ideas and information online where they can then search for “seekers” (students interested in becoming part of a team). On the other hand, “seekers” can utilize the TeamMaker Platform by posting their project interests and skills, and seeking projects/teams to work with. This platform facilitates team formation. 

 

'''DifferenceMaker™ Program Available Resources Include:'''

•       DifferenceMaker™ Central

•       Large open office collaboration space equipped with Wi-Fi, 3 Mac computers, printer/copier, 2 46” LCD TV monitors with projection capabilities, 6 white boards, 10 tables with chairs all equipped with wheels that can be easily rearranged for optimal use and collaboration, refrigerator, sink, cabinet space, coffee maker and other necessary office supplies.

•       Funding Opportunities

•       Idea Challenge

•       Other competitions:

•       DCU Innovation Contest

•       FAHSS Creative Venture Competition

•       Hawk  Hatch

•       Philanthropic Crowd Funding Source

•       Grants

•       Networking

•       Connection to faculty, staff, and alumni

•       Mentors

•       Faculty Fellows and DifferenceMaker™ Staff

•       Events

•       Series of Educational Entrepreneurial Workshops including materials

•       Problem, Opportunity, Solution, Resources, Pitch Coaching

•       Team Building Assistance

•       TeamMaker Platform, Team Building Mixer

•       Enterprise co-op positions

Through the Center for Innovation & Entrepreneurship, along with affiliated faculty and other campus programs, the University has introduced a range of activities that help students make a difference in the world.

 

'''DifferenceMaker™ Inaugural Year Statistics'''

·       72 DifferenceMaker™ events held in inaugural year

·       3,500  students who participates in a DifferenceMaker™ event this past year

·       $25,000  of funds awarded to 10 IdeaChallenge finalist teams

·       1,265  freshman participating in summer rapid ideation workshops

·       112  students who participated in the First Annual IdeaChallenge

·       22  cross discipline relationships notes between students among IdeaChallenge teams

·       24  academic disciplines represented by students in the IdeaChallenge teams

  

'''2015 DifferenceMaker™ IdeaChallenge Finalists'''

'''Campus-Wide DifferenceMaker™'''

'''$7,000'''

'''Significant Social Impact'''

'''1st Place - $4,000'''

 

'''2nd Place - $2,000'''

 

'''Sustainable Environment'''

'''Innovative Technology'''

'''1st Place - $4,000''' '''OTTOnomous'''

'''First to Market'''

'''1st Place - $4,000'''

'''2nd Place - $2,000'''

'''2nd Place - $2,000'''

<div>'''Honorable Mention DifferenceMaker™'''</div>
'''$1000'''

 

 

'''Fan Favorite'''


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'''DifferenceMaker™ Future Efforts:'''

The DifferenceMaker™ Program plans to continue many of the activities and events initiated in the first year of the program.  Some of these programs will be revised and they intend to launch several new initiatives, including a DifferenceMaker™ Passport Program, a DifferenceMaker™ Mentor Program and a seed grant program to encourage faculty participation in the DifferenceMaker™ program. They also plan to expand our collaboration with several University colleges. 

This year they plan to increase the role of DifferenceMaker™ Living Learning Community students in the DifferenceMaker™ program by training the members to become DifferenceMaker™ ambassadors once they transition into their sophomore year  through weekly meetings and monthly events. The training will allow LLC members to learn more about entrepreneurship and the DifferenceMaker™ Program so they can promote it to student clubs and campus classes.  Once the LLC students become sophomores they will transition into a DifferenceMaker™ Ambassador role, and hopefully will form the nucleus of a yet-to-be-formed DifferenceMaker™ student club.  

In order to assist students to both record and encourage their participation in DifferenceMaker™ events, they are planning the development and implementation of a DifferenceMaker™ Passport Program. Consistent with the goals of the UMass Lowell DifferenceMaker™ Program, the Passport Program will assist students to identify, record and collect experiences meant to: 

·      Develop individual entrepreneurial identity

·      Develop entrepreneurial skills and self-confidence

·      Develop creative and sustainable solutions to complex problems

·      Connect with the University, E For All and community entrepreneurial ecosystems

They anticipate that the number of students engaged in the DifferenceMaker™ Program and related activities will increase each year. As they encourage and reward the formation of various types of student ventures and projects, the need for mentors who can consult with student teams will increase. They plan to guide these students and track their progress through a professional Mentor Program. The UMass Lowell Mentor Program will provide a committed network of mentors with a broad set of skills and professional experiences, who can assist UMass Lowell entrepreneurs in developing the knowledge and skills, needed to grow an idea into a successful, new venture.

The DM UMass Lowell Mentor Program will seek to connect DifferenceMaker™ students with successful experienced entrepreneurs and alumnus, as well as faculty and staff.  The Mentor Program will focus on assisting students to further develop solutions as part of the DifferenceMaker™ Program. Mentors will provide guidance in further refining student team objectives and help them in building their entrepreneurial skillsets.

They are planning to offer DifferenceMaker™ Faculty Workshops to help faculty consider how they might engage their own students in DifferenceMaker™ activities through course related activities and through co-curricular activities. Our hope is that by engaging more faculty, they in turn will serve as both mentors and catalysts for students, encouraging and guiding student project selection and development. They have also observed that student teams often need support and guidance from faculty from different disciplines, these workshops and an accompanying seed grant program are meant as catalysts to encourage interdisciplinary engagement among faculty,

While the overarching goal of the DifferenceMaker™ program is to encourage UMass Lowell students to develop sustainable and entrepreneurial solutions to the challenges and opportunities they will confront in this world, they anticipate another, potentially significant impact on the University community itself. Our students will only be successful if they have the support of faculty, alumni, business and community members. During our first year of program activities, they have found these constituents to be most supportive and willing to mentor and work with our students.  Alumni are mentoring and investing in student ventures.  Faculty are working across disciplines to ensure their student teams make progress. Local profit and non-profit businesses are eager to work with student teams, providing real-world problems and opportunities for student projects. In one short year, the DifferenceMaker™ program has been embraced by the greater University community. Our hope and plan is to anchor this program in the curriculum and culture of the University, so all UMass Lowell students have an opportunity to make a difference in this world.

 

'''DifferenceMaker™ Contact:'''

[mailto:differencemaker@uml.edu differencemaker@uml.edu]

'''facebook.com/differenceUML'''

'''twitter: @difference_UML'''

 

=== '''Commercial Venture and Intellectual Property Office (CVIP):''' ===

Commercial Ventures and Intellectual Property (CVIP) is responsible for the protection and commercialization of intellectual property at UMass Lowell. 

 

'''CVIP Mission: ''' 

The mission of UMass Lowell’s Office of Commercial Ventures and Intellectual Property (CVIP) is to facilitate the transfer of technology arising from government, foundation and industrial sponsored university research to the private sector. They facilitate development of inventions toward commercial relevance and utility, nurture mutually beneficial and sustainable relationships between the University and industry, promote an innovative and entrepreneurial culture at the University and contribute to the economic vibrancy and well-being of the Commonwealth. CVIP’s activities enable the successful transfer of commercially viable technology from the laboratory to the marketplace for public use and benefit. 

'''CVIP Functions:'''

  The main objectives of CVIP are:

·       to license patents and other protections to industry in order to promote the development of inventions toward practical application;

·       to foster a culture of innovation, facilitate commercially promising endeavors, and positively contribute to the University’s entrepreneurial ecosystem;

·       to seek new business opportunities and form productive collaborations with industry in an effort to increase research and licensing revenue to the University;

·       to generate income for inventors and the University as a whole for use in supporting further research, technology development and transfer;

·       to advocate for the research community and seek to create incentives, provide rewards and obtain resources to advance commercialization of the technologies they generate.

 

'''CVIP--Contact:'''

*[mailto:Jill_Murthi@uml.edu Jill S. Murthi], Director of CVIP by email: [mailto:Jill_Murthi@uml.edu Jill_Murthi@uml.edu] or phone: 978-934-4722
*[mailto:Rajnish_Kaushik@uml.edu Rajnish Kaushik], Licensing & Business Development Manager of CVIP by email: [mailto:Rajnish_Kaushik@uml.edu Rajnish_Kaushik@uml.edu] or phone: 978-934-4708

 

=== New Venture Initiative: ===

New Venture Initiative (NVI) is a mix of university resources and equity investment designed to provide a path to and facilitate more start-up activity at UMass Lowell.  As part of the larger Commercial Venture and Intellectual Property Office (CVIP), the NVI fund focuses on inventions, discoveries, products and services that have been developed in whole or in part at UMass Lowell, have achieved proof of concept (or an early prototype) and are ready for commercial product development, rather than those requiring further basic research.  For more information please contact [mailto:Nancy_Saucier@uml.edu Nancy Saucier], Director of New Venture Development.

 

=== '''Massachusetts Medical Device Development Center (M2D2):''' ===

The Massachusetts Medical Device Development Center (M2D2) is a lifeline for the state’s smaller medical device companies, offering inventors and executives easy, affordable, and coordinated access to world-class researchers and resources at the Lowell and Worcester campuses of the University of Massachusetts.

'''M2D2 Available Resources:'''

*9000 square feet of space on second floor including:
**6 wet laboratory suites
**Two office suites
**Large open office collaboration area
**Board room
**Reception area
**Break Room equipped with a table and chairs, full size refrigerator, microwave, sink, dishwasher, and coffee maker
*5000 square feet of space on first floor including:
**Six individual offices 
**Bright shared kitchen space equipped with a table and chairs, full size refrigerator and sink
**One large state of the art conference room with full pull down screen, computer with web access and a projector  
**All conference rooms contain a 46" Aquos LCD screen, as well as computer with web access and a projector
**Business and medical feasibility assessments
**Product development space
**Medical and clinical pathway assistance
**Connection to additional services such as laboratory use, incubator space for start-ups and clinical trial support through the product life cycle
**SBIR and STTR research
**Access to capital
**Networking events
**New Venture Competitions

 

'''M2D2--Contact'''

[mailto:Stephen_McCarthy@uml.edu Stephen McCarthy], Co-Director of M2D2

 

=== '''E For All (Formerly Merrimack Valley Sandbox)''' ===

'E for All' is a project of the Deshpande Foundation, which has encouraged the use of entrepreneurship and innovation as catalysts for sustainable change in the United States, India and Canada since 1996. Deshpande supported centers including the MIT Deshpande Center for Technological Innovation, the Deshpande Center for Social Innovation in Hubli, India, the Pond-Deshpande Centre at the University of New Brunswick, and our own 'E For All'  at the University of Massachusetts Lowell. 'E for All' includes higher education partners (Middlesex Community College, Merrimack College and Northern Essex Community College) and a host of regional community and business partners.

'''E for All Mission'''

The mission of 'E For All' is to connect and strengthen the ecosystem in Lowell and Lawrence, Massachusetts, around entrepreneurship and leadership. This mission is supported by the following three principle 'E For All' programs:

·       Catalysts-The Catalyst program provides seed funding and mentoring support to foster initiative around new ideas and programs among local high school and college students.

·       Entrepreneurship-The Entrepreneur Program is a community-wide initiative supporting entrepreneurship. More than 30 partner organizations and institutions are participating in this initiative, which gives entrepreneurs a greater chance at success through pitch contests, workshops and intensive programs. 

·       Leadership-The 'E For All' Leadership Institute (SLI) offers leadership development for individuals that live, work or are interested in the communities of Lawrence and Lowell. 

'''Learn more''': [http://www.uml.edu/Innovation-Entrepreneurship/MV-Sandbox.aspx http://www.uml.edu/Innovation-Entrepreneurship/MV-Sandbox.aspx]

=== Other Organizations ===

'''Entrepreneurial Ventures Association''': EVA is an interdisciplinary organization that is open to all majors; they share resources, advice, and interests with other COM and UML clubs to help students turn their entrepreneurial ideas into reality.  [https://umasslowellclubs.collegiatelink.net/organization/entrepreneurial-ventures-association/about https://umasslowellclubs.collegiatelink.net/organization/entrepreneurial-ventures-association/about]

'''Honors Ambassador Program: '''Students participate in the Honors Ambassador Program to gain valuable experience through courses tailored for higher development and to foster relationships with communities and organizations that the program is involved with. [http://www.umlhonors.com/ http://www.umlhonors.com/]

UMass Lowell hosts over 140 different clubs and communities, most of which are geared towards equipping students to become leaders and innovators in society. A full list full of information can be found here: [https://umasslowellclubs.collegiatelink.net/Organizations https://umasslowellclubs.collegiatelink.net/Organizations]

= '''University Entrepreneurship''' =

=== Creative New Academic Programs ===

'''The Manning School of Business'''  The Manning School of Business offers two academic programs focused on entrepreneurship:

*[http://www.uml.edu/MSB/management/Entrepreneurship.aspx Undergraduate - Entrepreneurship Concentration]: Prepares students to be "outside-of-the-box" thinkers and innovators in today's complex global economy.

The '''entrepreneurship concentration''' prepares students to be an "outside of the box" thinker and innovator in today's complex global economy. Using an interdisciplinary focus, students who complete the concentration will:

*Develop the management skills required to identify and launch new business ventures around innovative products, services and technologies. 
*Develop an understanding of the concepts and activities associated with entrepreneurship and innovation. 
*Understand the financial aspects of an entrepreneurial venture from start-up to "harvest". 
*Discover their individual "entrepreneurial spirit" through experiential learning in interdisciplinary classes and the College's Venture Lab.

The required courses within the Entrepreneurship concentration consist of:

#Starting a New Venture 
#Corporate Entrepreneurship 
#Managing Innovation 
#Finance for Emerging Business Enterprises
#Entrepreneurial Strategy & Implementation (Fall '14 not yet required)
#Study Abroad in India (not required, entrepreneurship focused)

[http://www.uml.edu/MSB/Graduate-Programs/MSITE.aspx Graduate - Master of Science in Innovation and Technological Entrepreneurship (MSITE)]: Provides engineers, business majors and scientists with the skills and knowledge required to drive innovation in today's collaborative, global workforce.

[http://www.uml.edu/MSB/Graduate-Programs/MSITEhealthcare.aspx Graduate - Master of Science in Innovation and Technological Entrepreneurship (MSITE) Healthcare Innovation & Entrepreneurship (HI+E) Option]: This option is targeted towards healthcare professionals, such as hospital managers/administrators, clinicians, physicians and other medical professionals who need to understand and manage the impact of emerging technologies and innovations in the healthcare industry. The Program will also benefit recent graduates who wish to enter the healthcare industries as a career choice.

[http://www.uml.edu/MSB/Program-of-study/New-Venture-Creation.aspx Graduate Certificate - New Venture Creation]: This program is focused specifically on the creation of technology-based ventures and is designed to assist professionals with undergraduate and career experience in science, engineering, technology or business fields in better understanding how to develop and launch a technology-based business.

'''College of Sciences, Computer Science Department'''

The Computer Science Department offers an [http://www.uml.edu/Catalog/Graduate/Sciences/Computer-Science/MS-in-Computer-Science-Entrepreneurship-Option.aspx entrepreneurship option] in their master's degree. It is directed at those with a strong undergraduate background in Computer Science who are interested in both deepening their technical knowledge and in understanding the tools required for developing a company directed towards software services and products.

'''College of Engineering, Electrical and Computer Engineering Department, Assistive Technology Program'''

A component of the undergraduate Electrical and Computer Engineering program, senior ECE students complete a [http://atp.caeds.eng.uml.edu/index.html senior capstone project] aimed at designing and producing an assistive technology device for a person with a disability. Engineering students can apply the knowledge they have learned from their courses and help solve problems for disabled people through creating technological advances. 

== Entrepreneurial Capital Projects and Acquisitions ==

=== '''The Mark and Elisia Saab Emerging Technologies and Innovation Center''' ===

This new UMass Lowell 2012-13 construction is a building developed for bringing innovation and industry together. Faculty and student researchers use the resources available in this building to meet industry challenges and improve lives using UMass Lowell technologies and patents. Core facilities for use in fundamental and translational research are available to faculty and students; it contains class 100, 1,000, and 10,000 cleanroom spaces, wet lab and engineering lab space, and a plastics processing high bay. The ETIC is has LEED Gold Certification, and is considered green. The construction of this building also is estimated to supporting at least 130 new jobs.

 

=== '''Health and Social Sciences Building'''  ===

This new building that houses criminal justice and criminology, nursing, and psychology provides classrooms, simulation laboratories, observation facilities, a demonstration hospital wing, and ample meeting space for community projects. The construction of this new building supported more than 800 construction and related jobs, and provided the much needed resources and space for UMass Lowell’s growing social science population.

= '''University-Industry Collaboration''' =

'''Research Activities'''

UMass Lowell places a large focus on professional research, as evidenced by the ample lab space professors have to work with in buildings such as the ETIC. A comprehensive list of all research areas and information about them can be found on the UMass Lowell website. [http://www.uml.edu/Research/Centers/default.aspx http://www.uml.edu/Research/Centers/default.aspx]

==== Center for Industrial Competitiveness ====

For nearly 20 years, UMass Lowell’s Center for Industrial Competitiveness has conducted research on industrial innovation, regional development, corporate governance, financialization, and sustainable prosperity. Resources available stretch all around the world through collaborative networks and relationships, providing ample information and a global understanding on development. Research also includes local industrial development in Massachusetts. 

UMass Lowell has a page dedicated to the CIC researchers and their work, which can be found here: [http://www.uml.edu/centers/cic/Research/Research.html http://www.uml.edu/centers/cic/Research/Research.html]

= '''Regional and Local Economic Development''' =

'''Economic and Social Development of Regions Department:'''

This graduate program focuses on giving an interdisciplinary education that is tailored to fit the needs of the individual. By educating both the private and public sectors of economic and social development, this program aims to create work ready individuals that can bring innovation and change to shifting social and economic environment.

'''Lowell Makes''' 

“A membership‐driven collaborative space equipped with a wide variety of tools, machines, materials, computers and other resources where individuals can gain and practice modern skills with state‐of‐the‐art technology, access to resources they could not otherwise, and a community of creative minded people who make all kinds of things. “Art is the Handmaid of Human Good” is both the City of Lowell’s motto, and a reminder of Lowell’s rich industrial and artistic history as our inspiration.” - [http://www.lowellmakes.com/proposal/ http://www.lowellmakes.com/proposal/]

Lowell makes was founded to be a space where those who do not have access to certain equipment to bring their ideas to life will have that access they need and have the support they need to push their innovation to the next level. It is a space that has resources tailored for budding entrepreneurs, and can be rented out by anyone with a plan. 

'''Mill No.5'''

Mill No.5 is one of the few non-UML entrepreneurial constructs in the Lowell urban environment. Like many mills in Lowell, it has been renovated and repurposed. Being subdivided and updated to proper code, there are rooms available for offices and start-ups looking to have an office space to centralize their resources. 

= '''Conclusion''' =

Entrepreneurship is a strategic objective at the University of Massachusetts Lowell.  During the last five years, UMass Lowell has re-positioned itself with students, faculty, staff, and the community as a true public enterprise committed to taking an entrepreneurial approach to innovation in all aspects of its structure.   A rapidly expanding innovation ecosystem encourages and guides entrepreneurial action, whether academically or commercially, amongst its faculty and student body -- fostering an entrepreneurial approach to economic development through a variety of programs and activities. UMass Lowell will continue to thrive in all aspects of entrepreneurship and innovation.  

= Related Links =

University Innovation Fellows:
[http://universityinnovation.org/wiki/Stephen_Kender Stephen Kender][[Ana Gouveia|Ana Gouveia]][[James Abdallah|James Abdallah]][[KevinMDesjardins|Kevin Desjardins]][[Jacob Hulme|Jacob Hulme]][[UMass Lowell Student Priorities|UMass Lowell Student Priorities]]
[[Category:Universities]]

School:University of Massachusetts Lowell

2015-10-12T18:13:33Z

Ephenstephen:

<div style="float: right; clear: right;">[[File:UMass-Lowell-logo.png]]</div>
The University of Massachusetts Lowell (also known as UMass Lowell or UML) is a [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Public_university public] [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_research_universities_in_the_United_States doctoral/research] university in [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lowell,_Massachusetts Lowell], [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Massachusetts Massachusetts], [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_States United States],and part of the [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/University_of_Massachusetts University of Massachusetts] system. With more than 1,100 faculty members and more than 16,000 students, it is the largest university in the [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Merrimack_Valley Merrimack Valley] and the second-largest public institution in the state behind UMass Amherst. The university offers more than 120 degree choices, internships, bachelor’s to master’s programs and doctoral studies in the College of Fine Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences; College of Health Sciences; College of Sciences; the Francis College of Engineering; the Graduate School of Education; and the Manning School of Business.

= '''Overview - A Campus on the Move''' =

UMass Lowell has been evolving in every aspect; upgraded classrooms, libraries and labs; new and renovated student living and activity spaces; and enhanced parking facilities are a few on the list of what has been updated and changed over the past decade of campus improvement.

·       University Crossing: Officially completed and operating, this new building hosts student services and activities, bookstore, dining, University police, transportation services, and senior administration offices.

·       Pulichino Tong Building: The University’s current construction project, the Tong Building will replace the now-relocated Honor’s Eames Dorm building on UMass Lowell’s North Campus and will house the entirety of the Robert J. Manning School of Business.

·       University Suites: This brand new dorm on UMass Lowell’s East campus provides housing for 472 students in four- and six-bed suites. There is a ground-floor common area with a café - Hawk's Nest - featuring fresh bakery, grab & go items and a late night Asian menu, in addition to delicious Red Mango frozen yogurt & smoothies and "We proudly serve" Starbucks Coffee. A multi-purpose room is open to the UMass Lowell community. Each residential floor has two common kitchen/lounge areas, two quiet study rooms and a group study room.

·       Riverview Suites: The other half of the two-dorm addition to UMass Lowell in 2013, Riverview Suites has either two or three bedroom  suites complete with a live-in kitchen, classroom and meeting rooms inside the building, and a gym inside the facility. The University leases the property from Soho Development, who also built the $42 million facility.

·       New Garages: In the past three years, UMass Lowell has added two large parking garages to each of its largest parking lots, greatly increasing the parking capacity for the strong commuter presence attending the school.

·       Health and Social Sciences Building: In 2013, this new criminal justice and criminology, nursing and psychology building had its grand opening. The construction of this building marked the first new construction in 30 years on the University’s South Campus, including all campuses in the University’s recent wave of evolution.

Since 2009, the University has also been heavily updating the existing buildings while acquiring and renovating new ones. UMass Lowell renovated the newly acquired Inn and Conference Center, added Taco Bell and Subway to the University’s dining partners, renovated the newly acquired Tsongas Center, and heavily updated their Dining Hall in the tallest UMass Lowell building, Fox Hall.

= '''Student Entrepreneurship''' =

'''NonSpec '''

[http://www.nonspec.org/ NonSpec] participated in the 2013 first annual DifferenceMaker™ Idea Challenge where they showed dedication and enthusiasm by attending each educational workshop and event throughout the process which aided in their success.  At the Idea Challenge they received the prestigious title of “Campus Wide DifferenceMaker™” and the top award of $5,000. This prize represents the project most likely to make a significant difference in the community, region and the world.

The $5,000 award has allowed Nonspec to move their initiative forward by creating their first batch of prosthetic limbs. With a projected 15% market share in the next five years, Nonspec plans to use this market presence to launch a foundation called “Give a Hand”. The purpose of this foundation would be to spread their mission, goals, charitable cause, and products around the world in order to make a difference in developing nations.

Since Nonspec’s success at the Idea Challenge they have gained great publicity in other arenas.  They were recently named one of the top 10 semi-finalists in Entrepreneur® Magazine’s “College Entrepreneur of 2013 Contest”.  In addition, they were invited to attend [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ppnzNSnxi-g The International Association of Plastics Distribution (IAPD) “Plastics Application Design Competition”], which was held on October 2, 2013 in Miami, Florida.  Lastly, the team was utilized as a role model by being featured in a [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aLwLg4XHrck video] that was shown at all DifferenceMaker™ freshman orientation sessions throughout the summer due to their motivation and high entrepreneurial spirits.

=== ===

= Departments and Programs =

== '''Center for Innovation and Entrepreneurship''' ==

 “ The Center for Innovation and Entrepreneurship offers students and faculty of all disciplines the opportunity to work together to develop innovative and entrepreneurial solutions to the major problems facing our community, the region and the world. The Center hosts several programs that encourage social innovation and entrepreneurship among UMass Lowell students as well as the broader community in which we live. The DifferenceMaker program provides training, mentoring and other resources to UMass Lowell students and faculty who wish to address social, environmental and economic problems in our community. “

 

=== '''DifferenceMaker™''' ===

'''About DifferenceMaker™:''' 

The DifferenceMaker™ Program sponsors specific events and activities that support students in solving big problems through innovation and entrepreneurship. The Program is highly experiential by offering students a series of workshops that they can engage in to better understand innovation, entrepreneurship and launching a start-up of their interest.

Students of all majors and disciplines are welcome to join this Program and make a difference at UMass Lowell, in the community or in the world through innovative and entrepreneurial action. These DifferenceMaker™ projects include interdisciplinary student teams from all majors and skill sets. 

 

'''Goals of DifferenceMaker™:''' 

·      Introduce all UMass students to creative problem solving, innovation and entrepreneurship

·      Accelerate purpose in each students education

·      Connect current students to alumni experience

·      Encourage a social responsibility ethos

 

'''DifferenceMaker™ Available Activities Include:'''

·       '''DifferenceMaker™ Central-'''DifferenceMaker™ Central was opened in May 2013.  This space is a dedicated entrepreneurial area with a vibrant start-up community atmosphere.  The space was made for all entrepreneurial teams to come together to work, brainstorm, and network. Student teams have access to flexible workstations, televisions, computers, mentors, and a dynamic meeting space to develop their ideas and collaborate amongst their teammates and fellow students.

·       '''DifferenceMaker™ Enterprise Co-op''''''in the Center for Innovation and Entrepreneurship''''''-'''Throughout each year, DifferenceMaker™ will hire several students from various majors to participate in paid co-op experiences. Student co-ops assist in conducting and summarizing entrepreneurial research, developing and distributing marketing materials for various center initiatives, and provide center support for faculty and innovation fellows affiliate with the center.  

·       '''Freshman Make A Difference Orientation – '''During the summer sessions, DifferenceMaker™ has a large presence in the Freshman Orientation days. Through the Office of Orientation, Student Activities and Leadership, and ResLife, DifferenceMaker™ was able to present to every attending freshman and gain exposure to all of the new students at UMass Lowell. 

·       '''Freshman DifferenceMaker™ Convocation-''' At the beginning of each academic year, we present DifferenceMaker™ to every incoming freshman at Convocation. Each year we perform a fun activity to engage students in our program.

·       '''Introduction to DifferenceMaker™-Freshman Seminars-'''A series of in-class discussions in collaboration with the Manning School of Business, The Francis College of Engineering, The College of Fine Arts, Humanities, and Social Sciences, and The College of Health Sciences in order to introduce the DifferenceMaker™ Program to students of all disciplines and to inspire them to explore their passions through creative problem solving.

·       '''Introduction to the DifferenceMaker™ Program-'''A series of events were held on both the north and south campuses to introduce students to DifferenceMaker™ Program concepts, allow them to share their ideas and interests, explore possible projects and solution, and to connected with each other to form teams. These events included the DifferenceMaker™ Convocation Pitch, the Climate Change Teach-in, a DifferenceMaker™ Team Building Dinner, and others.

·       '''DifferenceMaker™ LLC – '''Having a presence in the student residence halls as well as the classroom is important to motivate students and discover new ideas waiting to happen. The DifferenceMaker™ Living/Learning Community brings new students together in the ResLife environment for innovation and brainstorming outside of the classroom. 

·       '''Honors DifferenceMaker™ Program –''' In collaboration with UMass Lowell Honors Program, this concerted effort to embed elements of social entrepreneurship in our Honors Program includes coursework and community-based student efforts that have specific focus on innovation and entrepreneurial practices.

·       '''Introduction to Engineering-'''Extra Credit Project-This activity was a collaboration effort between the DifferenceMaker™ Program and The Francis College of Engineering to introduce freshman engineering majors to the DifferenceMaker™ Program, innovation, and entrepreneurship. In this introductory activity, the students’ innovative ideas were explored and presented in a format which would enable their projects to be candidates for both the DifferenceMaker™ Program Idea Challenge and Campus Catalyst program.

·       '''Creative Venture Competition - '''This contest held in October of 2013 hosted by DifferenceMaker™ focused on innovation from Arts, Humanities, and Social Science students. $2500 was awarded to the best entrepreneurial business a proposal, and $250 to each finalist team was also awarded. 

·       '''Digital Federal Credit Union Innovation Contest – '''In November of 2013, DifferenceMaker™ along with DCU hosted an Innovation Contest focusing on banking and financial innovation in the industry. With a grand prize of $500 per team member and peripheral prizes of $100 per team member, the contest gave thousands to innovative teams and cutting edge ideas. 

·       '''DifferenceMaker™ Reverse Pitch – '''This pitch event was debuted on November 19, 2013. This event was a spin off of “normal” idea challenges and hackathons. Instead of students pitching their ideas to funding sources or judges, businesses and community partners actually pitched their existing problems to a student audience in the hopes that they can develop a solution. The pitches included Merrimack Valley Housing Partnership, Lowell Telecommunications Corporation, Habitat for Humanity of Greater Lowell, Catie’s Closet and the Natick Soldier Research Development and Engineering Center. Students will be able to solve these problems and present them at the Annual IdeaChallenge for funding opportunities. 

·       '''Freshman Business Class-Lego Problem Solving-'''This Lego activity was a collaboration effort between the DifferenceMaker™ Program and the Manning School of Business to introduce students to the ideation development process and problem solving method, as well as helping them strengthen their ability to work in a team. Sessions were conducted in 9 classes with over 400 students participating. Prof. Deborah Finch of the Manning School of Business led this effort. 

·       '''DifferenceMaker™ Idea Challenge– '''DifferenceMaker™ is hosting its second annual Idea Challenge; this challenge is for student entrepreneurial teams to come up with sustainable ideas that will make some sort of impact on the world or their community. Help in the form of various workshops in the months leading up to the Idea Challenge is available, teaching students how to properly pitch their ideas and how to flesh out their business plans. There are various subcategories for each team to have a chance at winning spread out across over many different disciplines, encouraging all students to participate and welcoming all ideas. 

·       '''DifferenceMaker™ Workshops-'''In preparation for the annual DifferenceMaker™ IdeaChallenge, we offer our students a series of educational entrepreneurial workshops throughout the spring semester.

o   Team Building Mixer

o   Identifying Problems and Opportunities

o   Developing Solutions

o   Identifying Resources

o   Rocket Pitch Coaching 

·       '''Promoting the Campus Catalyst Program'''-The DifferenceMaker™ Program works closely with 'E For All', a community business accelerator funded by the Deshpande Foundation, in order to encourage students to generate and develop their entrepreneurial ideas. The Sandbox Campus Catalyst program provided seed funding for student social and business solutions with potential. Catalyst information was provided to students at all DifferenceMaker™ events. Students also received consultation when applying to the Campus Catalyst Program.  The DifferenceMaker™ application and Campus Catalyst application were similar in content so that unity between these programs would be maximized.  

·       '''DifferenceMaker™ Program Promotion-'''In order to promote awareness of, and participation in, DifferenceMaker™ activities among faculty, staff, and students, a variety of outreach materials were developed and distributed across the University. These activities included program launch events, a DifferenceMaker™ website, a Facebook site, a Twitter feed (UML_Difference), various posters, postcards, presentations to classrooms, workshops, office hours, email blasts, and information tables. 

·       '''TeamMaker Platform''' - Allows students to build their project teams by posting their project ideas and information online where they can then search for “seekers” (students interested in becoming part of a team). On the other hand, “seekers” can utilize the TeamMaker Platform by posting their project interests and skills, and seeking projects/teams to work with. This platform facilitates team formation. 

 

'''DifferenceMaker™ Program Available Resources Include:'''

•       DifferenceMaker™ Central

•       Large open office collaboration space equipped with Wi-Fi, 3 Mac computers, printer/copier, 2 46” LCD TV monitors with projection capabilities, 6 white boards, 10 tables with chairs all equipped with wheels that can be easily rearranged for optimal use and collaboration, refrigerator, sink, cabinet space, coffee maker and other necessary office supplies.

•       Funding Opportunities

•       Idea Challenge

•       Other competitions:

•       DCU Innovation Contest

•       FAHSS Creative Venture Competition

•       Hawk  Hatch

•       Philanthropic Crowd Funding Source

•       Grants

•       Networking

•       Connection to faculty, staff, and alumni

•       Mentors

•       Faculty Fellows and DifferenceMaker™ Staff

•       Events

•       Series of Educational Entrepreneurial Workshops including materials

•       Problem, Opportunity, Solution, Resources, Pitch Coaching

•       Team Building Assistance

•       TeamMaker Platform, Team Building Mixer

•       Enterprise co-op positions

Through the Center for Innovation & Entrepreneurship, along with affiliated faculty and other campus programs, the University has introduced a range of activities that help students make a difference in the world.

 

'''DifferenceMaker™ Inaugural Year Statistics'''

·       72 DifferenceMaker™ events held in inaugural year

·       3,500  students who participates in a DifferenceMaker™ event this past year

·       $25,000  of funds awarded to 10 IdeaChallenge finalist teams

·       1,265  freshman participating in summer rapid ideation workshops

·       112  students who participated in the First Annual IdeaChallenge

·       22  cross discipline relationships notes between students among IdeaChallenge teams

·       24  academic disciplines represented by students in the IdeaChallenge teams

  

'''2015 DifferenceMaker™ IdeaChallenge Finalists'''

'''Campus-Wide DifferenceMaker™'''

'''$7,000'''

'''Significant Social Impact'''

'''1st Place - $4,000'''

 

'''2nd Place - $2,000'''

 

'''Sustainable Environment'''

'''Innovative Technology'''

'''1st Place - $4,000''' '''OTTOnomous'''

'''First to Market'''

'''1st Place - $4,000'''

'''2nd Place - $2,000'''

'''2nd Place - $2,000'''

<div>'''Honorable Mention DifferenceMaker™'''</div>
'''$1000'''

 

 

'''Fan Favorite'''


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'''DifferenceMaker™ Future Efforts:'''

The DifferenceMaker™ Program plans to continue many of the activities and events initiated in the first year of the program.  Some of these programs will be revised and they intend to launch several new initiatives, including a DifferenceMaker™ Passport Program, a DifferenceMaker™ Mentor Program and a seed grant program to encourage faculty participation in the DifferenceMaker™ program. They also plan to expand our collaboration with several University colleges. 

This year they plan to increase the role of DifferenceMaker™ Living Learning Community students in the DifferenceMaker™ program by training the members to become DifferenceMaker™ ambassadors once they transition into their sophomore year  through weekly meetings and monthly events. The training will allow LLC members to learn more about entrepreneurship and the DifferenceMaker™ Program so they can promote it to student clubs and campus classes.  Once the LLC students become sophomores they will transition into a DifferenceMaker™ Ambassador role, and hopefully will form the nucleus of a yet-to-be-formed DifferenceMaker™ student club.  

In order to assist students to both record and encourage their participation in DifferenceMaker™ events, they are planning the development and implementation of a DifferenceMaker™ Passport Program. Consistent with the goals of the UMass Lowell DifferenceMaker™ Program, the Passport Program will assist students to identify, record and collect experiences meant to: 

·      Develop individual entrepreneurial identity

·      Develop entrepreneurial skills and self-confidence

·      Develop creative and sustainable solutions to complex problems

·      Connect with the University, E For All and community entrepreneurial ecosystems

They anticipate that the number of students engaged in the DifferenceMaker™ Program and related activities will increase each year. As they encourage and reward the formation of various types of student ventures and projects, the need for mentors who can consult with student teams will increase. They plan to guide these students and track their progress through a professional Mentor Program. The UMass Lowell Mentor Program will provide a committed network of mentors with a broad set of skills and professional experiences, who can assist UMass Lowell entrepreneurs in developing the knowledge and skills, needed to grow an idea into a successful, new venture.

The DM UMass Lowell Mentor Program will seek to connect DifferenceMaker™ students with successful experienced entrepreneurs and alumnus, as well as faculty and staff.  The Mentor Program will focus on assisting students to further develop solutions as part of the DifferenceMaker™ Program. Mentors will provide guidance in further refining student team objectives and help them in building their entrepreneurial skillsets.

They are planning to offer DifferenceMaker™ Faculty Workshops to help faculty consider how they might engage their own students in DifferenceMaker™ activities through course related activities and through co-curricular activities. Our hope is that by engaging more faculty, they in turn will serve as both mentors and catalysts for students, encouraging and guiding student project selection and development. They have also observed that student teams often need support and guidance from faculty from different disciplines, these workshops and an accompanying seed grant program are meant as catalysts to encourage interdisciplinary engagement among faculty,

While the overarching goal of the DifferenceMaker™ program is to encourage UMass Lowell students to develop sustainable and entrepreneurial solutions to the challenges and opportunities they will confront in this world, they anticipate another, potentially significant impact on the University community itself. Our students will only be successful if they have the support of faculty, alumni, business and community members. During our first year of program activities, they have found these constituents to be most supportive and willing to mentor and work with our students.  Alumni are mentoring and investing in student ventures.  Faculty are working across disciplines to ensure their student teams make progress. Local profit and non-profit businesses are eager to work with student teams, providing real-world problems and opportunities for student projects. In one short year, the DifferenceMaker™ program has been embraced by the greater University community. Our hope and plan is to anchor this program in the curriculum and culture of the University, so all UMass Lowell students have an opportunity to make a difference in this world.

 

'''DifferenceMaker™ Contact:'''

[mailto:differencemaker@uml.edu differencemaker@uml.edu]

'''facebook.com/differenceUML'''

'''twitter: @difference_UML'''

 

=== '''Commercial Venture and Intellectual Property Office (CVIP):''' ===

Commercial Ventures and Intellectual Property (CVIP) is responsible for the protection and commercialization of intellectual property at UMass Lowell. 

 

'''CVIP Mission: ''' 

The mission of UMass Lowell’s Office of Commercial Ventures and Intellectual Property (CVIP) is to facilitate the transfer of technology arising from government, foundation and industrial sponsored university research to the private sector. They facilitate development of inventions toward commercial relevance and utility, nurture mutually beneficial and sustainable relationships between the University and industry, promote an innovative and entrepreneurial culture at the University and contribute to the economic vibrancy and well-being of the Commonwealth. CVIP’s activities enable the successful transfer of commercially viable technology from the laboratory to the marketplace for public use and benefit. 

'''CVIP Functions:'''

  The main objectives of CVIP are:

·       to license patents and other protections to industry in order to promote the development of inventions toward practical application;

·       to foster a culture of innovation, facilitate commercially promising endeavors, and positively contribute to the University’s entrepreneurial ecosystem;

·       to seek new business opportunities and form productive collaborations with industry in an effort to increase research and licensing revenue to the University;

·       to generate income for inventors and the University as a whole for use in supporting further research, technology development and transfer;

·       to advocate for the research community and seek to create incentives, provide rewards and obtain resources to advance commercialization of the technologies they generate.

 

'''CVIP--Contact:'''

*[mailto:Jill_Murthi@uml.edu Jill S. Murthi], Director of CVIP by email: [mailto:Jill_Murthi@uml.edu Jill_Murthi@uml.edu] or phone: 978-934-4722
*[mailto:Rajnish_Kaushik@uml.edu Rajnish Kaushik], Licensing & Business Development Manager of CVIP by email: [mailto:Rajnish_Kaushik@uml.edu Rajnish_Kaushik@uml.edu] or phone: 978-934-4708

 

=== New Venture Initiative: ===

New Venture Initiative (NVI) is a mix of university resources and equity investment designed to provide a path to and facilitate more start-up activity at UMass Lowell.  As part of the larger Commercial Venture and Intellectual Property Office (CVIP), the NVI fund focuses on inventions, discoveries, products and services that have been developed in whole or in part at UMass Lowell, have achieved proof of concept (or an early prototype) and are ready for commercial product development, rather than those requiring further basic research.  For more information please contact [mailto:Nancy_Saucier@uml.edu Nancy Saucier], Director of New Venture Development.

 

=== '''Massachusetts Medical Device Development Center (M2D2):''' ===

The Massachusetts Medical Device Development Center (M2D2) is a lifeline for the state’s smaller medical device companies, offering inventors and executives easy, affordable, and coordinated access to world-class researchers and resources at the Lowell and Worcester campuses of the University of Massachusetts.

'''M2D2 Available Resources:'''

*9000 square feet of space on second floor including:
**6 wet laboratory suites
**Two office suites
**Large open office collaboration area
**Board room
**Reception area
**Break Room equipped with a table and chairs, full size refrigerator, microwave, sink, dishwasher, and coffee maker
*5000 square feet of space on first floor including:
**Six individual offices 
**Bright shared kitchen space equipped with a table and chairs, full size refrigerator and sink
**One large state of the art conference room with full pull down screen, computer with web access and a projector  
**All conference rooms contain a 46" Aquos LCD screen, as well as computer with web access and a projector
**Business and medical feasibility assessments
**Product development space
**Medical and clinical pathway assistance
**Connection to additional services such as laboratory use, incubator space for start-ups and clinical trial support through the product life cycle
**SBIR and STTR research
**Access to capital
**Networking events
**New Venture Competitions

 

'''M2D2--Contact'''

[mailto:Stephen_McCarthy@uml.edu Stephen McCarthy], Co-Director of M2D2

 

=== '''E For All (Formerly Merrimack Valley Sandbox)''' ===

'E for All' is a project of the Deshpande Foundation, which has encouraged the use of entrepreneurship and innovation as catalysts for sustainable change in the United States, India and Canada since 1996. Deshpande supported centers including the MIT Deshpande Center for Technological Innovation, the Deshpande Center for Social Innovation in Hubli, India, the Pond-Deshpande Centre at the University of New Brunswick, and our own 'E For All'  at the University of Massachusetts Lowell. 'E for All' includes higher education partners (Middlesex Community College, Merrimack College and Northern Essex Community College) and a host of regional community and business partners.

'''E for All Mission'''

The mission of 'E For All' is to connect and strengthen the ecosystem in Lowell and Lawrence, Massachusetts, around entrepreneurship and leadership. This mission is supported by the following three principle 'E For All' programs:

·       Catalysts-The Catalyst program provides seed funding and mentoring support to foster initiative around new ideas and programs among local high school and college students.

·       Entrepreneurship-The Entrepreneur Program is a community-wide initiative supporting entrepreneurship. More than 30 partner organizations and institutions are participating in this initiative, which gives entrepreneurs a greater chance at success through pitch contests, workshops and intensive programs. 

·       Leadership-The 'E For All' Leadership Institute (SLI) offers leadership development for individuals that live, work or are interested in the communities of Lawrence and Lowell. 

'''Learn more''': [http://www.uml.edu/Innovation-Entrepreneurship/MV-Sandbox.aspx http://www.uml.edu/Innovation-Entrepreneurship/MV-Sandbox.aspx]

=== Other Organizations ===

'''Entrepreneurial Ventures Association''': EVA is an interdisciplinary organization that is open to all majors; they share resources, advice, and interests with other COM and UML clubs to help students turn their entrepreneurial ideas into reality.  [https://umasslowellclubs.collegiatelink.net/organization/entrepreneurial-ventures-association/about https://umasslowellclubs.collegiatelink.net/organization/entrepreneurial-ventures-association/about]

'''Honors Ambassador Program: '''Students participate in the Honors Ambassador Program to gain valuable experience through courses tailored for higher development and to foster relationships with communities and organizations that the program is involved with. [http://www.umlhonors.com/ http://www.umlhonors.com/]

UMass Lowell hosts over 140 different clubs and communities, most of which are geared towards equipping students to become leaders and innovators in society. A full list full of information can be found here: [https://umasslowellclubs.collegiatelink.net/Organizations https://umasslowellclubs.collegiatelink.net/Organizations]

= '''University Entrepreneurship''' =

=== Creative New Academic Programs ===

'''The Manning School of Business'''  The Manning School of Business offers two academic programs focused on entrepreneurship:

*[http://www.uml.edu/MSB/management/Entrepreneurship.aspx Undergraduate - Entrepreneurship Concentration]: Prepares students to be "outside-of-the-box" thinkers and innovators in today's complex global economy.

The '''entrepreneurship concentration''' prepares students to be an "outside of the box" thinker and innovator in today's complex global economy. Using an interdisciplinary focus, students who complete the concentration will:

*Develop the management skills required to identify and launch new business ventures around innovative products, services and technologies. 
*Develop an understanding of the concepts and activities associated with entrepreneurship and innovation. 
*Understand the financial aspects of an entrepreneurial venture from start-up to "harvest". 
*Discover their individual "entrepreneurial spirit" through experiential learning in interdisciplinary classes and the College's Venture Lab.

The required courses within the Entrepreneurship concentration consist of:

#Starting a New Venture 
#Corporate Entrepreneurship 
#Managing Innovation 
#Finance for Emerging Business Enterprises
#Entrepreneurial Strategy & Implementation (Fall '14 not yet required)
#Study Abroad in India (not required, entrepreneurship focused)

[http://www.uml.edu/MSB/Graduate-Programs/MSITE.aspx Graduate - Master of Science in Innovation and Technological Entrepreneurship (MSITE)]: Provides engineers, business majors and scientists with the skills and knowledge required to drive innovation in today's collaborative, global workforce.

[http://www.uml.edu/MSB/Graduate-Programs/MSITEhealthcare.aspx Graduate - Master of Science in Innovation and Technological Entrepreneurship (MSITE) Healthcare Innovation & Entrepreneurship (HI+E) Option]: This option is targeted towards healthcare professionals, such as hospital managers/administrators, clinicians, physicians and other medical professionals who need to understand and manage the impact of emerging technologies and innovations in the healthcare industry. The Program will also benefit recent graduates who wish to enter the healthcare industries as a career choice.

[http://www.uml.edu/MSB/Program-of-study/New-Venture-Creation.aspx Graduate Certificate - New Venture Creation]: This program is focused specifically on the creation of technology-based ventures and is designed to assist professionals with undergraduate and career experience in science, engineering, technology or business fields in better understanding how to develop and launch a technology-based business.

'''College of Sciences, Computer Science Department'''

The Computer Science Department offers an [http://www.uml.edu/Catalog/Graduate/Sciences/Computer-Science/MS-in-Computer-Science-Entrepreneurship-Option.aspx entrepreneurship option] in their master's degree. It is directed at those with a strong undergraduate background in Computer Science who are interested in both deepening their technical knowledge and in understanding the tools required for developing a company directed towards software services and products.

'''College of Engineering, Electrical and Computer Engineering Department, Assistive Technology Program'''

A component of the undergraduate Electrical and Computer Engineering program, senior ECE students complete a [http://atp.caeds.eng.uml.edu/index.html senior capstone project] aimed at designing and producing an assistive technology device for a person with a disability. Engineering students can apply the knowledge they have learned from their courses and help solve problems for disabled people through creating technological advances. 

== Entrepreneurial Capital Projects and Acquisitions ==

=== '''The Mark and Elisia Saab Emerging Technologies and Innovation Center''' ===

This new UMass Lowell 2012-13 construction is a building developed for bringing innovation and industry together. Faculty and student researchers use the resources available in this building to meet industry challenges and improve lives using UMass Lowell technologies and patents. Core facilities for use in fundamental and translational research are available to faculty and students; it contains class 100, 1,000, and 10,000 cleanroom spaces, wet lab and engineering lab space, and a plastics processing high bay. The ETIC is has LEED Gold Certification, and is considered green. The construction of this building also is estimated to supporting at least 130 new jobs.

 

=== '''Health and Social Sciences Building'''  ===

This new building that houses criminal justice and criminology, nursing, and psychology provides classrooms, simulation laboratories, observation facilities, a demonstration hospital wing, and ample meeting space for community projects. The construction of this new building supported more than 800 construction and related jobs, and provided the much needed resources and space for UMass Lowell’s growing social science population.

= '''University-Industry Collaboration''' =

'''Research Activities'''

UMass Lowell places a large focus on professional research, as evidenced by the ample lab space professors have to work with in buildings such as the ETIC. A comprehensive list of all research areas and information about them can be found on the UMass Lowell website. [http://www.uml.edu/Research/Centers/default.aspx http://www.uml.edu/Research/Centers/default.aspx]

==== Center for Industrial Competitiveness ====

For nearly 20 years, UMass Lowell’s Center for Industrial Competitiveness has conducted research on industrial innovation, regional development, corporate governance, financialization, and sustainable prosperity. Resources available stretch all around the world through collaborative networks and relationships, providing ample information and a global understanding on development. Research also includes local industrial development in Massachusetts. 

UMass Lowell has a page dedicated to the CIC researchers and their work, which can be found here: [http://www.uml.edu/centers/cic/Research/Research.html http://www.uml.edu/centers/cic/Research/Research.html]

= '''Regional and Local Economic Development''' =

'''Economic and Social Development of Regions Department:'''

This graduate program focuses on giving an interdisciplinary education that is tailored to fit the needs of the individual. By educating both the private and public sectors of economic and social development, this program aims to create work ready individuals that can bring innovation and change to shifting social and economic environment.

'''Lowell Makes''' 

“A membership‐driven collaborative space equipped with a wide variety of tools, machines, materials, computers and other resources where individuals can gain and practice modern skills with state‐of‐the‐art technology, access to resources they could not otherwise, and a community of creative minded people who make all kinds of things. “Art is the Handmaid of Human Good” is both the City of Lowell’s motto, and a reminder of Lowell’s rich industrial and artistic history as our inspiration.” - [http://www.lowellmakes.com/proposal/ http://www.lowellmakes.com/proposal/]

Lowell makes was founded to be a space where those who do not have access to certain equipment to bring their ideas to life will have that access they need and have the support they need to push their innovation to the next level. It is a space that has resources tailored for budding entrepreneurs, and can be rented out by anyone with a plan. 

'''Mill No.5'''

Mill No.5 is one of the few non-UML entrepreneurial constructs in the Lowell urban environment. Like many mills in Lowell, it has been renovated and repurposed. Being subdivided and updated to proper code, there are rooms available for offices and start-ups looking to have an office space to centralize their resources. 

= '''Conclusion''' =

Entrepreneurship is a strategic objective at the University of Massachusetts Lowell.  During the last five years, UMass Lowell has re-positioned itself with students, faculty, staff, and the community as a true public enterprise committed to taking an entrepreneurial approach to innovation in all aspects of its structure.   A rapidly expanding innovation ecosystem encourages and guides entrepreneurial action, whether academically or commercially, amongst its faculty and student body -- fostering an entrepreneurial approach to economic development through a variety of programs and activities. UMass Lowell will continue to thrive in all aspects of entrepreneurship and innovation.  

= Related Links =

University Innovation Fellows:
[http://universityinnovation.org/wiki/Stephen_Kender Stephen Kender][[Ana Gouveia|Ana Gouveia]][[James Abdallah|James Abdallah]][[KevinMDesjardins|Kevin Desjardins]][[Jacob Hulme|Jacob Hulme]][[UMass Lowell Student Priorities|UMass Lowell Student Priorities]]
[[Category:Universities]]

School:University of Massachusetts Lowell

2015-10-12T18:13:18Z

Ephenstephen:

<div style="float: right; clear: right;">[[File:UMass-Lowell-logo.png]]</div>
The University of Massachusetts Lowell (also known as UMass Lowell or UML) is a [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Public_university public] [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_research_universities_in_the_United_States doctoral/research] university in [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lowell,_Massachusetts Lowell], [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Massachusetts Massachusetts], [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_States United States],and part of the [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/University_of_Massachusetts University of Massachusetts] system. With more than 1,100 faculty members and more than 16,000 students, it is the largest university in the [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Merrimack_Valley Merrimack Valley] and the second-largest public institution in the state behind UMass Amherst. The university offers more than 120 degree choices, internships, bachelor’s to master’s programs and doctoral studies in the College of Fine Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences; College of Health Sciences; College of Sciences; the Francis College of Engineering; the Graduate School of Education; and the Manning School of Business.

= '''Overview - A Campus on the Move''' =

UMass Lowell has been evolving in every aspect; upgraded classrooms, libraries and labs; new and renovated student living and activity spaces; and enhanced parking facilities are a few on the list of what has been updated and changed over the past decade of campus improvement.

·       University Crossing: Officially completed and operating, this new building hosts student services and activities, bookstore, dining, University police, transportation services, and senior administration offices.

·       Pulichino Tong Building: The University’s current construction project, the Tong Building will replace the now-relocated Honor’s Eames Dorm building on UMass Lowell’s North Campus and will house the entirety of the Robert J. Manning School of Business.

·       University Suites: This brand new dorm on UMass Lowell’s East campus provides housing for 472 students in four- and six-bed suites. There is a ground-floor common area with a café - Hawk's Nest - featuring fresh bakery, grab & go items and a late night Asian menu, in addition to delicious Red Mango frozen yogurt & smoothies and "We proudly serve" Starbucks Coffee. A multi-purpose room is open to the UMass Lowell community. Each residential floor has two common kitchen/lounge areas, two quiet study rooms and a group study room.

·       Riverview Suites: The other half of the two-dorm addition to UMass Lowell in 2013, Riverview Suites has either two or three bedroom  suites complete with a live-in kitchen, classroom and meeting rooms inside the building, and a gym inside the facility. The University leases the property from Soho Development, who also built the $42 million facility.

·       New Garages: In the past three years, UMass Lowell has added two large parking garages to each of its largest parking lots, greatly increasing the parking capacity for the strong commuter presence attending the school.

·       Health and Social Sciences Building: In 2013, this new criminal justice and criminology, nursing and psychology building had its grand opening. The construction of this building marked the first new construction in 30 years on the University’s South Campus, including all campuses in the University’s recent wave of evolution.

Since 2009, the University has also been heavily updating the existing buildings while acquiring and renovating new ones. UMass Lowell renovated the newly acquired Inn and Conference Center, added Taco Bell and Subway to the University’s dining partners, renovated the newly acquired Tsongas Center, and heavily updated their Dining Hall in the tallest UMass Lowell building, Fox Hall.

= '''Student Entrepreneurship''' =

'''NonSpec '''

[http://www.nonspec.org/ NonSpec] participated in the 2013 first annual DifferenceMaker™ Idea Challenge where they showed dedication and enthusiasm by attending each educational workshop and event throughout the process which aided in their success.  At the Idea Challenge they received the prestigious title of “Campus Wide DifferenceMaker™” and the top award of $5,000. This prize represents the project most likely to make a significant difference in the community, region and the world.

The $5,000 award has allowed Nonspec to move their initiative forward by creating their first batch of prosthetic limbs. With a projected 15% market share in the next five years, Nonspec plans to use this market presence to launch a foundation called “Give a Hand”. The purpose of this foundation would be to spread their mission, goals, charitable cause, and products around the world in order to make a difference in developing nations.

Since Nonspec’s success at the Idea Challenge they have gained great publicity in other arenas.  They were recently named one of the top 10 semi-finalists in Entrepreneur® Magazine’s “College Entrepreneur of 2013 Contest”.  In addition, they were invited to attend [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ppnzNSnxi-g The International Association of Plastics Distribution (IAPD) “Plastics Application Design Competition”], which was held on October 2, 2013 in Miami, Florida.  Lastly, the team was utilized as a role model by being featured in a [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aLwLg4XHrck video] that was shown at all DifferenceMaker™ freshman orientation sessions throughout the summer due to their motivation and high entrepreneurial spirits.

=== ===

= Departments and Programs =

== '''Center for Innovation and Entrepreneurship''' ==

 “ The Center for Innovation and Entrepreneurship offers students and faculty of all disciplines the opportunity to work together to develop innovative and entrepreneurial solutions to the major problems facing our community, the region and the world. The Center hosts several programs that encourage social innovation and entrepreneurship among UMass Lowell students as well as the broader community in which we live. The DifferenceMaker program provides training, mentoring and other resources to UMass Lowell students and faculty who wish to address social, environmental and economic problems in our community. “

 

=== '''DifferenceMaker™''' ===

'''About DifferenceMaker™:''' 

The DifferenceMaker™ Program sponsors specific events and activities that support students in solving big problems through innovation and entrepreneurship. The Program is highly experiential by offering students a series of workshops that they can engage in to better understand innovation, entrepreneurship and launching a start-up of their interest.

Students of all majors and disciplines are welcome to join this Program and make a difference at UMass Lowell, in the community or in the world through innovative and entrepreneurial action. These DifferenceMaker™ projects include interdisciplinary student teams from all majors and skill sets. 

 

'''Goals of DifferenceMaker™:''' 

·      Introduce all UMass students to creative problem solving, innovation and entrepreneurship

·      Accelerate purpose in each students education

·      Connect current students to alumni experience

·      Encourage a social responsibility ethos

 

'''DifferenceMaker™ Available Activities Include:'''

·       '''DifferenceMaker™ Central-'''DifferenceMaker™ Central was opened in May 2013.  This space is a dedicated entrepreneurial area with a vibrant start-up community atmosphere.  The space was made for all entrepreneurial teams to come together to work, brainstorm, and network. Student teams have access to flexible workstations, televisions, computers, mentors, and a dynamic meeting space to develop their ideas and collaborate amongst their teammates and fellow students.

·       '''DifferenceMaker™ Enterprise Co-op''''''in the Center for Innovation and Entrepreneurship''''''-'''Throughout each year, DifferenceMaker™ will hire several students from various majors to participate in paid co-op experiences. Student co-ops assist in conducting and summarizing entrepreneurial research, developing and distributing marketing materials for various center initiatives, and provide center support for faculty and innovation fellows affiliate with the center.  

·       '''Freshman Make A Difference Orientation – '''During the summer sessions, DifferenceMaker™ has a large presence in the Freshman Orientation days. Through the Office of Orientation, Student Activities and Leadership, and ResLife, DifferenceMaker™ was able to present to every attending freshman and gain exposure to all of the new students at UMass Lowell. 

·       '''Freshman DifferenceMaker™ Convocation-''' At the beginning of each academic year, we present DifferenceMaker™ to every incoming freshman at Convocation. Each year we perform a fun activity to engage students in our program.

·       '''Introduction to DifferenceMaker™-Freshman Seminars-'''A series of in-class discussions in collaboration with the Manning School of Business, The Francis College of Engineering, The College of Fine Arts, Humanities, and Social Sciences, and The College of Health Sciences in order to introduce the DifferenceMaker™ Program to students of all disciplines and to inspire them to explore their passions through creative problem solving.

·       '''Introduction to the DifferenceMaker™ Program-'''A series of events were held on both the north and south campuses to introduce students to DifferenceMaker™ Program concepts, allow them to share their ideas and interests, explore possible projects and solution, and to connected with each other to form teams. These events included the DifferenceMaker™ Convocation Pitch, the Climate Change Teach-in, a DifferenceMaker™ Team Building Dinner, and others.

·       '''DifferenceMaker™ LLC – '''Having a presence in the student residence halls as well as the classroom is important to motivate students and discover new ideas waiting to happen. The DifferenceMaker™ Living/Learning Community brings new students together in the ResLife environment for innovation and brainstorming outside of the classroom. 

·       '''Honors DifferenceMaker™ Program –''' In collaboration with UMass Lowell Honors Program, this concerted effort to embed elements of social entrepreneurship in our Honors Program includes coursework and community-based student efforts that have specific focus on innovation and entrepreneurial practices.

·       '''Introduction to Engineering-'''Extra Credit Project-This activity was a collaboration effort between the DifferenceMaker™ Program and The Francis College of Engineering to introduce freshman engineering majors to the DifferenceMaker™ Program, innovation, and entrepreneurship. In this introductory activity, the students’ innovative ideas were explored and presented in a format which would enable their projects to be candidates for both the DifferenceMaker™ Program Idea Challenge and Campus Catalyst program.

·       '''Creative Venture Competition - '''This contest held in October of 2013 hosted by DifferenceMaker™ focused on innovation from Arts, Humanities, and Social Science students. $2500 was awarded to the best entrepreneurial business a proposal, and $250 to each finalist team was also awarded. 

·       '''Digital Federal Credit Union Innovation Contest – '''In November of 2013, DifferenceMaker™ along with DCU hosted an Innovation Contest focusing on banking and financial innovation in the industry. With a grand prize of $500 per team member and peripheral prizes of $100 per team member, the contest gave thousands to innovative teams and cutting edge ideas. 

·       '''DifferenceMaker™ Reverse Pitch – '''This pitch event was debuted on November 19, 2013. This event was a spin off of “normal” idea challenges and hackathons. Instead of students pitching their ideas to funding sources or judges, businesses and community partners actually pitched their existing problems to a student audience in the hopes that they can develop a solution. The pitches included Merrimack Valley Housing Partnership, Lowell Telecommunications Corporation, Habitat for Humanity of Greater Lowell, Catie’s Closet and the Natick Soldier Research Development and Engineering Center. Students will be able to solve these problems and present them at the Annual IdeaChallenge for funding opportunities. 

·       '''Freshman Business Class-Lego Problem Solving-'''This Lego activity was a collaboration effort between the DifferenceMaker™ Program and the Manning School of Business to introduce students to the ideation development process and problem solving method, as well as helping them strengthen their ability to work in a team. Sessions were conducted in 9 classes with over 400 students participating. Prof. Deborah Finch of the Manning School of Business led this effort. 

·       '''DifferenceMaker™ Idea Challenge– '''DifferenceMaker™ is hosting its second annual Idea Challenge; this challenge is for student entrepreneurial teams to come up with sustainable ideas that will make some sort of impact on the world or their community. Help in the form of various workshops in the months leading up to the Idea Challenge is available, teaching students how to properly pitch their ideas and how to flesh out their business plans. There are various subcategories for each team to have a chance at winning spread out across over many different disciplines, encouraging all students to participate and welcoming all ideas. 

·       '''DifferenceMaker™ Workshops-'''In preparation for the annual DifferenceMaker™ IdeaChallenge, we offer our students a series of educational entrepreneurial workshops throughout the spring semester.

o   Team Building Mixer

o   Identifying Problems and Opportunities

o   Developing Solutions

o   Identifying Resources

o   Rocket Pitch Coaching 

·       '''Promoting the Campus Catalyst Program'''-The DifferenceMaker™ Program works closely with 'E For All', a community business accelerator funded by the Deshpande Foundation, in order to encourage students to generate and develop their entrepreneurial ideas. The Sandbox Campus Catalyst program provided seed funding for student social and business solutions with potential. Catalyst information was provided to students at all DifferenceMaker™ events. Students also received consultation when applying to the Campus Catalyst Program.  The DifferenceMaker™ application and Campus Catalyst application were similar in content so that unity between these programs would be maximized.  

·       '''DifferenceMaker™ Program Promotion-'''In order to promote awareness of, and participation in, DifferenceMaker™ activities among faculty, staff, and students, a variety of outreach materials were developed and distributed across the University. These activities included program launch events, a DifferenceMaker™ website, a Facebook site, a Twitter feed (UML_Difference), various posters, postcards, presentations to classrooms, workshops, office hours, email blasts, and information tables. 

·       '''TeamMaker Platform''' - Allows students to build their project teams by posting their project ideas and information online where they can then search for “seekers” (students interested in becoming part of a team). On the other hand, “seekers” can utilize the TeamMaker Platform by posting their project interests and skills, and seeking projects/teams to work with. This platform facilitates team formation. 

 

'''DifferenceMaker™ Program Available Resources Include:'''

•       DifferenceMaker™ Central

•       Large open office collaboration space equipped with Wi-Fi, 3 Mac computers, printer/copier, 2 46” LCD TV monitors with projection capabilities, 6 white boards, 10 tables with chairs all equipped with wheels that can be easily rearranged for optimal use and collaboration, refrigerator, sink, cabinet space, coffee maker and other necessary office supplies.

•       Funding Opportunities

•       Idea Challenge

•       Other competitions:

•       DCU Innovation Contest

•       FAHSS Creative Venture Competition

•       Hawk  Hatch

•       Philanthropic Crowd Funding Source

•       Grants

•       Networking

•       Connection to faculty, staff, and alumni

•       Mentors

•       Faculty Fellows and DifferenceMaker™ Staff

•       Events

•       Series of Educational Entrepreneurial Workshops including materials

•       Problem, Opportunity, Solution, Resources, Pitch Coaching

•       Team Building Assistance

•       TeamMaker Platform, Team Building Mixer

•       Enterprise co-op positions

Through the Center for Innovation & Entrepreneurship, along with affiliated faculty and other campus programs, the University has introduced a range of activities that help students make a difference in the world.

 

'''DifferenceMaker™ Inaugural Year Statistics'''

·       72 DifferenceMaker™ events held in inaugural year

·       3,500  students who participates in a DifferenceMaker™ event this past year

·       $25,000  of funds awarded to 10 IdeaChallenge finalist teams

·       1,265  freshman participating in summer rapid ideation workshops

·       112  students who participated in the First Annual IdeaChallenge

·       22  cross discipline relationships notes between students among IdeaChallenge teams

·       24  academic disciplines represented by students in the IdeaChallenge teams

  

'''2015 DifferenceMaker™ IdeaChallenge Finalists'''

'''Campus-Wide DifferenceMaker™'''

'''$7,000'''

'''Significant Social Impact'''

'''1st Place - $4,000'''

 

'''2nd Place - $2,000'''

 

'''Sustainable Environment'''

'''Innovative Technology'''

'''1st Place - $4,000''' '''OTTOnomous'''

'''First to Market'''

'''1st Place - $4,000'''

'''2nd Place - $2,000'''

'''2nd Place - $2,000'''

<div>'''Honorable Mention DifferenceMaker™'''</div>
'''$1000'''

 

 

'''Fan Favorite'''


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'''DifferenceMaker™ Future Efforts:'''

The DifferenceMaker™ Program plans to continue many of the activities and events initiated in the first year of the program.  Some of these programs will be revised and they intend to launch several new initiatives, including a DifferenceMaker™ Passport Program, a DifferenceMaker™ Mentor Program and a seed grant program to encourage faculty participation in the DifferenceMaker™ program. They also plan to expand our collaboration with several University colleges. 

This year they plan to increase the role of DifferenceMaker™ Living Learning Community students in the DifferenceMaker™ program by training the members to become DifferenceMaker™ ambassadors once they transition into their sophomore year  through weekly meetings and monthly events. The training will allow LLC members to learn more about entrepreneurship and the DifferenceMaker™ Program so they can promote it to student clubs and campus classes.  Once the LLC students become sophomores they will transition into a DifferenceMaker™ Ambassador role, and hopefully will form the nucleus of a yet-to-be-formed DifferenceMaker™ student club.  

In order to assist students to both record and encourage their participation in DifferenceMaker™ events, they are planning the development and implementation of a DifferenceMaker™ Passport Program. Consistent with the goals of the UMass Lowell DifferenceMaker™ Program, the Passport Program will assist students to identify, record and collect experiences meant to: 

·      Develop individual entrepreneurial identity

·      Develop entrepreneurial skills and self-confidence

·      Develop creative and sustainable solutions to complex problems

·      Connect with the University, E For All and community entrepreneurial ecosystems

They anticipate that the number of students engaged in the DifferenceMaker™ Program and related activities will increase each year. As they encourage and reward the formation of various types of student ventures and projects, the need for mentors who can consult with student teams will increase. They plan to guide these students and track their progress through a professional Mentor Program. The UMass Lowell Mentor Program will provide a committed network of mentors with a broad set of skills and professional experiences, who can assist UMass Lowell entrepreneurs in developing the knowledge and skills, needed to grow an idea into a successful, new venture.

The DM UMass Lowell Mentor Program will seek to connect DifferenceMaker™ students with successful experienced entrepreneurs and alumnus, as well as faculty and staff.  The Mentor Program will focus on assisting students to further develop solutions as part of the DifferenceMaker™ Program. Mentors will provide guidance in further refining student team objectives and help them in building their entrepreneurial skillsets.

They are planning to offer DifferenceMaker™ Faculty Workshops to help faculty consider how they might engage their own students in DifferenceMaker™ activities through course related activities and through co-curricular activities. Our hope is that by engaging more faculty, they in turn will serve as both mentors and catalysts for students, encouraging and guiding student project selection and development. They have also observed that student teams often need support and guidance from faculty from different disciplines, these workshops and an accompanying seed grant program are meant as catalysts to encourage interdisciplinary engagement among faculty,

While the overarching goal of the DifferenceMaker™ program is to encourage UMass Lowell students to develop sustainable and entrepreneurial solutions to the challenges and opportunities they will confront in this world, they anticipate another, potentially significant impact on the University community itself. Our students will only be successful if they have the support of faculty, alumni, business and community members. During our first year of program activities, they have found these constituents to be most supportive and willing to mentor and work with our students.  Alumni are mentoring and investing in student ventures.  Faculty are working across disciplines to ensure their student teams make progress. Local profit and non-profit businesses are eager to work with student teams, providing real-world problems and opportunities for student projects. In one short year, the DifferenceMaker™ program has been embraced by the greater University community. Our hope and plan is to anchor this program in the curriculum and culture of the University, so all UMass Lowell students have an opportunity to make a difference in this world.

 

'''DifferenceMaker™ Contact:'''

[mailto:differencemaker@uml.edu differencemaker@uml.edu]

'''facebook.com/differenceUML'''

'''twitter: @difference_UML'''

 

=== '''Commercial Venture and Intellectual Property Office (CVIP):''' ===

Commercial Ventures and Intellectual Property (CVIP) is responsible for the protection and commercialization of intellectual property at UMass Lowell. 

 

'''CVIP Mission: ''' 

The mission of UMass Lowell’s Office of Commercial Ventures and Intellectual Property (CVIP) is to facilitate the transfer of technology arising from government, foundation and industrial sponsored university research to the private sector. They facilitate development of inventions toward commercial relevance and utility, nurture mutually beneficial and sustainable relationships between the University and industry, promote an innovative and entrepreneurial culture at the University and contribute to the economic vibrancy and well-being of the Commonwealth. CVIP’s activities enable the successful transfer of commercially viable technology from the laboratory to the marketplace for public use and benefit. 

'''CVIP Functions:'''

  The main objectives of CVIP are:

·       to license patents and other protections to industry in order to promote the development of inventions toward practical application;

·       to foster a culture of innovation, facilitate commercially promising endeavors, and positively contribute to the University’s entrepreneurial ecosystem;

·       to seek new business opportunities and form productive collaborations with industry in an effort to increase research and licensing revenue to the University;

·       to generate income for inventors and the University as a whole for use in supporting further research, technology development and transfer;

·       to advocate for the research community and seek to create incentives, provide rewards and obtain resources to advance commercialization of the technologies they generate.

 

'''CVIP--Contact:'''

*[mailto:Jill_Murthi@uml.edu Jill S. Murthi], Director of CVIP by email: [mailto:Jill_Murthi@uml.edu Jill_Murthi@uml.edu] or phone: 978-934-4722
*[mailto:Rajnish_Kaushik@uml.edu Rajnish Kaushik], Licensing & Business Development Manager of CVIP by email: [mailto:Rajnish_Kaushik@uml.edu Rajnish_Kaushik@uml.edu] or phone: 978-934-4708

 

=== New Venture Initiative: ===

New Venture Initiative (NVI) is a mix of university resources and equity investment designed to provide a path to and facilitate more start-up activity at UMass Lowell.  As part of the larger Commercial Venture and Intellectual Property Office (CVIP), the NVI fund focuses on inventions, discoveries, products and services that have been developed in whole or in part at UMass Lowell, have achieved proof of concept (or an early prototype) and are ready for commercial product development, rather than those requiring further basic research.  For more information please contact [mailto:Nancy_Saucier@uml.edu Nancy Saucier], Director of New Venture Development.

 

=== '''Massachusetts Medical Device Development Center (M2D2):''' ===

The Massachusetts Medical Device Development Center (M2D2) is a lifeline for the state’s smaller medical device companies, offering inventors and executives easy, affordable, and coordinated access to world-class researchers and resources at the Lowell and Worcester campuses of the University of Massachusetts.

'''M2D2 Available Resources:'''

*9000 square feet of space on second floor including:
**6 wet laboratory suites
**Two office suites
**Large open office collaboration area
**Board room
**Reception area
**Break Room equipped with a table and chairs, full size refrigerator, microwave, sink, dishwasher, and coffee maker
*5000 square feet of space on first floor including:
**Six individual offices 
**Bright shared kitchen space equipped with a table and chairs, full size refrigerator and sink
**One large state of the art conference room with full pull down screen, computer with web access and a projector  
**All conference rooms contain a 46" Aquos LCD screen, as well as computer with web access and a projector
**Business and medical feasibility assessments
**Product development space
**Medical and clinical pathway assistance
**Connection to additional services such as laboratory use, incubator space for start-ups and clinical trial support through the product life cycle
**SBIR and STTR research
**Access to capital
**Networking events
**New Venture Competitions

 

'''M2D2--Contact'''

[mailto:Stephen_McCarthy@uml.edu Stephen McCarthy], Co-Director of M2D2

 

=== '''E For All (Formerly Merrimack Valley Sandbox)''' ===

'E for All' is a project of the Deshpande Foundation, which has encouraged the use of entrepreneurship and innovation as catalysts for sustainable change in the United States, India and Canada since 1996. Deshpande supported centers including the MIT Deshpande Center for Technological Innovation, the Deshpande Center for Social Innovation in Hubli, India, the Pond-Deshpande Centre at the University of New Brunswick, and our own 'E For All'  at the University of Massachusetts Lowell. 'E for All' includes higher education partners (Middlesex Community College, Merrimack College and Northern Essex Community College) and a host of regional community and business partners.

'''E for All Mission'''

The mission of 'E For All' is to connect and strengthen the ecosystem in Lowell and Lawrence, Massachusetts, around entrepreneurship and leadership. This mission is supported by the following three principle 'E For All' programs:

·       Catalysts-The Catalyst program provides seed funding and mentoring support to foster initiative around new ideas and programs among local high school and college students.

·       Entrepreneurship-The Entrepreneur Program is a community-wide initiative supporting entrepreneurship. More than 30 partner organizations and institutions are participating in this initiative, which gives entrepreneurs a greater chance at success through pitch contests, workshops and intensive programs. 

·       Leadership-The 'E For All' Leadership Institute (SLI) offers leadership development for individuals that live, work or are interested in the communities of Lawrence and Lowell. 

'''Learn more''': [http://www.uml.edu/Innovation-Entrepreneurship/MV-Sandbox.aspx http://www.uml.edu/Innovation-Entrepreneurship/MV-Sandbox.aspx]

=== Other Organizations ===

'''Entrepreneurial Ventures Association''': EVA is an interdisciplinary organization that is open to all majors; they share resources, advice, and interests with other COM and UML clubs to help students turn their entrepreneurial ideas into reality.  [https://umasslowellclubs.collegiatelink.net/organization/entrepreneurial-ventures-association/about https://umasslowellclubs.collegiatelink.net/organization/entrepreneurial-ventures-association/about]

'''Honors Ambassador Program: '''Students participate in the Honors Ambassador Program to gain valuable experience through courses tailored for higher development and to foster relationships with communities and organizations that the program is involved with. [http://www.umlhonors.com/ http://www.umlhonors.com/]

UMass Lowell hosts over 140 different clubs and communities, most of which are geared towards equipping students to become leaders and innovators in society. A full list full of information can be found here: [https://umasslowellclubs.collegiatelink.net/Organizations https://umasslowellclubs.collegiatelink.net/Organizations]

= '''University Entrepreneurship''' =

=== Creative New Academic Programs ===

'''The Manning School of Business'''  The Manning School of Business offers two academic programs focused on entrepreneurship:

*[http://www.uml.edu/MSB/management/Entrepreneurship.aspx Undergraduate - Entrepreneurship Concentration]: Prepares students to be "outside-of-the-box" thinkers and innovators in today's complex global economy.

The '''entrepreneurship concentration''' prepares students to be an "outside of the box" thinker and innovator in today's complex global economy. Using an interdisciplinary focus, students who complete the concentration will:

*Develop the management skills required to identify and launch new business ventures around innovative products, services and technologies. 
*Develop an understanding of the concepts and activities associated with entrepreneurship and innovation. 
*Understand the financial aspects of an entrepreneurial venture from start-up to "harvest". 
*Discover their individual "entrepreneurial spirit" through experiential learning in interdisciplinary classes and the College's Venture Lab.

The required courses within the Entrepreneurship concentration consist of:

#Starting a New Venture 
#Corporate Entrepreneurship 
#Managing Innovation 
#Finance for Emerging Business Enterprises
#Entrepreneurial Strategy & Implementation (Fall '14 not yet required)
#Study Abroad in India (not required, entrepreneurship focused)

[http://www.uml.edu/MSB/Graduate-Programs/MSITE.aspx Graduate - Master of Science in Innovation and Technological Entrepreneurship (MSITE)]: Provides engineers, business majors and scientists with the skills and knowledge required to drive innovation in today's collaborative, global workforce.

[http://www.uml.edu/MSB/Graduate-Programs/MSITEhealthcare.aspx Graduate - Master of Science in Innovation and Technological Entrepreneurship (MSITE) Healthcare Innovation & Entrepreneurship (HI+E) Option]: This option is targeted towards healthcare professionals, such as hospital managers/administrators, clinicians, physicians and other medical professionals who need to understand and manage the impact of emerging technologies and innovations in the healthcare industry. The Program will also benefit recent graduates who wish to enter the healthcare industries as a career choice.

[http://www.uml.edu/MSB/Program-of-study/New-Venture-Creation.aspx Graduate Certificate - New Venture Creation]: This program is focused specifically on the creation of technology-based ventures and is designed to assist professionals with undergraduate and career experience in science, engineering, technology or business fields in better understanding how to develop and launch a technology-based business.

'''College of Sciences, Computer Science Department'''

The Computer Science Department offers an [http://www.uml.edu/Catalog/Graduate/Sciences/Computer-Science/MS-in-Computer-Science-Entrepreneurship-Option.aspx entrepreneurship option] in their master's degree. It is directed at those with a strong undergraduate background in Computer Science who are interested in both deepening their technical knowledge and in understanding the tools required for developing a company directed towards software services and products.

'''College of Engineering, Electrical and Computer Engineering Department, Assistive Technology Program'''

A component of the undergraduate Electrical and Computer Engineering program, senior ECE students complete a [http://atp.caeds.eng.uml.edu/index.html senior capstone project] aimed at designing and producing an assistive technology device for a person with a disability. Engineering students can apply the knowledge they have learned from their courses and help solve problems for disabled people through creating technological advances. 

== Entrepreneurial Capital Projects and Acquisitions ==

=== '''The Mark and Elisia Saab Emerging Technologies and Innovation Center''' ===

This new UMass Lowell 2012-13 construction is a building developed for bringing innovation and industry together. Faculty and student researchers use the resources available in this building to meet industry challenges and improve lives using UMass Lowell technologies and patents. Core facilities for use in fundamental and translational research are available to faculty and students; it contains class 100, 1,000, and 10,000 cleanroom spaces, wet lab and engineering lab space, and a plastics processing high bay. The ETIC is has LEED Gold Certification, and is considered green. The construction of this building also is estimated to supporting at least 130 new jobs.

 

=== '''Health and Social Sciences Building'''  ===

This new building that houses criminal justice and criminology, nursing, and psychology provides classrooms, simulation laboratories, observation facilities, a demonstration hospital wing, and ample meeting space for community projects. The construction of this new building supported more than 800 construction and related jobs, and provided the much needed resources and space for UMass Lowell’s growing social science population.

= '''University-Industry Collaboration''' =

'''Research Activities'''

UMass Lowell places a large focus on professional research, as evidenced by the ample lab space professors have to work with in buildings such as the ETIC. A comprehensive list of all research areas and information about them can be found on the UMass Lowell website. [http://www.uml.edu/Research/Centers/default.aspx http://www.uml.edu/Research/Centers/default.aspx]

==== Center for Industrial Competitiveness ====

For nearly 20 years, UMass Lowell’s Center for Industrial Competitiveness has conducted research on industrial innovation, regional development, corporate governance, financialization, and sustainable prosperity. Resources available stretch all around the world through collaborative networks and relationships, providing ample information and a global understanding on development. Research also includes local industrial development in Massachusetts. 

UMass Lowell has a page dedicated to the CIC researchers and their work, which can be found here: [http://www.uml.edu/centers/cic/Research/Research.html http://www.uml.edu/centers/cic/Research/Research.html]

= '''Regional and Local Economic Development''' =

'''Economic and Social Development of Regions Department:'''

This graduate program focuses on giving an interdisciplinary education that is tailored to fit the needs of the individual. By educating both the private and public sectors of economic and social development, this program aims to create work ready individuals that can bring innovation and change to shifting social and economic environment.

'''Lowell Makes''' 

“A membership‐driven collaborative space equipped with a wide variety of tools, machines, materials, computers and other resources where individuals can gain and practice modern skills with state‐of‐the‐art technology, access to resources they could not otherwise, and a community of creative minded people who make all kinds of things. “Art is the Handmaid of Human Good” is both the City of Lowell’s motto, and a reminder of Lowell’s rich industrial and artistic history as our inspiration.” - [http://www.lowellmakes.com/proposal/ http://www.lowellmakes.com/proposal/]

Lowell makes was founded to be a space where those who do not have access to certain equipment to bring their ideas to life will have that access they need and have the support they need to push their innovation to the next level. It is a space that has resources tailored for budding entrepreneurs, and can be rented out by anyone with a plan. 

'''Mill No.5'''

Mill No.5 is one of the few non-UML entrepreneurial constructs in the Lowell urban environment. Like many mills in Lowell, it has been renovated and repurposed. Being subdivided and updated to proper code, there are rooms available for offices and start-ups looking to have an office space to centralize their resources. 

= '''Conclusion''' =

Entrepreneurship is a strategic objective at the University of Massachusetts Lowell.  During the last five years, UMass Lowell has re-positioned itself with students, faculty, staff, and the community as a true public enterprise committed to taking an entrepreneurial approach to innovation in all aspects of its structure.   A rapidly expanding innovation ecosystem encourages and guides entrepreneurial action, whether academically or commercially, amongst its faculty and student body -- fostering an entrepreneurial approach to economic development through a variety of programs and activities. UMass Lowell will continue to thrive in all aspects of entrepreneurship and innovation.  

= Related Links =

University Innovation Fellows:
[http://universityinnovation.org/wiki/Stephen_Kender Stephen Kender][[Ana Gouveia|Ana Gouveia]][[James Abdallah|James Abdallah]][[KevinMDesjardins|Kevin Desjardins]][[Jacob Hulme|Jacob Hulme]]Kyle Pitocchelli[[UMass Lowell Student Priorities|UMass Lowell Student Priorities]]

[[Category:Universities]]

School:University of Massachusetts Lowell

2015-10-12T18:10:31Z

Ephenstephen:

<div style="float: right; clear: right;">[[File:UMass-Lowell-logo.png]]</div>
The University of Massachusetts Lowell (also known as UMass Lowell or UML) is a [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Public_university public] [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_research_universities_in_the_United_States doctoral/research] university in [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lowell,_Massachusetts Lowell], [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Massachusetts Massachusetts], [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_States United States],and part of the [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/University_of_Massachusetts University of Massachusetts] system. With more than 1,100 faculty members and more than 16,000 students, it is the largest university in the [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Merrimack_Valley Merrimack Valley] and the second-largest public institution in the state behind UMass Amherst. The university offers more than 120 degree choices, internships, bachelor’s to master’s programs and doctoral studies in the College of Fine Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences; College of Health Sciences; College of Sciences; the Francis College of Engineering; the Graduate School of Education; and the Manning School of Business.

= '''Overview - A Campus on the Move''' =

UMass Lowell has been evolving in every aspect; upgraded classrooms, libraries and labs; new and renovated student living and activity spaces; and enhanced parking facilities are a few on the list of what has been updated and changed over the past decade of campus improvement.

·       University Crossing: Officially completed and operating, this new building hosts student services and activities, bookstore, dining, University police, transportation services, and senior administration offices.

·       Pulichino Tong Building: The University’s current construction project, the Tong Building will replace the now-relocated Honor’s Eames Dorm building on UMass Lowell’s North Campus and will house the entirety of the Robert J. Manning School of Business.

·       University Suites: This brand new dorm on UMass Lowell’s East campus provides housing for 472 students in four- and six-bed suites. There is a ground-floor common area with a café - Hawk's Nest - featuring fresh bakery, grab & go items and a late night Asian menu, in addition to delicious Red Mango frozen yogurt & smoothies and "We proudly serve" Starbucks Coffee. A multi-purpose room is open to the UMass Lowell community. Each residential floor has two common kitchen/lounge areas, two quiet study rooms and a group study room.

·       Riverview Suites: The other half of the two-dorm addition to UMass Lowell in 2013, Riverview Suites has either two or three bedroom  suites complete with a live-in kitchen, classroom and meeting rooms inside the building, and a gym inside the facility. The University leases the property from Soho Development, who also built the $42 million facility.

·       New Garages: In the past three years, UMass Lowell has added two large parking garages to each of its largest parking lots, greatly increasing the parking capacity for the strong commuter presence attending the school.

·       Health and Social Sciences Building: In 2013, this new criminal justice and criminology, nursing and psychology building had its grand opening. The construction of this building marked the first new construction in 30 years on the University’s South Campus, including all campuses in the University’s recent wave of evolution.

Since 2009, the University has also been heavily updating the existing buildings while acquiring and renovating new ones. UMass Lowell renovated the newly acquired Inn and Conference Center, added Taco Bell and Subway to the University’s dining partners, renovated the newly acquired Tsongas Center, and heavily updated their Dining Hall in the tallest UMass Lowell building, Fox Hall.

= '''Student Entrepreneurship''' =

'''NonSpec '''

[http://www.nonspec.org/ NonSpec] participated in the 2013 first annual DifferenceMaker™ Idea Challenge where they showed dedication and enthusiasm by attending each educational workshop and event throughout the process which aided in their success.  At the Idea Challenge they received the prestigious title of “Campus Wide DifferenceMaker™” and the top award of $5,000. This prize represents the project most likely to make a significant difference in the community, region and the world.

The $5,000 award has allowed Nonspec to move their initiative forward by creating their first batch of prosthetic limbs. With a projected 15% market share in the next five years, Nonspec plans to use this market presence to launch a foundation called “Give a Hand”. The purpose of this foundation would be to spread their mission, goals, charitable cause, and products around the world in order to make a difference in developing nations.

Since Nonspec’s success at the Idea Challenge they have gained great publicity in other arenas.  They were recently named one of the top 10 semi-finalists in Entrepreneur® Magazine’s “College Entrepreneur of 2013 Contest”.  In addition, they were invited to attend [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ppnzNSnxi-g The International Association of Plastics Distribution (IAPD) “Plastics Application Design Competition”], which was held on October 2, 2013 in Miami, Florida.  Lastly, the team was utilized as a role model by being featured in a [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aLwLg4XHrck video] that was shown at all DifferenceMaker™ freshman orientation sessions throughout the summer due to their motivation and high entrepreneurial spirits.

=== ===

= Departments and Programs =

== '''Center for Innovation and Entrepreneurship''' ==

 “ The Center for Innovation and Entrepreneurship offers students and faculty of all disciplines the opportunity to work together to develop innovative and entrepreneurial solutions to the major problems facing our community, the region and the world. The Center hosts several programs that encourage social innovation and entrepreneurship among UMass Lowell students as well as the broader community in which we live. The DifferenceMaker program provides training, mentoring and other resources to UMass Lowell students and faculty who wish to address social, environmental and economic problems in our community. “

 

=== '''DifferenceMaker™''' ===

'''About DifferenceMaker™:''' 

The DifferenceMaker™ Program sponsors specific events and activities that support students in solving big problems through innovation and entrepreneurship. The Program is highly experiential by offering students a series of workshops that they can engage in to better understand innovation, entrepreneurship and launching a start-up of their interest.

Students of all majors and disciplines are welcome to join this Program and make a difference at UMass Lowell, in the community or in the world through innovative and entrepreneurial action. These DifferenceMaker™ projects include interdisciplinary student teams from all majors and skill sets. 

 

'''Goals of DifferenceMaker™:''' 

·      Introduce all UMass students to creative problem solving, innovation and entrepreneurship

·      Accelerate purpose in each students education

·      Connect current students to alumni experience

·      Encourage a social responsibility ethos

 

'''DifferenceMaker™ Available Activities Include:'''

·       '''DifferenceMaker™ Central-'''DifferenceMaker™ Central was opened in May 2013.  This space is a dedicated entrepreneurial area with a vibrant start-up community atmosphere.  The space was made for all entrepreneurial teams to come together to work, brainstorm, and network. Student teams have access to flexible workstations, televisions, computers, mentors, and a dynamic meeting space to develop their ideas and collaborate amongst their teammates and fellow students.

·       '''DifferenceMaker™ Enterprise Co-op''''''in the Center for Innovation and Entrepreneurship''''''-'''Throughout each year, DifferenceMaker™ will hire several students from various majors to participate in paid co-op experiences. Student co-ops assist in conducting and summarizing entrepreneurial research, developing and distributing marketing materials for various center initiatives, and provide center support for faculty and innovation fellows affiliate with the center.  

·       '''Freshman Make A Difference Orientation – '''During the summer sessions, DifferenceMaker™ has a large presence in the Freshman Orientation days. Through the Office of Orientation, Student Activities and Leadership, and ResLife, DifferenceMaker™ was able to present to every attending freshman and gain exposure to all of the new students at UMass Lowell. 

·       '''Freshman DifferenceMaker™ Convocation-''' At the beginning of each academic year, we present DifferenceMaker™ to every incoming freshman at Convocation. Each year we perform a fun activity to engage students in our program.

·       '''Introduction to DifferenceMaker™-Freshman Seminars-'''A series of in-class discussions in collaboration with the Manning School of Business, The Francis College of Engineering, The College of Fine Arts, Humanities, and Social Sciences, and The College of Health Sciences in order to introduce the DifferenceMaker™ Program to students of all disciplines and to inspire them to explore their passions through creative problem solving.

·       '''Introduction to the DifferenceMaker™ Program-'''A series of events were held on both the north and south campuses to introduce students to DifferenceMaker™ Program concepts, allow them to share their ideas and interests, explore possible projects and solution, and to connected with each other to form teams. These events included the DifferenceMaker™ Convocation Pitch, the Climate Change Teach-in, a DifferenceMaker™ Team Building Dinner, and others.

·       '''DifferenceMaker™ LLC – '''Having a presence in the student residence halls as well as the classroom is important to motivate students and discover new ideas waiting to happen. The DifferenceMaker™ Living/Learning Community brings new students together in the ResLife environment for innovation and brainstorming outside of the classroom. 

·       '''Honors DifferenceMaker™ Program –''' In collaboration with UMass Lowell Honors Program, this concerted effort to embed elements of social entrepreneurship in our Honors Program includes coursework and community-based student efforts that have specific focus on innovation and entrepreneurial practices.

·       '''Introduction to Engineering-'''Extra Credit Project-This activity was a collaboration effort between the DifferenceMaker™ Program and The Francis College of Engineering to introduce freshman engineering majors to the DifferenceMaker™ Program, innovation, and entrepreneurship. In this introductory activity, the students’ innovative ideas were explored and presented in a format which would enable their projects to be candidates for both the DifferenceMaker™ Program Idea Challenge and Campus Catalyst program.

·       '''Creative Venture Competition - '''This contest held in October of 2013 hosted by DifferenceMaker™ focused on innovation from Arts, Humanities, and Social Science students. $2500 was awarded to the best entrepreneurial business a proposal, and $250 to each finalist team was also awarded. 

·       '''Digital Federal Credit Union Innovation Contest – '''In November of 2013, DifferenceMaker™ along with DCU hosted an Innovation Contest focusing on banking and financial innovation in the industry. With a grand prize of $500 per team member and peripheral prizes of $100 per team member, the contest gave thousands to innovative teams and cutting edge ideas. 

·       '''DifferenceMaker™ Reverse Pitch – '''This pitch event was debuted on November 19, 2013. This event was a spin off of “normal” idea challenges and hackathons. Instead of students pitching their ideas to funding sources or judges, businesses and community partners actually pitched their existing problems to a student audience in the hopes that they can develop a solution. The pitches included Merrimack Valley Housing Partnership, Lowell Telecommunications Corporation, Habitat for Humanity of Greater Lowell, Catie’s Closet and the Natick Soldier Research Development and Engineering Center. Students will be able to solve these problems and present them at the Annual IdeaChallenge for funding opportunities. 

·       '''Freshman Business Class-Lego Problem Solving-'''This Lego activity was a collaboration effort between the DifferenceMaker™ Program and the Manning School of Business to introduce students to the ideation development process and problem solving method, as well as helping them strengthen their ability to work in a team. Sessions were conducted in 9 classes with over 400 students participating. Prof. Deborah Finch of the Manning School of Business led this effort. 

·       '''DifferenceMaker™ Idea Challenge– '''DifferenceMaker™ is hosting its second annual Idea Challenge; this challenge is for student entrepreneurial teams to come up with sustainable ideas that will make some sort of impact on the world or their community. Help in the form of various workshops in the months leading up to the Idea Challenge is available, teaching students how to properly pitch their ideas and how to flesh out their business plans. There are various subcategories for each team to have a chance at winning spread out across over many different disciplines, encouraging all students to participate and welcoming all ideas. 

·       '''DifferenceMaker™ Workshops-'''In preparation for the annual DifferenceMaker™ IdeaChallenge, we offer our students a series of educational entrepreneurial workshops throughout the spring semester.

o   Team Building Mixer

o   Identifying Problems and Opportunities

o   Developing Solutions

o   Identifying Resources

o   Rocket Pitch Coaching 

·       '''Promoting the Campus Catalyst Program'''-The DifferenceMaker™ Program works closely with 'E For All', a community business accelerator funded by the Deshpande Foundation, in order to encourage students to generate and develop their entrepreneurial ideas. The Sandbox Campus Catalyst program provided seed funding for student social and business solutions with potential. Catalyst information was provided to students at all DifferenceMaker™ events. Students also received consultation when applying to the Campus Catalyst Program.  The DifferenceMaker™ application and Campus Catalyst application were similar in content so that unity between these programs would be maximized.  

·       '''DifferenceMaker™ Program Promotion-'''In order to promote awareness of, and participation in, DifferenceMaker™ activities among faculty, staff, and students, a variety of outreach materials were developed and distributed across the University. These activities included program launch events, a DifferenceMaker™ website, a Facebook site, a Twitter feed (UML_Difference), various posters, postcards, presentations to classrooms, workshops, office hours, email blasts, and information tables. 

·       '''TeamMaker Platform''' - Allows students to build their project teams by posting their project ideas and information online where they can then search for “seekers” (students interested in becoming part of a team). On the other hand, “seekers” can utilize the TeamMaker Platform by posting their project interests and skills, and seeking projects/teams to work with. This platform facilitates team formation. 

 

'''DifferenceMaker™ Program Available Resources Include:'''

•       DifferenceMaker™ Central

•       Large open office collaboration space equipped with Wi-Fi, 3 Mac computers, printer/copier, 2 46” LCD TV monitors with projection capabilities, 6 white boards, 10 tables with chairs all equipped with wheels that can be easily rearranged for optimal use and collaboration, refrigerator, sink, cabinet space, coffee maker and other necessary office supplies.

•       Funding Opportunities

•       Idea Challenge

•       Other competitions:

•       DCU Innovation Contest

•       FAHSS Creative Venture Competition

•       Hawk  Hatch

•       Philanthropic Crowd Funding Source

•       Grants

•       Networking

•       Connection to faculty, staff, and alumni

•       Mentors

•       Faculty Fellows and DifferenceMaker™ Staff

•       Events

•       Series of Educational Entrepreneurial Workshops including materials

•       Problem, Opportunity, Solution, Resources, Pitch Coaching

•       Team Building Assistance

•       TeamMaker Platform, Team Building Mixer

•       Enterprise co-op positions

Through the Center for Innovation & Entrepreneurship, along with affiliated faculty and other campus programs, the University has introduced a range of activities that help students make a difference in the world.

 

'''DifferenceMaker™ Inaugural Year Statistics'''

·       72 DifferenceMaker™ events held in inaugural year

·       3,500  students who participates in a DifferenceMaker™ event this past year

·       $25,000  of funds awarded to 10 IdeaChallenge finalist teams

·       1,265  freshman participating in summer rapid ideation workshops

·       112  students who participated in the First Annual IdeaChallenge

·       22  cross discipline relationships notes between students among IdeaChallenge teams

·       24  academic disciplines represented by students in the IdeaChallenge teams

  

'''2015 DifferenceMaker™ IdeaChallenge Finalists'''

'''Campus-Wide DifferenceMaker™'''

'''$7,000'''

'''Significant Social Impact'''

'''1st Place - $4,000'''

 

'''2nd Place - $2,000'''

 

'''Sustainable Environment'''

'''Innovative Technology'''

'''1st Place - $4,000''' '''OTTOnomous'''

'''First to Market'''

'''1st Place - $4,000'''

'''2nd Place - $2,000'''

'''2nd Place - $2,000'''

<div>'''Honorable Mention DifferenceMaker™'''</div>
'''$1000'''

 

 

'''Fan Favorite'''


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'''DifferenceMaker™ Future Efforts:'''

The DifferenceMaker™ Program plans to continue many of the activities and events initiated in the first year of the program.  Some of these programs will be revised and they intend to launch several new initiatives, including a DifferenceMaker™ Passport Program, a DifferenceMaker™ Mentor Program and a seed grant program to encourage faculty participation in the DifferenceMaker™ program. They also plan to expand our collaboration with several University colleges. 

This year they plan to increase the role of DifferenceMaker™ Living Learning Community students in the DifferenceMaker™ program by training the members to become DifferenceMaker™ ambassadors once they transition into their sophomore year  through weekly meetings and monthly events. The training will allow LLC members to learn more about entrepreneurship and the DifferenceMaker™ Program so they can promote it to student clubs and campus classes.  Once the LLC students become sophomores they will transition into a DifferenceMaker™ Ambassador role, and hopefully will form the nucleus of a yet-to-be-formed DifferenceMaker™ student club.  

In order to assist students to both record and encourage their participation in DifferenceMaker™ events, they are planning the development and implementation of a DifferenceMaker™ Passport Program. Consistent with the goals of the UMass Lowell DifferenceMaker™ Program, the Passport Program will assist students to identify, record and collect experiences meant to: 

·      Develop individual entrepreneurial identity

·      Develop entrepreneurial skills and self-confidence

·      Develop creative and sustainable solutions to complex problems

·      Connect with the University, E For All and community entrepreneurial ecosystems

They anticipate that the number of students engaged in the DifferenceMaker™ Program and related activities will increase each year. As they encourage and reward the formation of various types of student ventures and projects, the need for mentors who can consult with student teams will increase. They plan to guide these students and track their progress through a professional Mentor Program. The UMass Lowell Mentor Program will provide a committed network of mentors with a broad set of skills and professional experiences, who can assist UMass Lowell entrepreneurs in developing the knowledge and skills, needed to grow an idea into a successful, new venture.

The DM UMass Lowell Mentor Program will seek to connect DifferenceMaker™ students with successful experienced entrepreneurs and alumnus, as well as faculty and staff.  The Mentor Program will focus on assisting students to further develop solutions as part of the DifferenceMaker™ Program. Mentors will provide guidance in further refining student team objectives and help them in building their entrepreneurial skillsets.

They are planning to offer DifferenceMaker™ Faculty Workshops to help faculty consider how they might engage their own students in DifferenceMaker™ activities through course related activities and through co-curricular activities. Our hope is that by engaging more faculty, they in turn will serve as both mentors and catalysts for students, encouraging and guiding student project selection and development. They have also observed that student teams often need support and guidance from faculty from different disciplines, these workshops and an accompanying seed grant program are meant as catalysts to encourage interdisciplinary engagement among faculty,

While the overarching goal of the DifferenceMaker™ program is to encourage UMass Lowell students to develop sustainable and entrepreneurial solutions to the challenges and opportunities they will confront in this world, they anticipate another, potentially significant impact on the University community itself. Our students will only be successful if they have the support of faculty, alumni, business and community members. During our first year of program activities, they have found these constituents to be most supportive and willing to mentor and work with our students.  Alumni are mentoring and investing in student ventures.  Faculty are working across disciplines to ensure their student teams make progress. Local profit and non-profit businesses are eager to work with student teams, providing real-world problems and opportunities for student projects. In one short year, the DifferenceMaker™ program has been embraced by the greater University community. Our hope and plan is to anchor this program in the curriculum and culture of the University, so all UMass Lowell students have an opportunity to make a difference in this world.

 

'''DifferenceMaker™ Contact:'''

[mailto:differencemaker@uml.edu differencemaker@uml.edu]

'''facebook.com/differenceUML'''

'''twitter: @difference_UML'''

 

=== '''Commercial Venture and Intellectual Property Office (CVIP):''' ===

Commercial Ventures and Intellectual Property (CVIP) is responsible for the protection and commercialization of intellectual property at UMass Lowell. 

 

'''CVIP Mission: ''' 

The mission of UMass Lowell’s Office of Commercial Ventures and Intellectual Property (CVIP) is to facilitate the transfer of technology arising from government, foundation and industrial sponsored university research to the private sector. They facilitate development of inventions toward commercial relevance and utility, nurture mutually beneficial and sustainable relationships between the University and industry, promote an innovative and entrepreneurial culture at the University and contribute to the economic vibrancy and well-being of the Commonwealth. CVIP’s activities enable the successful transfer of commercially viable technology from the laboratory to the marketplace for public use and benefit. 

'''CVIP Functions:'''

  The main objectives of CVIP are:

·       to license patents and other protections to industry in order to promote the development of inventions toward practical application;

·       to foster a culture of innovation, facilitate commercially promising endeavors, and positively contribute to the University’s entrepreneurial ecosystem;

·       to seek new business opportunities and form productive collaborations with industry in an effort to increase research and licensing revenue to the University;

·       to generate income for inventors and the University as a whole for use in supporting further research, technology development and transfer;

·       to advocate for the research community and seek to create incentives, provide rewards and obtain resources to advance commercialization of the technologies they generate.

 

'''CVIP--Contact:'''

*[mailto:Jill_Murthi@uml.edu Jill S. Murthi], Director of CVIP by email: [mailto:Jill_Murthi@uml.edu Jill_Murthi@uml.edu] or phone: 978-934-4722
*[mailto:Rajnish_Kaushik@uml.edu Rajnish Kaushik], Licensing & Business Development Manager of CVIP by email: [mailto:Rajnish_Kaushik@uml.edu Rajnish_Kaushik@uml.edu] or phone: 978-934-4708

 

=== New Venture Initiative: ===

New Venture Initiative (NVI) is a mix of university resources and equity investment designed to provide a path to and facilitate more start-up activity at UMass Lowell.  As part of the larger Commercial Venture and Intellectual Property Office (CVIP), the NVI fund focuses on inventions, discoveries, products and services that have been developed in whole or in part at UMass Lowell, have achieved proof of concept (or an early prototype) and are ready for commercial product development, rather than those requiring further basic research.  For more information please contact [mailto:Nancy_Saucier@uml.edu Nancy Saucier], Director of New Venture Development.

 

=== '''Massachusetts Medical Device Development Center (M2D2):''' ===

The Massachusetts Medical Device Development Center (M2D2) is a lifeline for the state’s smaller medical device companies, offering inventors and executives easy, affordable, and coordinated access to world-class researchers and resources at the Lowell and Worcester campuses of the University of Massachusetts.

'''M2D2 Available Resources:'''

*9000 square feet of space on second floor including:
**6 wet laboratory suites
**Two office suites
**Large open office collaboration area
**Board room
**Reception area
**Break Room equipped with a table and chairs, full size refrigerator, microwave, sink, dishwasher, and coffee maker
*5000 square feet of space on first floor including:
**Six individual offices 
**Bright shared kitchen space equipped with a table and chairs, full size refrigerator and sink
**One large state of the art conference room with full pull down screen, computer with web access and a projector  
**All conference rooms contain a 46" Aquos LCD screen, as well as computer with web access and a projector
**Business and medical feasibility assessments
**Product development space
**Medical and clinical pathway assistance
**Connection to additional services such as laboratory use, incubator space for start-ups and clinical trial support through the product life cycle
**SBIR and STTR research
**Access to capital
**Networking events
**New Venture Competitions

 

'''M2D2--Contact'''

[mailto:Stephen_McCarthy@uml.edu Stephen McCarthy], Co-Director of M2D2

 

=== '''E For All (Formerly Merrimack Valley Sandbox)''' ===

'E for All' is a project of the Deshpande Foundation, which has encouraged the use of entrepreneurship and innovation as catalysts for sustainable change in the United States, India and Canada since 1996. Deshpande supported centers including the MIT Deshpande Center for Technological Innovation, the Deshpande Center for Social Innovation in Hubli, India, the Pond-Deshpande Centre at the University of New Brunswick, and our own 'E For All'  at the University of Massachusetts Lowell. 'E for All' includes higher education partners (Middlesex Community College, Merrimack College and Northern Essex Community College) and a host of regional community and business partners.

'''E for All Mission'''

The mission of 'E For All' is to connect and strengthen the ecosystem in Lowell and Lawrence, Massachusetts, around entrepreneurship and leadership. This mission is supported by the following three principle 'E For All' programs:

·       Catalysts-The Catalyst program provides seed funding and mentoring support to foster initiative around new ideas and programs among local high school and college students.

·       Entrepreneurship-The Entrepreneur Program is a community-wide initiative supporting entrepreneurship. More than 30 partner organizations and institutions are participating in this initiative, which gives entrepreneurs a greater chance at success through pitch contests, workshops and intensive programs. 

·       Leadership-The 'E For All' Leadership Institute (SLI) offers leadership development for individuals that live, work or are interested in the communities of Lawrence and Lowell. 

'''Learn more''': [http://www.uml.edu/Innovation-Entrepreneurship/MV-Sandbox.aspx http://www.uml.edu/Innovation-Entrepreneurship/MV-Sandbox.aspx]

=== Other Organizations ===

'''Entrepreneurial Ventures Association''': EVA is an interdisciplinary organization that is open to all majors; they share resources, advice, and interests with other COM and UML clubs to help students turn their entrepreneurial ideas into reality.  [https://umasslowellclubs.collegiatelink.net/organization/entrepreneurial-ventures-association/about https://umasslowellclubs.collegiatelink.net/organization/entrepreneurial-ventures-association/about]

'''Honors Ambassador Program: '''Students participate in the Honors Ambassador Program to gain valuable experience through courses tailored for higher development and to foster relationships with communities and organizations that the program is involved with. [http://www.umlhonors.com/ http://www.umlhonors.com/]

UMass Lowell hosts over 140 different clubs and communities, most of which are geared towards equipping students to become leaders and innovators in society. A full list full of information can be found here: [https://umasslowellclubs.collegiatelink.net/Organizations https://umasslowellclubs.collegiatelink.net/Organizations]

= '''University Entrepreneurship''' =

=== Creative New Academic Programs ===

'''The Manning School of Business'''  The Manning School of Business offers two academic programs focused on entrepreneurship:

*[http://www.uml.edu/MSB/management/Entrepreneurship.aspx Undergraduate - Entrepreneurship Concentration]: Prepares students to be "outside-of-the-box" thinkers and innovators in today's complex global economy.

The '''entrepreneurship concentration''' prepares students to be an "outside of the box" thinker and innovator in today's complex global economy. Using an interdisciplinary focus, students who complete the concentration will:

*Develop the management skills required to identify and launch new business ventures around innovative products, services and technologies. 
*Develop an understanding of the concepts and activities associated with entrepreneurship and innovation. 
*Understand the financial aspects of an entrepreneurial venture from start-up to "harvest". 
*Discover their individual "entrepreneurial spirit" through experiential learning in interdisciplinary classes and the College's Venture Lab.

The required courses within the Entrepreneurship concentration consist of:

#Starting a New Venture 
#Corporate Entrepreneurship 
#Managing Innovation 
#Finance for Emerging Business Enterprises
#Entrepreneurial Strategy & Implementation (Fall '14 not yet required)
#Study Abroad in India (not required, entrepreneurship focused)

[http://www.uml.edu/MSB/Graduate-Programs/MSITE.aspx Graduate - Master of Science in Innovation and Technological Entrepreneurship (MSITE)]: Provides engineers, business majors and scientists with the skills and knowledge required to drive innovation in today's collaborative, global workforce.

[http://www.uml.edu/MSB/Graduate-Programs/MSITEhealthcare.aspx Graduate - Master of Science in Innovation and Technological Entrepreneurship (MSITE) Healthcare Innovation & Entrepreneurship (HI+E) Option]: This option is targeted towards healthcare professionals, such as hospital managers/administrators, clinicians, physicians and other medical professionals who need to understand and manage the impact of emerging technologies and innovations in the healthcare industry. The Program will also benefit recent graduates who wish to enter the healthcare industries as a career choice.

[http://www.uml.edu/MSB/Program-of-study/New-Venture-Creation.aspx Graduate Certificate - New Venture Creation]: This program is focused specifically on the creation of technology-based ventures and is designed to assist professionals with undergraduate and career experience in science, engineering, technology or business fields in better understanding how to develop and launch a technology-based business.

'''College of Sciences, Computer Science Department'''

The Computer Science Department offers an [http://www.uml.edu/Catalog/Graduate/Sciences/Computer-Science/MS-in-Computer-Science-Entrepreneurship-Option.aspx entrepreneurship option] in their master's degree. It is directed at those with a strong undergraduate background in Computer Science who are interested in both deepening their technical knowledge and in understanding the tools required for developing a company directed towards software services and products.

'''College of Engineering, Electrical and Computer Engineering Department, Assistive Technology Program'''

A component of the undergraduate Electrical and Computer Engineering program, senior ECE students complete a [http://atp.caeds.eng.uml.edu/index.html senior capstone project] aimed at designing and producing an assistive technology device for a person with a disability. Engineering students can apply the knowledge they have learned from their courses and help solve problems for disabled people through creating technological advances. 

== Entrepreneurial Capital Projects and Acquisitions ==

=== '''The Mark and Elisia Saab Emerging Technologies and Innovation Center''' ===

This new UMass Lowell 2012-13 construction is a building developed for bringing innovation and industry together. Faculty and student researchers use the resources available in this building to meet industry challenges and improve lives using UMass Lowell technologies and patents. Core facilities for use in fundamental and translational research are available to faculty and students; it contains class 100, 1,000, and 10,000 cleanroom spaces, wet lab and engineering lab space, and a plastics processing high bay. The ETIC is has LEED Gold Certification, and is considered green. The construction of this building also is estimated to supporting at least 130 new jobs.

 

=== '''Health and Social Sciences Building'''  ===

This new building that houses criminal justice and criminology, nursing, and psychology provides classrooms, simulation laboratories, observation facilities, a demonstration hospital wing, and ample meeting space for community projects. The construction of this new building supported more than 800 construction and related jobs, and provided the much needed resources and space for UMass Lowell’s growing social science population.

= '''University-Industry Collaboration''' =

'''Research Activities'''

UMass Lowell places a large focus on professional research, as evidenced by the ample lab space professors have to work with in buildings such as the ETIC. A comprehensive list of all research areas and information about them can be found on the UMass Lowell website. [http://www.uml.edu/Research/Centers/default.aspx http://www.uml.edu/Research/Centers/default.aspx]

==== Center for Industrial Competitiveness ====

For nearly 20 years, UMass Lowell’s Center for Industrial Competitiveness has conducted research on industrial innovation, regional development, corporate governance, financialization, and sustainable prosperity. Resources available stretch all around the world through collaborative networks and relationships, providing ample information and a global understanding on development. Research also includes local industrial development in Massachusetts. 

UMass Lowell has a page dedicated to the CIC researchers and their work, which can be found here: [http://www.uml.edu/centers/cic/Research/Research.html http://www.uml.edu/centers/cic/Research/Research.html]

= '''Regional and Local Economic Development''' =

'''Economic and Social Development of Regions Department:'''

This graduate program focuses on giving an interdisciplinary education that is tailored to fit the needs of the individual. By educating both the private and public sectors of economic and social development, this program aims to create work ready individuals that can bring innovation and change to shifting social and economic environment.

'''Lowell Makes''' 

“A membership‐driven collaborative space equipped with a wide variety of tools, machines, materials, computers and other resources where individuals can gain and practice modern skills with state‐of‐the‐art technology, access to resources they could not otherwise, and a community of creative minded people who make all kinds of things. “Art is the Handmaid of Human Good” is both the City of Lowell’s motto, and a reminder of Lowell’s rich industrial and artistic history as our inspiration.” - [http://www.lowellmakes.com/proposal/ http://www.lowellmakes.com/proposal/]

Lowell makes was founded to be a space where those who do not have access to certain equipment to bring their ideas to life will have that access they need and have the support they need to push their innovation to the next level. It is a space that has resources tailored for budding entrepreneurs, and can be rented out by anyone with a plan. 

'''Mill No.5'''

Mill No.5 is one of the few non-UML entrepreneurial constructs in the Lowell urban environment. Like many mills in Lowell, it has been renovated and repurposed. Being subdivided and updated to proper code, there are rooms available for offices and start-ups looking to have an office space to centralize their resources. 

= '''Conclusion''' =

Entrepreneurship is a strategic objective at the University of Massachusetts Lowell.  During the last five years, UMass Lowell has re-positioned itself with students, faculty, staff, and the community as a true public enterprise committed to taking an entrepreneurial approach to innovation in all aspects of its structure.   A rapidly expanding innovation ecosystem encourages and guides entrepreneurial action, whether academically or commercially, amongst its faculty and student body -- fostering an entrepreneurial approach to economic development through a variety of programs and activities. UMass Lowell will continue to thrive in all aspects of entrepreneurship and innovation.  

= Related Links =

University Innovation Fellows:
[[Ana Gouveia|Ana Gouveia]][[James Abdallah|James Abdallah]][[KevinMDesjardins|Kevin Desjardins]][[Jacob Hulme|Jacob Hulme]]Kyle Pitocchelli[[UMass Lowell Student Priorities|UMass Lowell Student Priorities]]
[[Category:Universities]]

School:University of Massachusetts Lowell

2015-10-12T17:48:55Z

Ephenstephen:

<div style="float: right; clear: right;">[[File:UMass-Lowell-logo.png]]</div>
The University of Massachusetts Lowell (also known as UMass Lowell or UML) is a [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Public_university public] [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_research_universities_in_the_United_States doctoral/research] university in [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lowell,_Massachusetts Lowell], [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Massachusetts Massachusetts], [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_States United States],and part of the [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/University_of_Massachusetts University of Massachusetts] system. With more than 1,100 faculty members and more than 16,000 students, it is the largest university in the [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Merrimack_Valley Merrimack Valley] and the second-largest public institution in the state behind UMass Amherst. The university offers more than 120 degree choices, internships, bachelor’s to master’s programs and doctoral studies in the College of Fine Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences; College of Health Sciences; College of Sciences; the Francis College of Engineering; the Graduate School of Education; and the Manning School of Business.

= '''Overview - A Campus on the Move''' =

UMass Lowell has been evolving in every aspect; upgraded classrooms, libraries and labs; new and renovated student living and activity spaces; and enhanced parking facilities are a few on the list of what has been updated and changed over the past decade of campus improvement.

·       University Crossing: Officially completed and operating, this new building hosts student services and activities, bookstore, dining, University police, transportation services, and senior administration offices.

·       Pulichino Tong Building: The University’s current construction project, the Tong Building will replace the now-relocated Honor’s Eames Dorm building on UMass Lowell’s North Campus and will house the entirety of the Robert J. Manning School of Business.

·       University Suites: This brand new dorm on UMass Lowell’s East campus provides housing for 472 students in four- and six-bed suites. There is a ground-floor common area with a café - Hawk's Nest - featuring fresh bakery, grab & go items and a late night Asian menu, in addition to delicious Red Mango frozen yogurt & smoothies and "We proudly serve" Starbucks Coffee. A multi-purpose room is open to the UMass Lowell community. Each residential floor has two common kitchen/lounge areas, two quiet study rooms and a group study room.

·       Riverview Suites: The other half of the two-dorm addition to UMass Lowell in 2013, Riverview Suites has either two or three bedroom  suites complete with a live-in kitchen, classroom and meeting rooms inside the building, and a gym inside the facility. The University leases the property from Soho Development, who also built the $42 million facility.

·       New Garages: In the past three years, UMass Lowell has added two large parking garages to each of its largest parking lots, greatly increasing the parking capacity for the strong commuter presence attending the school.

·       Health and Social Sciences Building: In 2013, this new criminal justice and criminology, nursing and psychology building had its grand opening. The construction of this building marked the first new construction in 30 years on the University’s South Campus, including all campuses in the University’s recent wave of evolution.

Since 2009, the University has also been heavily updating the existing buildings while acquiring and renovating new ones. UMass Lowell renovated the newly acquired Inn and Conference Center, added Taco Bell and Subway to the University’s dining partners, renovated the newly acquired Tsongas Center, and heavily updated their Dining Hall in the tallest UMass Lowell building, Fox Hall.

= '''Student Entrepreneurship''' =

'''Grab-A-Bite'''

Grab A Bite is a Social Food Network that engages users and helps increase restaurants customer traffic through marketing, ease of use and convenience that came to UMass Lowell’s DifferenceMaker™ program to steer the idea in the right direction. Providing online ordering, online reservations, food deals, online menus and DSC_5122easily retrievable information such as handicap accessibility and hours, Grab-a-Bite is pushing to be the biggest online food service in the market. The team is made up of Aldo Beqiraj, Denis Lemos, Andrew MacRobert and Andrew Webb.

In addition to the funds won through DifferenceMaker™s’ “First to Market” Idea Challenge, this team has also had a very successful crowd-funding campaign on Indiegogo that can be seen here: [http://www.indiegogo.com/projects/grab-a-bite http://www.indiegogo.com/projects/grab-a-bite] Grab-a-Bite has also been recognized by the Boston Globe and was the people choice at the Mass Innovation Foodie Night.  Most recently Founder and CEO Aldo Beqiraj presented a Grab-a-Bite pitch at UMass Lowell’s new student convocation to over 1,500 new students who texted voted and awarded Grab-a-Bite $1,500 to continue to move their project forward. The team is currently in the process of redesigning their website and mobile applications to launch themselves forward.

  

'''NonSpec (formerly Developing Nations Prosthetic)'''

Nonspec participated in the 2013 first annual DifferenceMaker™ Idea Challenge where they showed dedication and enthusiasm by attending each educational workshop and event throughout the process which aided in their success.  At the Idea Challenge they received the prestigious title of “The Campus Wide DifferenceMaker™” and the top award of $5,000. This top prize represents the project most likely to make a significant difference in the community, region and the world.

The $5,000 award has allowed Nonspec to move their initiative forward by creating their first batch of prosthetic limbs. With a projected 15% market share in the next five years, Nonspec plans to use this market presence to launch a foundation called “Give a Hand”. The purpose of this foundation would be to spread their mission, goals, charitable cause, and products around the world in order to make a difference in developing nations.

Since Nonspec’s success at the Idea Challenge they have gained great publicity in other arenas.  They were recently named one of the top 10 semi-finalists in Entrepreneur® Magazine’s “College Entrepreneur of 2013 Contest”.  In addition, they were invited to attend The International Association of Plastics Distribution (IAPD) “Plastics Application Design Competition”, which will be held on October 2, 2013 in Miami Florida.  They will have 20 minutes to present their project to a live audience and answer any field questions that may arise. Lastly, the team was utilized as a role model by being featured in a video that was shown at all DifferenceMaker™ freshman orientation sessions throughout the summer [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aLwLg4XHrck http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aLwLg4XHrck] due to their motivation and high entrepreneurial spirits.

 

'''Robotic Feeding Arm''' 

            The Robotic Feeding Arm is an assistive technology for patients who are not able to feed themselves. Currently, these people depend on being fed by a health care professional. This technology was invented by Philip Colangelo, a graduate student in computer engineering.  Previously, Philip earned an undergraduate degree in electrical engineering with a minor in robotics from UMass Lowell. 

The Robotic Feeding Arm is designed to feed people in need with the proper proportion of food in each spoonful. This technology will make the health care facilities staff more effective with their time and increase productivity while giving some independence back to the patients in need.  “Eating can be a stressful, rushed experience when relying on others especially in assistive care facilities that are understaffed,” said Philip Colangelo when asked about his project.         

            Philip entered his technology in the first annual 2013 DifferenceMaker™ Idea Challenge. After progressing through a series of workshops to help prepare and refine his idea, he was selected to pitch in the Preliminary Round of the Idea Challenge. After impressing the judges in the semi-finals, Philip progressed to the final round of the Idea Challenge. After a three minute rocket pitch to a panel of alumni judges, the Robotic Feeding Arm was awarded first place in the “Innovative Technology” category which was a $3,500 award. The Innovative Technology award represents a new technology that has the potential to change an industry, as well as change the lives of the people who use it.

             Since the Idea Challenge, Philip has entered the Robotic Feeding Arm into the Merrimack Valley Sandbox Accelerator Program which gave him insight towards getting his product into the marketplace. Philip also plans on incorporating the Robotic Feeding Arm into his master’s thesis by implementing new technology into the device, therefore making it more adaptable to nursing homes and other assistive care facilities.

             Philips Robotic Feeding Arm has received recognition outside of the Idea Challenge. The project earned second place in a High-Tech Pitch Contest over the summer, was voted the fan favorite at the Merrimack Valley Sandbox Summit Event and became a finalist in the Merrimack Valley Sandbox Accelerator Program.

 

'''Lowell Sprouts'''

Lowell Sprouts is an organization focusing on providing gardening spaces on school grounds, senior centers, and the many rooftops of Lowell. Along with pushing the planting of gardens in Lowell, a focus is also put on educating the community about alternative ways gardens can be grown in urban places like Lowell, and to teach the community as a whole that crops can be grown and harvested in an urban environment.

The team is made up of Mary Beth Burwood (Alumni), Sean Hicks (Junior in Marketing), and Christopher Horne (Junior in Economics), who came together in the DifferenceMaker™ Idea Challenge to win the $3,500 first place award in the Sustainable Environment category.

Following the Idea Challenge, Lowell Sprouts shifted their focus from elementary and middle school education and rooftop planting to building sustainable green roofs around Lowell. The team gathered more funding throughout the summer, including a spot on a Merrimac Valley Sandbox video. They plan to create a green Lowell presence that will educate the community on urban garden growing and help grow rooftop gardens on various buildings around Greater Lowell.

 

'''PointStick''' 

PointStick is a product that gives tactile and kinesthetic feedback to patients for both correct spinal alignment and breathing mechanics, which are the essentials for movement quality. Through experience, the team noticed that physical therapists often experience difficulty when having patients use the correct motions during their PT sessions. The PointStick device provides therapists with a product that patients can wear that will assist them in having the correct movements which leads to a faster recovery process. 

Ramez Antoun, a double River Hawk, founded PointStick after receiving a bachelor’s (10’) and master’s degree (13’) in Physical Therapy from UMass Lowell. He then recruited a Graphic Design major (10’), Nicholas Bleil to help work on and market the product. Ramez and Nicholas then recruited two additional students; Mike Tadros and Robert Roufail, alumnus from Northeastern University with majors in business and engineering, respectively.

After hearing and learning about the DifferenceMaker™ Program, PointStick was ready to apply for the DifferenceMaker™ Idea Challenge. Here they pitched their idea to a panel of alumni judges in the preliminary round. The judges then decided to move them onto the final round. In the finals of the Idea Challenge the judges awarded PointStick 2nd place in the “First to Market” award category. This came with a prize of $1,500 that the team could utilize to move their idea forward.  In addition, they gained access to other DifferenceMaker™ resources including space, networking, mentors and additional funding opportunities. A video of their pitch to the judges can be found here: [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RpqdUeF8DKk http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RpqdUeF8DKk]

Since the Idea Challenge the team has focused primarily on beginning their careers. In fall 2013, Ramez accepted a residency position in Vallejo California where he is currently residing. Robert also accepted an engineering position in Michigan. After speaking to Ramez, the team leader, he insisted that his team is still willing to collaborate on the project from across the country to further its success. They are currently in the process of researching the intellectual property of the PointStick to ensure they do not infringe on any current issued patents.

Idea Challenge Pitch Video: [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RpqdUeF8DKk http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RpqdUeF8DKk]

 

'''Healthy Habits''' 

            After researching and realizing the increasing demographic of overweight and obese children in public school systems, Healthy Habits was formed.  The team consisted of senior nursing majors Michelle Racioppi, Haley Mayne, Katerina Kafkas, Nicole Leblanc, Meghan Hathaway and Jacqueline Bradley. The team developed a method for children to learn about the various “healthy habits” they can engage in.  The goal of this project was to teach fitness and well-being to young children so they do not grow up to be unhealthy, overweight or obese. 

Healthy Habits has a structured curriculum that educates and engages children in healthy eating and exercise habits. The curriculum includes:

·         Examining the students nutritional knowledge

·         Introducing healthy foods and exercise to the students

·         Having the students perform the exercises

·         Asking the students to evaluate the program after they participated

In the first series of curriculum, over 40 children joined.  This outlines the importance of Healthy Habits within the community.

The team entered the 2013 DifferenceMaker™ Idea Challenge where they pitched their project to a panel of judges.  The team won first place in the category called “Significant Social Impact”, and was awarded $3,500 to further implement their idea.  This team is proof that business expertise is not necessary to implement and pursue a project or idea. 

The Healthy Habits team graduated in May 2013 and continued on to becoming certified nurses.  Since then, The Community Health Club (CHEC) at UMass Lowell has become the new leader of Healthy Habits and will continue to implement the project within the community and region. 

=== Coursework ===

The '''entrepreneurship concentration''' prepares students to be an "outside of the box" thinker and innovator in today's complex global economy. Using an interdisciplinary focus, students who complete the concentration will:

*Develop the management skills required to identify and launch new business ventures around innovative products, services and technologies. 
*Develop an understanding of the concepts and activities associated with entrepreneurship and innovation. 
*Understand the financial aspects of an entrepreneurial venture from start-up to "harvest". 
*Discover their individual "entrepreneurial spirit" through experiential learning in interdisciplinary classes and the College's Venture Lab.

The required courses within the Entrepreneurship concentration consist of:

#Starting a New Venture 
#Corporate Entrepreneurship 
#Managing Innovation 
#Finance for Emerging Business Enterprises
#Entrepreneurial Strategy & Implementation (Fall '14 not yet required)
#Study Abroad in India (not required, entrepreneurship focused)

These are the base courses involving Innovation and Entrepreneurship at the University, however there are many new courses currently in development which will continue to enrich the I&E ecosystem. 

= Departments and Programs =

== '''Center for Innovation and Entrepreneurship''' ==

 “ The Center for Innovation and Entrepreneurship offers students and faculty of all disciplines the opportunity to work together to develop innovative and entrepreneurial solutions to the major problems facing our community, the region and the world. The Center hosts several programs that encourage social innovation and entrepreneurship among UMass Lowell students as well as the broader community in which we live. The DifferenceMaker program provides training, mentoring and other resources to UMass Lowell students and faculty who wish to address social, environmental and economic problems in our community. “

=== '''DifferenceMaker™''' ===

'''About DifferenceMaker™:''' 

The DifferenceMaker™ Program sponsors specific events and activities that support students in solving big problems through innovation and entrepreneurship. The Program is highly experiential by offering students a series of workshops that they can engage in to better understand innovation, entrepreneurship and launching a start-up of their interest.

Students of all majors and disciplines are welcome to join this Program and make a difference at UMass Lowell, in the community or in the world through innovative and entrepreneurial action. These DifferenceMaker™ projects include interdisciplinary student teams from all majors and skill sets. 

 

'''Goals of DifferenceMaker™:''' 

·      Introduce all UMass students to creative problem solving, innovation and entrepreneurship

·      Accelerate purpose in each students education

·      Connect current students to alumni experience

·      Encourage a social responsibility ethos

'''DifferenceMaker™ Available Activities Include:'''

·       '''DifferenceMaker™ Central-'''DifferenceMaker™ Central was opened in May 2013.  This space is a dedicated entrepreneurial area with a vibrant start-up community atmosphere.  The space was made for all entrepreneurial teams to come together to work, brainstorm, and network. Student teams have access to flexible workstations, televisions, computers, mentors, and a dynamic meeting space to develop their ideas and collaborate amongst their teammates and fellow students.

·       '''DifferenceMaker™ Enterprise Co-op''''''in the Center for Innovation and Entrepreneurship''''''-'''Throughout each year, DifferenceMaker™ will hire several students from various majors to participate in paid co-op experiences. Student co-ops assist in conducting and summarizing entrepreneurial research, developing and distributing marketing materials for various center initiatives, and provide center support for faculty and innovation fellows affiliate with the center.  

·       '''Freshman Make A Difference Orientation – '''During the summer sessions, DifferenceMaker™ has a large presence in the Freshman Orientation days. Through the Office of Orientation, Student Activities and Leadership, and ResLife, DifferenceMaker™ was able to present to every attending freshman and gain exposure to all of the new students at UMass Lowell. 

·       '''Freshman DifferenceMaker™ Convocation-''' At the beginning of each academic year, we present DifferenceMaker™ to every incoming freshman at Convocation. Each year we perform a fun activity to engage students in our program.

·       '''Introduction to DifferenceMaker™-Freshman Seminars-'''A series of in-class discussions in collaboration with the Manning School of Business, The Francis College of Engineering, The College of Fine Arts, Humanities, and Social Sciences, and The College of Health Sciences in order to introduce the DifferenceMaker™ Program to students of all disciplines and to inspire them to explore their passions through creative problem solving.

·       '''Introduction to the DifferenceMaker™ Program-'''A series of events were held on both the north and south campuses to introduce students to DifferenceMaker™ Program concepts, allow them to share their ideas and interests, explore possible projects and solution, and to connected with each other to form teams. These events included the DifferenceMaker™ Convocation Pitch, the Climate Change Teach-in, a DifferenceMaker™ Team Building Dinner, and others.

·       '''DifferenceMaker™ LLC – '''Having a presence in the student residence halls as well as the classroom is important to motivate students and discover new ideas waiting to happen. The DifferenceMaker™ Living/Learning Community brings new students together in the ResLife environment for innovation and brainstorming outside of the classroom. 

·       '''Honors DifferenceMaker™ Program –''' In collaboration with UMass Lowell Honors Program, this concerted effort to embed elements of social entrepreneurship in our Honors Program includes coursework and community-based student efforts that have specific focus on innovation and entrepreneurial practices.

·       '''Introduction to Engineering-'''Extra Credit Project-This activity was a collaboration effort between the DifferenceMaker™ Program and The Francis College of Engineering to introduce freshman engineering majors to the DifferenceMaker™ Program, innovation, and entrepreneurship. In this introductory activity, the students’ innovative ideas were explored and presented in a format which would enable their projects to be candidates for both the DifferenceMaker™ Program Idea Challenge and Campus Catalyst program.

·       '''Creative Venture Competition - '''This contest held in October of 2013 hosted by DifferenceMaker™ focused on innovation from Arts, Humanities, and Social Science students. $2500 was awarded to the best entrepreneurial business a proposal, and $250 to each finalist team was also awarded. 

·       '''Digital Federal Credit Union Innovation Contest – '''In November of 2013, DifferenceMaker™ along with DCU hosted an Innovation Contest focusing on banking and financial innovation in the industry. With a grand prize of $500 per team member and peripheral prizes of $100 per team member, the contest gave thousands to innovative teams and cutting edge ideas. 

·       '''DifferenceMaker™ Reverse Pitch – '''This pitch event was debuted on November 19, 2013. This event was a spin off of “normal” idea challenges and hackathons. Instead of students pitching their ideas to funding sources or judges, businesses and community partners actually pitched their existing problems to a student audience in the hopes that they can develop a solution. The pitches included Merrimack Valley Housing Partnership, Lowell Telecommunications Corporation, Habitat for Humanity of Greater Lowell, Catie’s Closet and the Natick Soldier Research Development and Engineering Center. Students will be able to solve these problems and present them at the Annual IdeaChallenge for funding opportunities. 

·       '''Freshman Business Class-Lego Problem Solving-'''This Lego activity was a collaboration effort between the DifferenceMaker™ Program and the Manning School of Business to introduce students to the ideation development process and problem solving method, as well as helping them strengthen their ability to work in a team. Sessions were conducted in 9 classes with over 400 students participating. Prof. Deborah Finch of the Manning School of Business led this effort. 

·       '''DifferenceMaker™ Idea Challenge– '''DifferenceMaker™ is hosting its second annual Idea Challenge; this challenge is for student entrepreneurial teams to come up with sustainable ideas that will make some sort of impact on the world or their community. Help in the form of various workshops in the months leading up to the Idea Challenge is available, teaching students how to properly pitch their ideas and how to flesh out their business plans. There are various subcategories for each team to have a chance at winning spread out across over many different disciplines, encouraging all students to participate and welcoming all ideas. 

·       '''DifferenceMaker™ Workshops-'''In preparation for the annual DifferenceMaker™ IdeaChallenge, we offer our students a series of educational entrepreneurial workshops throughout the spring semester.

o   Team Building Mixer

o   Identifying Problems and Opportunities

o   Developing Solutions

o   Identifying Resources

o   Rocket Pitch Coaching 

·       '''Promoting the Campus Catalyst Program'''-The DifferenceMaker™ Program works closely with 'E For All', a community business accelerator funded by the Deshpande Foundation, in order to encourage students to generate and develop their entrepreneurial ideas. The Sandbox Campus Catalyst program provided seed funding for student social and business solutions with potential. Catalyst information was provided to students at all DifferenceMaker™ events. Students also received consultation when applying to the Campus Catalyst Program.  The DifferenceMaker™ application and Campus Catalyst application were similar in content so that unity between these programs would be maximized.  

·       '''DifferenceMaker™ Program Promotion-'''In order to promote awareness of, and participation in, DifferenceMaker™ activities among faculty, staff, and students, a variety of outreach materials were developed and distributed across the University. These activities included program launch events, a DifferenceMaker™ website, a Facebook site, a Twitter feed (UML_Difference), various posters, postcards, presentations to classrooms, workshops, office hours, email blasts, and information tables. 

·       '''TeamMaker Platform''' - Allows students to build their project teams by posting their project ideas and information online where they can then search for “seekers” (students interested in becoming part of a team). On the other hand, “seekers” can utilize the TeamMaker Platform by posting their project interests and skills, and seeking projects/teams to work with. This platform facilitates team formation. 

'''DifferenceMaker™ Program Available Resources Include:'''

•       DifferenceMaker™ Central

•       Large open office collaboration space equipped with Wi-Fi, 3 Mac computers, printer/copier, 2 46” LCD TV monitors with projection capabilities, 6 white boards, 10 tables with chairs all equipped with wheels that can be easily rearranged for optimal use and collaboration, refrigerator, sink, cabinet space, coffee maker and other necessary office supplies.

•       Funding Opportunities

•       Idea Challenge

•       Other competitions:

•       DCU Innovation Contest

•       FAHSS Creative Venture Competition

•       Hawk  Hatch

•       Philanthropic Crowd Funding Source

•       Grants

•       Networking

•       Connection to faculty, staff, and alumni

•       Mentors

•       Faculty Fellows and DifferenceMaker™ Staff

•       Events

•       Series of Educational Entrepreneurial Workshops including materials

•       Problem, Opportunity, Solution, Resources, Pitch Coaching

•       Team Building Assistance

•       TeamMaker Platform, Team Building Mixer

•       Enterprise co-op positions

Through the Center for Innovation & Entrepreneurship, along with affiliated faculty and other campus programs, the University has introduced a range of activities that help students make a difference in the world.

 

'''DifferenceMaker™ Inaugural Year Statistics'''

·       72 DifferenceMaker™ events held in inaugural year

·       3,500  students who participates in a DifferenceMaker™ event this past year

·       $25,000  of funds awarded to 10 IdeaChallenge finalist teams

·       1,265  freshman participating in summer rapid ideation workshops

·       112  students who participated in the First Annual IdeaChallenge

·       22  cross discipline relationships notes between students among IdeaChallenge teams

·       24  academic disciplines represented by students in the IdeaChallenge teams

  

'''2014 DifferenceMaker™ IdeaChallenge Finalists'''

'''Campus-Wide DifferenceMaker™'''

'''$7,000'''

'''Support Our Students'''

A centrally located resource for students of low-income or those in need of assistance.a centrally located resource for students of low-income or those in need of assistance.

·      Teresa Shroll                        Community Social Psychology                                     

·      Mary Tauras                         Community Social Psychology                                    

·      Sadie Prickett                       Community Social Psychology                

·      Xavier Guay                         Computer Science          

·      Chandana Penukonda          Finance                            

·      Anna Henson                        Marketing                                    

 

'''Significant Social Impact'''

'''1st Place - $4,000'''

'''BioBubbler'''

The BioBubbler is made from indigenous material and does not require chemicals or electricity to use. It is a slow sand filtration system that eliminates bacteria in water by absorption, predation, natural death, and oxygen depletion.

*Rachel Paquette, Senior, Biology
*Nawal Khan, Junior, Marketing and Management

 

'''2nd Place - $2,000'''

'''NerdOnyx'''

Nerdonyx is a place where theory meets application. This team is helping to encourage anyone who wants to be an engineer or scientist to pursue their dream.

*Ryan Hart, Senior, Electrical Engineering
*Shiv Sharma, Ph.D., Electrical Engineering
*Kyle Vigeant, Senior, Electrical Engineering
*Timothy Pflanz, Senior, Electrical Engineering
*Albert Andino-Aponte, Senior, Electrical Engineering
*Kyle Homan, Senior, Electrical Engineering
*Anupama Purohit, Graduate, MBA

 

'''Sustainable Environment'''

'''1st Place - $4,000'''

'''TermaGreen'''

TermaGreen is a waste heat recovery solutions company that has innovated the heat recovery mechanism known as the organic ranking cycle. TermaGreen has innovated the design of this machine to make a significant difference in its operations.

*Gregory Bohenko, Senior, Business
*Alexander Martinez, Freshman, Business, Economics and Mathematics
*Aaron Stafford, Senior, Business

 '''Innovative Technology'''

'''1st Place - $4,000''' '''OTTOnomous'''

OTTOnomous Technology is a novel solution for replacing camshafts in car engines with electro-mechanical actuators.

*Erik Christiansen, Senior, Mechanical Engineering
*Victor Maldonado, Senior, Accounting and Global Business
*Jeremy Dorson, Senior, Electrical Engineering

 '''First to Market'''

'''1st Place - $4,000'''

'''Fresh Beets'''

Fresh Beets is a food truck and music venue that unites three discrete areas that the Greater Lowell community values highly into one vehicle of change. By combining food, music and education, Fresh Beets will turn any street corner, stake park, festival, or parking lot in Lowell into a total experience which feeds the mind, body and soul.

*Savannah Marshall, Graduate, Community Music

 

'''2nd Place - $2,000'''

'''TreeHouse'''

Treehouse is a website & phone application that connects friends with plans, events, and small businesses nearby.

*James Abdallah, Senior, Finance and Marketing

 '''2nd Place - $2,000'''

'''ZHOOM'''

ZHOOM is a mobile application that improves the dining experience and service in restaurants. The features of ZHOOM include an online menu, mobile ordering functionality and payment system and customer reviews.

*Chuen Hong Lau, Graduate, Innovation and Technological Entrepreneurship
*Wai Yuen Tang, Junior, Electrical Engineering
*Darin Eidens, Graduate, Innovation and Technological Entrepreneurship
*Dan Coughlin, Graduate, MBA

<div>'''Honorable Mention DifferenceMaker™'''</div>
'''$1000'''

 '''TutorTrack'''
<div style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; outline: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; background: transparent;">TutorTrack is a mobile application that makes it easy for tutors to track, add, and edit their time slots and for students to subscribe a book a time slot.</div><div style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; outline: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; background: transparent;"> </div>
*Madhumathi Prakash, Sophomore, Computer Science
*Virinchi Balabhadrapatruni, Sophomore, Computer Science and Electrical Engineering
*Disha Amin, Junior, Computer Science

 '''iHand ''' The iHand is a concept integrating retinal scanning technology into a full arm, shoulder to fingertips, prosthetic.

*James Whiting, Freshman, Mechanical Engineering
*Zihao Gao, Freshman, Chemical Engineering

 '''Chat UML ''' Chat UML, a non-profit, will reach those in need of emotional help through a dedicated website where participants will chat with a Chat UML volunteer about what ever issue they feel a need to. The hope is to assist people before their situation escalates and becomes a crisis.

*Brittany Morris, Freshman, Psychology
*Kiara Cole, Sophomore, Business
*Jon Madden, Senior, Computer Science
*Lauren Jendrock, Freshman, Psychology
*Peter Potash, Ph.D., Computer Science

 '''Prevention's Possible ''' The mission of this project is to use creative mediums and personal experience to reach today’s youth with the expectation that WE CAN prevent tragic outcomes!

*Matthew Clarke, Senior, Liberal Arts
*Nick Pedini, Freshman, Sociology/Legal Studies

 '''S.imulated A.ction T.esting ''' A gaming option for S.A.T. testing for students who have testing anxiety.

*Niki Roberge, Senior, English
*Amalfi Reyes, Senior, English
*Kaylen Harris, Junior, English
*Lisa Jackson, Junior, Peace and Conflict Studies

 '''Fan Favorite''' '''$1,000 '''
<div style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; outline: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; background: transparent;">'''Mr. Meds ''' Mr. Meds is a mobile robot used in a hospital pharmacy for medication organization, scheduling, and distribution.</div>
*Philip Colangelo, Graduate, Computer Science
*Bryan Nguon, Junior, Computer Engineering
*Curtis Quintal, Senior, Computer Science
*Gianni Falzone, Graduate, Innovation and Technological Entrepreneurship
*Vikas Subramani, Graduate, Computer Engineering

 '''DifferenceMaker™ Future Efforts:'''

The DifferenceMaker™ Program plans to continue many of the activities and events initiated in the first year of the program.  Some of these programs will be revised and they intend to launch several new initiatives, including a DifferenceMaker™ Passport Program, a DifferenceMaker™ Mentor Program and a seed grant program to encourage faculty participation in the DifferenceMaker™ program. They also plan to expand our collaboration with several University colleges. 

This year they plan to increase the role of DifferenceMaker™ Living Learning Community students in the DifferenceMaker™ program by training the members to become DifferenceMaker™ ambassadors once they transition into their sophomore year  through weekly meetings and monthly events. The training will allow LLC members to learn more about entrepreneurship and the DifferenceMaker™ Program so they can promote it to student clubs and campus classes.  Once the LLC students become sophomores they will transition into a DifferenceMaker™ Ambassador role, and hopefully will form the nucleus of a yet-to-be-formed DifferenceMaker™ student club.  

In order to assist students to both record and encourage their participation in DifferenceMaker™ events, they are planning the development and implementation of a DifferenceMaker™ Passport Program. Consistent with the goals of the UMass Lowell DifferenceMaker™ Program, the Passport Program will assist students to identify, record and collect experiences meant to: 

·      Develop individual entrepreneurial identity

·      Develop entrepreneurial skills and self-confidence

·      Develop creative and sustainable solutions to complex problems

·      Connect with the University, E For All and community entrepreneurial ecosystems

They anticipate that the number of students engaged in the DifferenceMaker™ Program and related activities will increase each year. As they encourage and reward the formation of various types of student ventures and projects, the need for mentors who can consult with student teams will increase. They plan to guide these students and track their progress through a professional Mentor Program. The UMass Lowell Mentor Program will provide a committed network of mentors with a broad set of skills and professional experiences, who can assist UMass Lowell entrepreneurs in developing the knowledge and skills, needed to grow an idea into a successful, new venture.

The DM UMass Lowell Mentor Program will seek to connect DifferenceMaker™ students with successful experienced entrepreneurs and alumnus, as well as faculty and staff.  The Mentor Program will focus on assisting students to further develop solutions as part of the DifferenceMaker™ Program. Mentors will provide guidance in further refining student team objectives and help them in building their entrepreneurial skillsets.

They are planning to offer DifferenceMaker™ Faculty Workshops to help faculty consider how they might engage their own students in DifferenceMaker™ activities through course related activities and through co-curricular activities. Our hope is that by engaging more faculty, they in turn will serve as both mentors and catalysts for students, encouraging and guiding student project selection and development. They have also observed that student teams often need support and guidance from faculty from different disciplines, these workshops and an accompanying seed grant program are meant as catalysts to encourage interdisciplinary engagement among faculty,

While the overarching goal of the DifferenceMaker™ program is to encourage UMass Lowell students to develop sustainable and entrepreneurial solutions to the challenges and opportunities they will confront in this world, they anticipate another, potentially significant impact on the University community itself. Our students will only be successful if they have the support of faculty, alumni, business and community members. During our first year of program activities, they have found these constituents to be most supportive and willing to mentor and work with our students.  Alumni are mentoring and investing in student ventures.  Faculty are working across disciplines to ensure their student teams make progress. Local profit and non-profit businesses are eager to work with student teams, providing real-world problems and opportunities for student projects. In one short year, the DifferenceMaker™ program has been embraced by the greater University community. Our hope and plan is to anchor this program in the curriculum and culture of the University, so all UMass Lowell students have an opportunity to make a difference in this world.

 

'''DifferenceMaker™ Contact:'''

[mailto:differencemaker@uml.edu differencemaker@uml.edu]

'''facebook.com/differenceUML'''

'''twitter: @difference_UML'''

 

=== '''Commercial Venture and Intellectual Property Office (CVIP):''' ===

Commercial Ventures and Intellectual Property (CVIP) is responsible for the protection and commercialization of intellectual property at UMass Lowell. 

 

'''CVIP Mission: ''' 

The mission of UMass Lowell’s Office of Commercial Ventures and Intellectual Property (CVIP) is to facilitate the transfer of technology arising from government, foundation and industrial sponsored university research to the private sector. They facilitate development of inventions toward commercial relevance and utility, nurture mutually beneficial and sustainable relationships between the University and industry, promote an innovative and entrepreneurial culture at the University and contribute to the economic vibrancy and well-being of the Commonwealth. CVIP’s activities enable the successful transfer of commercially viable technology from the laboratory to the marketplace for public use and benefit. 

'''CVIP Functions:'''

  The main objectives of CVIP are:

·       to license patents and other protections to industry in order to promote the development of inventions toward practical application;

·       to foster a culture of innovation, facilitate commercially promising endeavors, and positively contribute to the University’s entrepreneurial ecosystem;

·       to seek new business opportunities and form productive collaborations with industry in an effort to increase research and licensing revenue to the University;

·       to generate income for inventors and the University as a whole for use in supporting further research, technology development and transfer;

·       to advocate for the research community and seek to create incentives, provide rewards and obtain resources to advance commercialization of the technologies they generate.

 

'''CVIP--Contact:'''

*[mailto:Jill_Murthi@uml.edu Jill S. Murthi], Director of CVIP by email: [mailto:Jill_Murthi@uml.edu Jill_Murthi@uml.edu] or phone: 978-934-4722
*[mailto:Rajnish_Kaushik@uml.edu Rajnish Kaushik], Licensing & Business Development Manager of CVIP by email: [mailto:Rajnish_Kaushik@uml.edu Rajnish_Kaushik@uml.edu] or phone: 978-934-4708

=== New Venture Initiative: ===

New Venture Initiative (NVI) is a mix of university resources and equity investment designed to provide a path to and facilitate more start-up activity at UMass Lowell.  As part of the larger Commercial Venture and Intellectual Property Office (CVIP), the NVI fund focuses on inventions, discoveries, products and services that have been developed in whole or in part at UMass Lowell, have achieved proof of concept (or an early prototype) and are ready for commercial product development, rather than those requiring further basic research.  For more information please contact [mailto:Nancy_Saucier@uml.edu Nancy Saucier], Director of New Venture Development.

 

=== '''Massachusetts Medical Device Development Center (M2D2):''' ===

The Massachusetts Medical Device Development Center (M2D2) is a lifeline for the state’s smaller medical device companies, offering inventors and executives easy, affordable, and coordinated access to world-class researchers and resources at the Lowell and Worcester campuses of the University of Massachusetts.

'''M2D2 Available Resources:'''

*9000 square feet of space on second floor including:
**6 wet laboratory suites
**Two office suites
**Large open office collaboration area
**Board room
**Reception area
**Break Room equipped with a table and chairs, full size refrigerator, microwave, sink, dishwasher, and coffee maker
*5000 square feet of space on first floor including:
**Six individual offices 
**Bright shared kitchen space equipped with a table and chairs, full size refrigerator and sink
**One large state of the art conference room with full pull down screen, computer with web access and a projector  
**All conference rooms contain a 46" Aquos LCD screen, as well as computer with web access and a projector
**Business and medical feasibility assessments
**Product development space
**Medical and clinical pathway assistance
**Connection to additional services such as laboratory use, incubator space for start-ups and clinical trial support through the product life cycle
**SBIR and STTR research
**Access to capital
**Networking events
**New Venture Competitions

 

'''M2D2--Contact'''

[mailto:Stephen_McCarthy@uml.edu Stephen McCarthy], Co-Director of M2D2

 

=== '''E For All (Formerly Merrimack Valley Sandbox)''' ===

'E for All' is a project of the Deshpande Foundation, which has encouraged the use of entrepreneurship and innovation as catalysts for sustainable change in the United States, India and Canada since 1996. Deshpande supported centers including the MIT Deshpande Center for Technological Innovation, the Deshpande Center for Social Innovation in Hubli, India, the Pond-Deshpande Centre at the University of New Brunswick, and our own 'E For All'  at the University of Massachusetts Lowell. 'E for All' includes higher education partners (Middlesex Community College, Merrimack College and Northern Essex Community College) and a host of regional community and business partners.

'''E for All Mission'''

The mission of 'E For All' is to connect and strengthen the ecosystem in Lowell and Lawrence, Massachusetts, around entrepreneurship and leadership. This mission is supported by the following three principle 'E For All' programs:

·       Catalysts-The Catalyst program provides seed funding and mentoring support to foster initiative around new ideas and programs among local high school and college students.

·       Entrepreneurship-The Entrepreneur Program is a community-wide initiative supporting entrepreneurship. More than 30 partner organizations and institutions are participating in this initiative, which gives entrepreneurs a greater chance at success through pitch contests, workshops and intensive programs. 

·       Leadership-The 'E For All' Leadership Institute (SLI) offers leadership development for individuals that live, work or are interested in the communities of Lawrence and Lowell. 

'''Learn more''': [http://www.uml.edu/Innovation-Entrepreneurship/MV-Sandbox.aspx http://www.uml.edu/Innovation-Entrepreneurship/MV-Sandbox.aspx]

=== Other Organizations ===

'''Entrepreneurial Ventures Association''': EVA is an interdisciplinary organization that is open to all majors; they share resources, advice, and interests with other COM and UML clubs to help students turn their entrepreneurial ideas into reality.  [https://umasslowellclubs.collegiatelink.net/organization/entrepreneurial-ventures-association/about https://umasslowellclubs.collegiatelink.net/organization/entrepreneurial-ventures-association/about]

'''Honors Ambassador Program: '''Students participate in the Honors Ambassador Program to gain valuable experience through courses tailored for higher development and to foster relationships with communities and organizations that the program is involved with. [http://www.umlhonors.com/ http://www.umlhonors.com/]

UMass Lowell hosts over 140 different clubs and communities, most of which are geared towards equipping students to become leaders and innovators in society. A full list full of information can be found here: [https://umasslowellclubs.collegiatelink.net/Organizations https://umasslowellclubs.collegiatelink.net/Organizations]

= '''University Entrepreneurship''' =

=== Creative New Academic Programs ===

'''The Manning School of Business'''  The Manning School of Business offers two academic programs focused on entrepreneurship:

·       [http://www.uml.edu/MSB/management/Entrepreneurship.aspx Undergraduate - Entrepreneurship Concentration]: Prepares students to be "outside-of-the-box" thinkers and innovators in today's complex global economy.

·       [http://www.uml.edu/MSB/Graduate-Programs/MSITE.aspx Graduate - Master of Science in Innovation and Technological Entrepreneurship (MSITE)]: Provides engineers, business majors and scientists with the skills and knowledge required to drive innovation in today's collaborative, global workforce.

·       [http://www.uml.edu/MSB/Graduate-Programs/MSITEhealthcare.aspx Graduate - Master of Science in Innovation and Technological Entrepreneurship (MSITE) Healthcare Innovation & Entrepreneurship (HI+E) Option]: This option is targeted towards healthcare professionals, such as hospital managers/administrators, clinicians, physicians and other medical professionals who need to understand and manage the impact of emerging technologies and innovations in the healthcare industry. The Program will also benefit recent graduates who wish to enter the healthcare industries as a career choice.

·       [http://www.uml.edu/MSB/Program-of-study/New-Venture-Creation.aspx Graduate Certificate - New Venture Creation]: This program is focused specifically on the creation of technology-based ventures and is designed to assist professionals with undergraduate and career experience in science, engineering, technology or business fields in better understanding how to develop and launch a technology-based business.

'''College of Sciences, Computer Science Department'''

The Computer Science Department offers an [http://www.uml.edu/Catalog/Graduate/Sciences/Computer-Science/MS-in-Computer-Science-Entrepreneurship-Option.aspx entrepreneurship option] in their master's degree. It is directed at those with a strong undergraduate background in Computer Science who are interested in both deepening their technical knowledge and in understanding the tools required for developing a company directed towards software services and products.

'''College of Engineering, Electrical and Computer Engineering Department, Assistive Technology Program'''

A component of the undergraduate Electrical and Computer Engineering program, senior ECE students complete a [http://atp.caeds.eng.uml.edu/index.html senior capstone project] aimed at designing and producing an assistive technology device for a person with a disability. Engineering students can apply the knowledge they have learned from their courses and help solve problems for disabled people through creating technological advances. 

== Entrepreneurial Capital Projects and Acquisitions ==

=== '''The Mark and Elisia Saab Emerging Technologies and Innovation Center''' ===

This new UMass Lowell 2012-13 construction is a building developed for bringing innovation and industry together. Faculty and student researchers use the resources available in this building to meet industry challenges and improve lives using UMass Lowell technologies and patents. Core facilities for use in fundamental and translational research are available to faculty and students; it contains class 100, 1,000, and 10,000 cleanroom spaces, wet lab and engineering lab space, and a plastics processing high bay. The ETIC is has LEED Gold Certification, and is considered green. The construction of this building also is estimated to supporting at least 130 new jobs.

 

=== '''Health and Social Sciences Building'''  ===

This new building that houses criminal justice and criminology, nursing, and psychology provides classrooms, simulation laboratories, observation facilities, a demonstration hospital wing, and ample meeting space for community projects. The construction of this new building supported more than 800 construction and related jobs, and provided the much needed resources and space for UMass Lowell’s growing social science population.

= '''University-Industry Collaboration''' =

'''Research Activities'''

UMass Lowell places a large focus on professional research, as evidenced by the ample lab space professors have to work with in buildings such as the ETIC. A comprehensive list of all research areas and information about them can be found on the UMass Lowell website. [http://www.uml.edu/Research/Centers/default.aspx http://www.uml.edu/Research/Centers/default.aspx]

==== Center for Industrial Competitiveness ====

For nearly 20 years, UMass Lowell’s Center for Industrial Competitiveness has conducted research on industrial innovation, regional development, corporate governance, financialization, and sustainable prosperity. Resources available stretch all around the world through collaborative networks and relationships, providing ample information and a global understanding on development. Research also includes local industrial development in Massachusetts. 

UMass Lowell has a page dedicated to the CIC researchers and their work, which can be found here: [http://www.uml.edu/centers/cic/Research/Research.html http://www.uml.edu/centers/cic/Research/Research.html]

= '''Regional and Local Economic Development''' =

'''Economic and Social Development of Regions Department:'''

This graduate program focuses on giving an interdisciplinary education that is tailored to fit the needs of the individual. By educating both the private and public sectors of economic and social development, this program aims to create work ready individuals that can bring innovation and change to shifting social and economic environment.

'''Lowell Makes''' 

“A membership‐driven collaborative space equipped with a wide variety of tools, machines, materials, computers and other resources where individuals can gain and practice modern skills with state‐of‐the‐art technology, access to resources they could not otherwise, and a community of creative minded people who make all kinds of things. “Art is the Handmaid of Human Good” is both the City of Lowell’s motto, and a reminder of Lowell’s rich industrial and artistic history as our inspiration.” - [http://www.lowellmakes.com/proposal/ http://www.lowellmakes.com/proposal/]

Lowell makes was founded to be a space where those who do not have access to certain equipment to bring their ideas to life will have that access they need and have the support they need to push their innovation to the next level. It is a space that has resources tailored for budding entrepreneurs, and can be rented out by anyone with a plan. 

'''Mill No.5'''

Mill No.5 is one of the few non-UML entrepreneurial constructs in the Lowell urban environment. Like many mills in Lowell, it has been renovated and repurposed. Being subdivided and updated to proper code, there are rooms available for offices and start-ups looking to have an office space to centralize their resources. 

= '''Conclusion''' =

Entrepreneurship is a strategic objective at the University of Massachusetts Lowell.  During the last five years, UMass Lowell has re-positioned itself with students, faculty, staff, and the community as a true public enterprise committed to taking an entrepreneurial approach to innovation in all aspects of its structure.   A rapidly expanding innovation ecosystem encourages and guides entrepreneurial action, whether academically or commercially, amongst its faculty and student body -- fostering an entrepreneurial approach to economic development through a variety of programs and activities. UMass Lowell will continue to thrive in all aspects of entrepreneurship and innovation.  

= Related Links =

University Innovation Fellows:
[[Ana Gouveia|Ana Gouveia]][[James Abdallah|James Abdallah]][[KevinMDesjardins|Kevin Desjardins]][[Jacob Hulme|Jacob Hulme]]Kyle Pitocchelli[[UMass_Lowell_Student_Priorities|UMass Lowell Student Priorities]]
[[Category:Universities]]

Priorities:UMass Lowell Student Priorities

2015-10-12T17:37:09Z

Ephenstephen:

= '''Overview- A Campus on the Move''' =

The University of Massachusetts Lowell is a top-tier research university with a full plate of offerings for innovation and entrepreneurship. The faculty and administration are eager to connect with the movement of promoting an innovative culture at the university level. Being a national research university, UMass Lowell has been evolving quite a bit in the past few years: new buildings have sprouted everywhere, classrooms are being upgraded to support a culture of learning, and centers for innovation are being built to involve as many students as possible in I&E. As well, programs and offerings have been refined over the years to adapt to our changing society.

UMass Lowell's entrepreneurial culture has been active since around 2011, with the DifferenceMaker Program kicking off in 2012. Since then, a wealth of programs have been started to connect students with more opportunities for entrepreneurship. The university has taken many steps to work with the City of Lowell and local companies for the greater benefit and economic development of the area. There are many programs in place that have given us a great head start, but there is more to come yet.

Our strategic plan centers around the idea of Jump-Starting Awareness, where students acknowledge that the programs exist but aren’t necessarily aware of the other offerings in place to help the entrepreneurial process go as smoothly as possible. Our priorities are to introduce fun and engaging events to get students inspired toward an entrepreneurial venture. We want to show that the work can be extremely rewarding, even in failure. We aim to do this through a variety of channels.

= '''Fall 2015 Innovation Fellows''' =

==== Rachel Silk – Marketing and Entrepreneurship ‘16 ====

Rachel is an active member of the entrepreneurial environment at UMass Lowell. A participant in the DifferenceMaker Program, her team started a non-profit, Love of the Game, dedicated to connecting people with disabilities to their community through sports. As an Innovation Fellow, she hopes to unify the university by generating increased awareness for the offerings for I&E.

==== Stephen Kender – Plastics Engineering ‘18 ====

Stephen is also active in the innovative culture in the community around him. He and his team started a sports equipment company, KEnDERS Athletic Body Armor, around a novel and revolutionary technology. With the training from the Innovation Fellows program, he hopes to develop new and existing entrepreneurial skills so he can bring back a plethora of opportunities for his school and his community.

 

== '''JUMP-STARTING AWARENESS''' ==

''Our plans involve getting students engaged in the process of I&E, and will work with and alongside the current programs on campus. While our projects will stand on their own, we will work very hard to display the full offerings on campus to the participants.''

=== River Hawk Tank ===

*Meant to involve students in a fun and engaging activity, as a pre-cursor to the DifferenceMaker Program
*Will be akin to a mini-accelerator, with small deliverable-based learning and quick crash course sessions
*Will be targeting new students, to show them the complete offerings of the DifferenceMaker Program
*When the program ends, we will funnel participants directly into the DifferenceMaker competitions
*Program Layout
** Session 1: Pitch Ideas/Problems
***Form teams/solutions
***Do not have to present they could just write it down and we could read it out loud.
**Session 2: Reach out to teams, guide them with their solutions
***Make sure things are viable/the team is passionate enough if it is not viable
**Session 3: Basic Business Model (Deliverable), Practice Pitch?
**Session 4: Mock Shark Tank (Practice for College Competitions)

==== Timeline ====

''Spring 2016'': Begin organizing and promoting the program, gearing up current students on the fence about entrepreneurship

''Spring/Summer 2016'': Talk with faculty and organizations on campus about being speakers in our Tank program

''Summer 2016'': Visit orientations, giving pitches for the River Hawk Tank and getting incoming students interested

''Fall 2016'': Jump-start the program in the first week or two of school, and funnel students into the DifferenceMaker Program

''After Program'': Meeting with DifferenceMakers, faculty, etc. to see where to improve

=== Prototyping Hackathons ===

*Current hackathons at the university are just idea mixers, due to the lack of spaces available for a prototyping one
*New makerspaces and centers for innovation open up amazing possibilities
*Hackathon allows students to get creative with others in the end goal of creating a prototype to solve a problem
*Hackathons will be hosted in the Spring semester (possibly integrating a Fall semester one in the future) and will be a lead-in to other DifferenceMaker Programs. Typically will be 48 hours.
*Will have one or more themes (somewhat specific) to guide teams in their ideation

==== Timeline ====
<div>''Fall 2016'': Once dates and spaces are finalized, reach out to local industry suppliers for donations and connections</div>
''Winter 2016'': Continue collecting donations, work with DifferenceMaker program to develop specific themes and rules. Advertise and promote the hackathon (announce theme and rules before winter break)

''Spring 2016'': First weekend of February, just before the Idea Challenge Application Deadlines

''Spring 2016'': Host hackathon and collect feedback on how well it was operated. Contact donors and see if they are alright with being recurring sponsors at annual events

=== TEDx ===

*This event will be centered around inspiring students toward innovation with tips from local entrepreneurs
*Will engage the broader innovative community

==== Timeline ====

''Fall 2016'': Organize a date and location with the university (or with the city)

''Winter 2016'': Begin advertising and reaching out to prospective speakers

''Spring 2016'': Advertise more heavily and finalize list of speakers. Host event, and figure out where to improve

== '''CONNECTING FACULTY AND STUDENTS''' ==

One other project we will be working on involves connecting students to faculty to help them learn more about a specific skill. We currently have a Mentor Program, but for students needing a basic education in a certain area it is much too formal.

Like the website LinkedIn, we seek to have faculty list their skills on the school website. These skills will have tags that can be searched for when students need help with one. When a student has a positive learning experience, they can endorse professors for a particular skill. There will be no way to “downvote” any professors, so there are no safeguards needed to prevent corrupting that system. All that is needed for this program is to talk with the website developers (who are currently working on a new site, so the timing could work out well) and see how it can be integrated.

 

= '''2013 Innovation Fellows''' =

== '''Enhance & Synergize the University I&E Ecosystem''' ==

=== '''Inspire Club''' ===

Inspire Club seeks to introduce students to innovation and entrepreneurship as well as connect them to campus and community resources such as ‘DifferenceMakers”, “M2D2”, “E For All”, etc. Weekly meetings will be held to expose students to an assortment of enriching experiences from innovative business model development tools and rapid prototyping exercises to guest panels and networking events. Students will be encouraged to develop ideas and solutions on an individual basis as well as to form teams in which they will combine, re-create, refine, and expand on them. We believe that this approach will engender high levels of student leadership and foster teamwork. Inspire will become an integral part of the student I&E pathway leading students from simple ideas to sustainable venture ready models. The skills learned will reflect the lean and iterative nature of the evolving economy and not only be valuable for start-ups but also in a traditional corporate environment where forward thinking, collaboration, and creativity are rapidly being adopted.

====  '''Goals of Inspire''' ====

*      Introduce creative problem-solving, innovation and entrepreneurship
*      Identify purpose in each student's education
*      Connect students to I&E resources
*      Encourage student leadership
*      Push for development of a Maker Space 
*      Help develop new experiential activities 
*      Motivate & Capture new audiences

 

= '''Related Links''' =

[http://universityinnovation.org/University%20of%20Massachusetts%20Lowell University of Massachusetts Lowell]

University Innovation Fellows:

[http://universityinnovation.org/wiki/Stephen_Kender Stephen Kender]

[[Category:Student Priorities|Student_Priorities]]

Priorities:UMass Lowell Student Priorities

2015-10-12T17:20:01Z

Ephenstephen:

= '''Overview- A Campus on the Move''' =

The University of Massachusetts Lowell is a top-tier research university with a full plate of offerings for innovation and entrepreneurship. The faculty and administration are eager to connect with the movement of promoting an innovative culture at the university level. Being a national research university, UMass Lowell has been evolving quite a bit in the past few years: new buildings have sprouted everywhere, classrooms are being upgraded to support a culture of learning, and centers for innovation are being built to involve as many students as possible in I&E. As well, programs and offerings have been refined over the years to adapt to our changing society.

UMass Lowell's entrepreneurial culture has been active since around 2011, with the DifferenceMaker Program kicking off in 2012. Since then, a wealth of programs have been started to connect students with more opportunities for entrepreneurship. The university has taken many steps to work with the City of Lowell and local companies for the greater benefit and economic development of the area. There are many programs in place that have given us a great head start, but there is more to come yet.

Our strategic plan centers around the idea of Jump-Starting Awareness, where students acknowledge that the programs exist but aren’t necessarily aware of the other offerings in place to help the entrepreneurial process go as smoothly as possible. Our priorities are to introduce fun and engaging events to get students inspired toward an entrepreneurial venture. We want to show that the work can be extremely rewarding, even in failure. We aim to do this through a variety of channels.

= '''Fall 2015 Innovation Fellows''' =

==== Rachel Silk – Marketing and Entrepreneurship ‘16 ====

Rachel is an active member of the entrepreneurial environment at UMass Lowell. A participant in the DifferenceMaker Program, her team started a non-profit, Love of the Game, dedicated to connecting people with disabilities to their community through sports. As an Innovation Fellow, she hopes to unify the university by generating increased awareness for the offerings for I&E.

==== Stephen Kender – Plastics Engineering ‘18 ====

Stephen is also active in the innovative culture in the community around him. He and his team started a sports equipment company, KEnDERS Athletic Body Armor, around a novel and revolutionary technology. With the training from the Innovation Fellows program, he hopes to develop new and existing entrepreneurial skills so he can bring back a plethora of opportunities for his school and his community.

 

== '''JUMP-STARTING AWARENESS''' ==

''Our plans involve getting students engaged in the process of I&E, and will work with and alongside the current programs on campus. While our projects will stand on their own, we will work very hard to display the full offerings on campus to the participants.''

=== River Hawk Tank ===

*Meant to involve students in a fun and engaging activity, as a pre-cursor to the DifferenceMaker Program
*Will be akin to a mini-accelerator, with small deliverable-based learning and quick crash course sessions
*Will be targeting new students, to show them the complete offerings of the DifferenceMaker Program
*When the program ends, we will funnel participants directly into the DifferenceMaker competitions
*Program Layout
** Session 1: Pitch Ideas/Problems
***Form teams/solutions
***Do not have to present they could just write it down and we could read it out loud.
**Session 2: Reach out to teams, guide them with their solutions
***Make sure things are viable/the team is passionate enough if it is not viable
**Session 3: Basic Business Model (Deliverable), Practice Pitch?
**Session 4: Mock Shark Tank (Practice for College Competitions)

==== Timeline ====

''Spring 2016'': Begin organizing and promoting the program, gearing up current students on the fence about entrepreneurship

''Spring/Summer 2016'': Talk with faculty and organizations on campus about being speakers in our Tank program

''Summer 2016'': Visit orientations, giving pitches for the River Hawk Tank and getting incoming students interested

''Fall 2016'': Jump-start the program in the first week or two of school, and funnel students into the DifferenceMaker Program

''After Program'': Meeting with DifferenceMakers, faculty, etc. to see where to improve

=== Prototyping Hackathons ===

*Current hackathons at the university are just idea mixers, due to the lack of spaces available for a prototyping one
*New makerspaces and centers for innovation open up amazing possibilities
*Hackathon allows students to get creative with others in the end goal of creating a prototype to solve a problem
*Hackathons will be hosted in the Spring semester (possibly integrating a Fall semester one in the future) and will be a lead-in to other DifferenceMaker Programs. Typically will be 48 hours.
*Will have one or more themes (somewhat specific) to guide teams in their ideation

==== Timeline ====
<div>''Fall 2016'': Once dates and spaces are finalized, reach out to local industry suppliers for donations and connections</div>
''Winter 2016'': Continue collecting donations, work with DifferenceMaker program to develop specific themes and rules. Advertise and promote the hackathon (announce theme and rules before winter break)

''Spring 2016'': First weekend of February, just before the Idea Challenge Application Deadlines

''Spring 2016'': Host hackathon and collect feedback on how well it was operated. Contact donors and see if they are alright with being recurring sponsors at annual events

=== TEDx ===

*This event will be centered around inspiring students toward innovation with tips from local entrepreneurs
*Will engage the broader innovative community

==== Timeline ====

''Fall 2016'': Organize a date and location with the university (or with the city)

''Winter 2016'': Begin advertising and reaching out to prospective speakers

''Spring 2016'': Advertise more heavily and finalize list of speakers. Host event, and figure out where to improve

== '''CONNECTING FACULTY AND STUDENTS''' ==

One other project we will be working on involves connecting students to faculty to help them learn more about a specific skill. We currently have a Mentor Program, but for students needing a basic education in a certain area it is much too formal.

Like the website LinkedIn, we seek to have faculty list their skills on the school website. These skills will have tags that can be searched for when students need help with one. When a student has a positive learning experience, they can endorse professors for a particular skill. There will be no way to “downvote” any professors, so there are no safeguards needed to prevent corrupting that system. All that is needed for this program is to talk with the website developers (who are currently working on a new site, so the timing could work out well) and see how it can be integrated.

 

= '''2013 Innovation Fellows''' =

== '''Enhance & Synergize the University I&E Ecosystem''' ==

=== '''Inspire Club''' ===

Inspire Club seeks to introduce students to innovation and entrepreneurship as well as connect them to campus and community resources such as ‘DifferenceMakers”, “M2D2”, “E For All”, etc. Weekly meetings will be held to expose students to an assortment of enriching experiences from innovative business model development tools and rapid prototyping exercises to guest panels and networking events. Students will be encouraged to develop ideas and solutions on an individual basis as well as to form teams in which they will combine, re-create, refine, and expand on them. We believe that this approach will engender high levels of student leadership and foster teamwork. Inspire will become an integral part of the student I&E pathway leading students from simple ideas to sustainable venture ready models. The skills learned will reflect the lean and iterative nature of the evolving economy and not only be valuable for start-ups but also in a traditional corporate environment where forward thinking, collaboration, and creativity are rapidly being adopted.

 

===  '''Goals of Inspire''' ===

*      Introduce creative problem-solving, innovation and entrepreneurship
*      Identify purpose in each student's education
*      Connect students to I&E resources
*      Encourage student leadership
*      Push for development of a Maker Space 
*      Help develop new experiential activities 
*      Motivate & Capture new audiences

 

= '''Related Links''' =

[http://universityinnovation.org/University%20of%20Massachusetts%20Lowell University of Massachusetts Lowell]

University Innovation Fellows:

[http://universityinnovation.org/wiki/Stephen_Kender Stephen Kender]

[[Category:Student Priorities|Student_Priorities]]

Priorities:UMass Lowell Student Priorities

2015-10-12T17:19:47Z

Ephenstephen:

= '''Overview- A Campus on the Move''' =

The University of Massachusetts Lowell is a top-tier research university with a full plate of offerings for innovation and entrepreneurship. The faculty and administration are eager to connect with the movement of promoting an innovative culture at the university level. Being a national research university, UMass Lowell has been evolving quite a bit in the past few years: new buildings have sprouted everywhere, classrooms are being upgraded to support a culture of learning, and centers for innovation are being built to involve as many students as possible in I&E. As well, programs and offerings have been refined over the years to adapt to our changing society.

UMass Lowell's entrepreneurial culture has been active since around 2011, with the DifferenceMaker Program kicking off in 2012. Since then, a wealth of programs have been started to connect students with more opportunities for entrepreneurship. The university has taken many steps to work with the City of Lowell and local companies for the greater benefit and economic development of the area. There are many programs in place that have given us a great head start, but there is more to come yet.

Our strategic plan centers around the idea of Jump-Starting Awareness, where students acknowledge that the programs exist but aren’t necessarily aware of the other offerings in place to help the entrepreneurial process go as smoothly as possible. Our priorities are to introduce fun and engaging events to get students inspired toward an entrepreneurial venture. We want to show that the work can be extremely rewarding, even in failure. We aim to do this through a variety of channels.

= '''Fall 2015 Innovation Fellows''' =

==== Rachel Silk – Marketing and Entrepreneurship ‘16 ====

Rachel is an active member of the entrepreneurial environment at UMass Lowell. A participant in the DifferenceMaker Program, her team started a non-profit, Love of the Game, dedicated to connecting people with disabilities to their community through sports. As an Innovation Fellow, she hopes to unify the university by generating increased awareness for the offerings for I&E.

==== Stephen Kender – Plastics Engineering ‘18 ====

Stephen is also active in the innovative culture in the community around him. He and his team started a sports equipment company, KEnDERS Athletic Body Armor, around a novel and revolutionary technology. With the training from the Innovation Fellows program, he hopes to develop new and existing entrepreneurial skills so he can bring back a plethora of opportunities for his school and his community.

 

== '''JUMP-STARTING AWARENESS''' ==

''Our plans involve getting students engaged in the process of I&E, and will work with and alongside the current programs on campus. While our projects will stand on their own, we will work very hard to display the full offerings on campus to the participants.''

=== River Hawk Tank: ===

*Meant to involve students in a fun and engaging activity, as a pre-cursor to the DifferenceMaker Program
*Will be akin to a mini-accelerator, with small deliverable-based learning and quick crash course sessions
*Will be targeting new students, to show them the complete offerings of the DifferenceMaker Program
*When the program ends, we will funnel participants directly into the DifferenceMaker competitions
*Program Layout
** Session 1: Pitch Ideas/Problems
***Form teams/solutions
***Do not have to present they could just write it down and we could read it out loud.
**Session 2: Reach out to teams, guide them with their solutions
***Make sure things are viable/the team is passionate enough if it is not viable
**Session 3: Basic Business Model (Deliverable), Practice Pitch?
**Session 4: Mock Shark Tank (Practice for College Competitions)

==== Timeline ====

''Spring 2016'': Begin organizing and promoting the program, gearing up current students on the fence about entrepreneurship

''Spring/Summer 2016'': Talk with faculty and organizations on campus about being speakers in our Tank program

''Summer 2016'': Visit orientations, giving pitches for the River Hawk Tank and getting incoming students interested

''Fall 2016'': Jump-start the program in the first week or two of school, and funnel students into the DifferenceMaker Program

''After Program'': Meeting with DifferenceMakers, faculty, etc. to see where to improve

=== Prototyping Hackathons ===

*Current hackathons at the university are just idea mixers, due to the lack of spaces available for a prototyping one
*New makerspaces and centers for innovation open up amazing possibilities
*Hackathon allows students to get creative with others in the end goal of creating a prototype to solve a problem
*Hackathons will be hosted in the Spring semester (possibly integrating a Fall semester one in the future) and will be a lead-in to other DifferenceMaker Programs. Typically will be 48 hours.
*Will have one or more themes (somewhat specific) to guide teams in their ideation

==== Timeline ====
<div>''Fall 2016'': Once dates and spaces are finalized, reach out to local industry suppliers for donations and connections</div>
''Winter 2016'': Continue collecting donations, work with DifferenceMaker program to develop specific themes and rules. Advertise and promote the hackathon (announce theme and rules before winter break)

''Spring 2016'': First weekend of February, just before the Idea Challenge Application Deadlines

''Spring 2016'': Host hackathon and collect feedback on how well it was operated. Contact donors and see if they are alright with being recurring sponsors at annual events

=== TEDx ===

*This event will be centered around inspiring students toward innovation with tips from local entrepreneurs
*Will engage the broader innovative community

==== Timeline ====

''Fall 2016'': Organize a date and location with the university (or with the city)

''Winter 2016'': Begin advertising and reaching out to prospective speakers

''Spring 2016'': Advertise more heavily and finalize list of speakers. Host event, and figure out where to improve

== '''CONNECTING FACULTY AND STUDENTS''' ==

One other project we will be working on involves connecting students to faculty to help them learn more about a specific skill. We currently have a Mentor Program, but for students needing a basic education in a certain area it is much too formal.

Like the website LinkedIn, we seek to have faculty list their skills on the school website. These skills will have tags that can be searched for when students need help with one. When a student has a positive learning experience, they can endorse professors for a particular skill. There will be no way to “downvote” any professors, so there are no safeguards needed to prevent corrupting that system. All that is needed for this program is to talk with the website developers (who are currently working on a new site, so the timing could work out well) and see how it can be integrated.

 

= '''2013 Innovation Fellows''' =

== '''Enhance & Synergize the University I&E Ecosystem''' ==

=== '''Inspire Club''' ===

Inspire Club seeks to introduce students to innovation and entrepreneurship as well as connect them to campus and community resources such as ‘DifferenceMakers”, “M2D2”, “E For All”, etc. Weekly meetings will be held to expose students to an assortment of enriching experiences from innovative business model development tools and rapid prototyping exercises to guest panels and networking events. Students will be encouraged to develop ideas and solutions on an individual basis as well as to form teams in which they will combine, re-create, refine, and expand on them. We believe that this approach will engender high levels of student leadership and foster teamwork. Inspire will become an integral part of the student I&E pathway leading students from simple ideas to sustainable venture ready models. The skills learned will reflect the lean and iterative nature of the evolving economy and not only be valuable for start-ups but also in a traditional corporate environment where forward thinking, collaboration, and creativity are rapidly being adopted.

 

===  '''Goals of Inspire''' ===

*      Introduce creative problem-solving, innovation and entrepreneurship
*      Identify purpose in each student's education
*      Connect students to I&E resources
*      Encourage student leadership
*      Push for development of a Maker Space 
*      Help develop new experiential activities 
*      Motivate & Capture new audiences

 

= '''Related Links''' =

[http://universityinnovation.org/University%20of%20Massachusetts%20Lowell University of Massachusetts Lowell]

University Innovation Fellows:

[http://universityinnovation.org/wiki/Stephen_Kender Stephen Kender]

[[Category:Student Priorities|Student_Priorities]]

Priorities:UMass Lowell Student Priorities

2015-10-12T17:18:18Z

Ephenstephen:

= '''Overview- A Campus on the Move''' =

The University of Massachusetts Lowell is a top-tier research university with a full plate of offerings for innovation and entrepreneurship. The faculty and administration are eager to connect with the movement of promoting an innovative culture at the university level. Being a national research university, UMass Lowell has been evolving quite a bit in the past few years: new buildings have sprouted everywhere, classrooms are being upgraded to support a culture of learning, and centers for innovation are being built to involve as many students as possible in I&E. As well, programs and offerings have been refined over the years to adapt to our changing society.

UMass Lowell's entrepreneurial culture has been active since around 2011, with the DifferenceMaker Program kicking off in 2012. Since then, a wealth of programs have been started to connect students with more opportunities for entrepreneurship. The university has taken many steps to work with the City of Lowell and local companies for the greater benefit and economic development of the area. There are many programs in place that have given us a great head start, but there is more to come yet.

Our strategic plan centers around the idea of Jump-Starting Awareness, where students acknowledge that the programs exist but aren’t necessarily aware of the other offerings in place to help the entrepreneurial process go as smoothly as possible. Our priorities are to introduce fun and engaging events to get students inspired toward an entrepreneurial venture. We want to show that the work can be extremely rewarding, even in failure. We aim to do this through a variety of channels.

= '''Fall 2015 Innovation Fellows''' =

==== Rachel Silk – Marketing and Entrepreneurship ‘16 ====

Rachel is an active member of the entrepreneurial environment at UMass Lowell. A participant in the DifferenceMaker Program, her team started a non-profit, Love of the Game, dedicated to connecting people with disabilities to their community through sports. As an Innovation Fellow, she hopes to unify the university by generating increased awareness for the offerings for I&E.

==== Stephen Kender – Plastics Engineering ‘18 ====

Stephen is also active in the innovative culture in the community around him. He and his team started a sports equipment company, KEnDERS Athletic Body Armor, around a novel and revolutionary technology. With the training from the Innovation Fellows program, he hopes to develop new and existing entrepreneurial skills so he can bring back a plethora of opportunities for his school and his community.

 

== '''JUMP-STARTING AWARENESS''' ==

''Our plans involve getting students engaged in the process of I&E, and will work with and alongside the current programs on campus. While our projects will stand on their own, we will work very hard to display the full offerings on campus to the participants.''

=== River Hawk Tank: ===

*Meant to involve students in a fun and engaging activity, as a pre-cursor to the DifferenceMaker Program
*Will be akin to a mini-accelerator, with small deliverable-based learning and quick crash course sessions
*Will be targeting new students, to show them the complete offerings of the DifferenceMaker Program
*When the program ends, we will funnel participants directly into the DifferenceMaker competitions
*Program Layout
** Session 1: Pitch Ideas/Problems
***Form teams/solutions
***Do not have to present they could just write it down and we could read it out loud.
**Session 2: Reach out to teams, guide them with their solutions
***Make sure things are viable/the team is passionate enough if it is not viable
**Session 3: Basic Business Model (Deliverable), Practice Pitch?
**Session 4: Mock Shark Tank (Practice for College Competitions)

==== Timeline ====

''Spring 2016'': Begin organizing and promoting the program, gearing up current students on the fence about entrepreneurship

''Spring/Summer 2016'': Talk with faculty and organizations on campus about being speakers in our Tank program

''Summer 2016'': Visit orientations, giving pitches for the River Hawk Tank and getting incoming students interested

''Fall 2016'': Jump-start the program in the first week or two of school, and funnel students into the DifferenceMaker Program

''After Program'': Meeting with DifferenceMakers, faculty, etc. to see where to improve

=== Prototyping Hackathons ===

*Current hackathons at the university are just idea mixers, due to the lack of spaces available for a prototyping one
*New makerspaces and centers for innovation open up amazing possibilities
*Hackathon allows students to get creative with others in the end goal of creating a prototype to solve a problem
*Hackathons will be hosted in the Spring semester (possibly integrating a Fall semester one in the future) and will be a lead-in to other DifferenceMaker Programs. Typically will be 48 hours.
*Will have one or more themes (somewhat specific) to guide teams in their ideation

==== Timeline ====
<div>''Fall 2016'': Once dates and spaces are finalized, reach out to local industry suppliers for donations and connections</div>
''Winter 2016'': Continue collecting donations, work with DifferenceMaker program to develop specific themes and rules. Advertise and promote the hackathon (announce theme and rules before winter break)

''Spring 2016'': First weekend of February, just before the Idea Challenge Application Deadlines

''Spring 2016'': Host hackathon and collect feedback on how well it was operated. Contact donors and see if they are alright with being recurring sponsors at annual events

=== TEDx ===

*This event will be centered around inspiring students toward innovation with tips from local entrepreneurs
*Will engage the broader innovative community

==== Timeline ====

''Fall 2016'': Organize a date and location with the university (or with the city)

''Winter 2016'': Begin advertising and reaching out to prospective speakers

''Spring 2016'': Advertise more heavily and finalize list of speakers. Host event, and figure out where to improve

== '''CONNECTING FACULTY AND STUDENTS''' ==

One other project we will be working on involves connecting students to faculty to help them learn more about a specific skill. We currently have a Mentor Program, but for students needing a basic education in a certain area it is much too formal.

Like the website LinkedIn, we seek to have faculty list their skills on the school website. These skills will have tags that can be searched for when students need help with one. When a student has a positive learning experience, they can endorse professors for a particular skill. There will be no way to “downvote” any professors, so there are no safeguards needed to prevent corrupting that system. All that is needed for this program is to talk with the website developers (who are currently working on a new site, so the timing could work out well) and see how it can be integrated.

 

= '''2013 Innovation Fellows''' =

== '''Enhance & Synergize the University I&E Ecosystem''' ==

=== '''Inspire Club''' ===

Inspire Club seeks to introduce students to innovation and entrepreneurship as well as connect them to campus and community resources such as ‘DifferenceMakers”, “M2D2”, “E For All”, etc. Weekly meetings will be held to expose students to an assortment of enriching experiences from innovative business model development tools and rapid prototyping exercises to guest panels and networking events. Students will be encouraged to develop ideas and solutions on an individual basis as well as to form teams in which they will combine, re-create, refine, and expand on them. We believe that this approach will engender high levels of student leadership and foster teamwork. Inspire will become an integral part of the student I&E pathway leading students from simple ideas to sustainable venture ready models. The skills learned will reflect the lean and iterative nature of the evolving economy and not only be valuable for start-ups but also in a traditional corporate environment where forward thinking, collaboration, and creativity are rapidly being adopted.

 

===  '''Goals of Inspire:'''  ===

*      Introduce creative problem-solving, innovation and entrepreneurship
*      Identify purpose in each student's education
*      Connect students to I&E resources
*      Encourage student leadership
*      Push for development of a Maker Space 
*      Help develop new experiential activities 
*      Motivate & Capture new audiences

 

= '''Related Links''' =

[http://universityinnovation.org/University%20of%20Massachusetts%20Lowell University of Massachusetts Lowell]

University Innovation Fellows:

[http://universityinnovation.org/wiki/Stephen_Kender Stephen Kender]

[[Category:Student Priorities|Student_Priorities]]

Priorities:UMass Lowell Student Priorities

2015-10-12T17:15:28Z

Ephenstephen:

= '''Overview- A Campus on the Move''' =

The University of Massachusetts Lowell is a top-tier research university with a full plate of offerings for innovation and entrepreneurship. The faculty and administration are eager to connect with the movement of promoting an innovative culture at the university level. Being a national research university, UMass Lowell has been evolving quite a bit in the past few years: new buildings have sprouted everywhere, classrooms are being upgraded to support a culture of learning, and centers for innovation are being built to involve as many students as possible in I&E. As well, programs and offerings have been refined over the years to adapt to our changing society.

UMass Lowell's entrepreneurial culture has been active since around 2011, with the DifferenceMaker Program kicking off in 2012. Since then, a wealth of programs have been started to connect students with more opportunities for entrepreneurship. The university has taken many steps to work with the City of Lowell and local companies for the greater benefit and economic development of the area. There are many programs in place that have given us a great head start, but there is more to come yet.

Our strategic plan centers around the idea of Jump-Starting Awareness, where students acknowledge that the programs exist but aren’t necessarily aware of the other offerings in place to help the entrepreneurial process go as smoothly as possible. Our priorities are to introduce fun and engaging events to get students inspired toward an entrepreneurial venture. We want to show that the work can be extremely rewarding, even in failure. We aim to do this through a variety of channels.

= '''Fall 2015 Innovation Fellows''' =

==== Rachel Silk – Marketing and Entrepreneurship ‘16 ====

Rachel is an active member of the entrepreneurial environment at UMass Lowell. A participant in the DifferenceMaker Program, her team started a non-profit, Love of the Game, dedicated to connecting people with disabilities to their community through sports. As an Innovation Fellow, she hopes to unify the university by generating increased awareness for the offerings for I&E.

==== Stephen Kender – Plastics Engineering ‘18 ====

Stephen is also active in the innovative culture in the community around him. He and his team started a sports equipment company, KEnDERS Athletic Body Armor, around a novel and revolutionary technology. With the training from the Innovation Fellows program, he hopes to develop new and existing entrepreneurial skills so he can bring back a plethora of opportunities for his school and his community.

 

== '''JUMP-STARTING AWARENESS''' ==

''Our plans involve getting students engaged in the process of I&E, and will work with and alongside the current programs on campus. While our projects will stand on their own, we will work very hard to display the full offerings on campus to the participants.''

=== River Hawk Tank: ===

*Meant to involve students in a fun and engaging activity, as a pre-cursor to the DifferenceMaker Program
*Will be akin to a mini-accelerator, with small deliverable-based learning and quick crash course sessions
*Will be targeting new students, to show them the complete offerings of the DifferenceMaker Program
*When the program ends, we will funnel participants directly into the DifferenceMaker competitions
*Program Layout
** Session 1: Pitch Ideas/Problems
***Form teams/solutions
***Do not have to present they could just write it down and we could read it out loud.
**Session 2: Reach out to teams, guide them with their solutions
***Make sure things are viable/the team is passionate enough if it is not viable
**Session 3: Basic Business Model (Deliverable), Practice Pitch?
**Session 4: Mock Shark Tank (Practice for College Competitions)

==== Timeline ====

''Spring 2016'': Begin organizing and promoting the program, gearing up current students on the fence about entrepreneurship

''Spring/Summer 2016'': Talk with faculty and organizations on campus about being speakers in our Tank program

''Summer 2016'': Visit orientations, giving pitches for the River Hawk Tank and getting incoming students interested

''Fall 2016'': Jump-start the program in the first week or two of school, and funnel students into the DifferenceMaker Program

''After Program'': Meeting with DifferenceMakers, faculty, etc. to see where to improve

=== Prototyping Hackathons ===

*Current hackathons at the university are just idea mixers, due to the lack of spaces available for a prototyping one
*New makerspaces and centers for innovation open up amazing possibilities
*Hackathon allows students to get creative with others in the end goal of creating a prototype to solve a problem
*Hackathons will be hosted in the Spring semester (possibly integrating a Fall semester one in the future) and will be a lead-in to other DifferenceMaker Programs. Typically will be 48 hours.
*Will have one or more themes (somewhat specific) to guide teams in their ideation

==== Timeline ====
<div>''Fall 2016'': Once dates and spaces are finalized, reach out to local industry suppliers for donations and connections</div>
''Winter 2016'': Continue collecting donations, work with DifferenceMaker program to develop specific themes and rules. Advertise and promote the hackathon (announce theme and rules before winter break)

''Spring 2016'': First weekend of February, just before the Idea Challenge Application Deadlines

''Spring 2016'': Host hackathon and collect feedback on how well it was operated. Contact donors and see if they are alright with being recurring sponsors at annual events

=== TEDx ===

*This event will be centered around inspiring students toward innovation with tips from local entrepreneurs
*Will engage the broader innovative community

==== Timeline ====

''Fall 2016'': Organize a date and location with the university (or with the city)

''Winter 2016'': Begin advertising and reaching out to prospective speakers

''Spring 2016'': Advertise more heavily and finalize list of speakers. Host event, and figure out where to improve

== '''CONNECTING FACULTY AND STUDENTS''' ==

One other project we will be working on involves connecting students to faculty to help them learn more about a specific skill. We currently have a Mentor Program, but for students needing a basic education in a certain area it is much too formal.

Like the website LinkedIn, we seek to have faculty list their skills on the school website. These skills will have tags that can be searched for when students need help with one. When a student has a positive learning experience, they can endorse professors for a particular skill. There will be no way to “downvote” any professors, so there are no safeguards needed to prevent corrupting that system. All that is needed for this program is to talk with the website developers (who are currently working on a new site, so the timing could work out well) and see how it can be integrated.

 

= '''2013 Innovation Fellows''' =

== '''Enhance & Synergize the University I&E Ecosystem''' ==

=== '''Inspire Club''' ===

Inspire Club seeks to introduce students to innovation and entrepreneurship as well as connect them to campus and community resources such as ‘DifferenceMakers”, “M2D2”, “E For All”, etc. Weekly meetings will be held to expose students to an assortment of enriching experiences from innovative business model development tools and rapid prototyping exercises to guest panels and networking events. Students will be encouraged to develop ideas and solutions on an individual basis as well as to form teams in which they will combine, re-create, refine, and expand on them. We believe that this approach will engender high levels of student leadership and foster teamwork. Inspire will become an integral part of the student I&E pathway leading students from simple ideas to sustainable venture ready models. The skills learned will reflect the lean and iterative nature of the evolving economy and not only be valuable for start-ups but also in a traditional corporate environment where forward thinking, collaboration, and creativity are rapidly being adopted.

 

===  '''Goals of Inspire:'''  ===

*      Introduce creative problem-solving, innovation and entrepreneurship
*      Identify purpose in each student's education
*      Connect students to I&E resources
*      Encourage student leadership
*      Push for development of a Maker Space 
*      Help develop new experiential activities 
*      Motivate & Capture new audiences

 

= '''Related Links''' =

[http://universityinnovation.org/University%20of%20Massachusetts%20Lowell University of Massachusetts Lowell]

University Innovation Fellows:

[http://universityinnovation.org/Ana%20Gouveia Ana Gouveia]

[http://universityinnovation.org/James%20Abdallah James Abdallah]

[http://universityinnovation.org/Kevin%20Desjardins Kevin Desjardins]

[http://universityinnovation.org/Jacob%20Hulme Jacob Hulme]

Student Priorities

Priorities:UMass Lowell Student Priorities

2015-10-12T17:14:01Z

Ephenstephen:

= '''Overview- A Campus on the Move''' =

The University of Massachusetts Lowell is a top-tier research university with a full plate of offerings for innovation and entrepreneurship. The faculty and administration are eager to connect with the movement of promoting an innovative culture at the university level. Being a national research university, UMass Lowell has been evolving quite a bit in the past few years: new buildings have sprouted everywhere, classrooms are being upgraded to support a culture of learning, and centers for innovation are being built to involve as many students as possible in I&E. As well, programs and offerings have been refined over the years to adapt to our changing society.

UMass Lowell's entrepreneurial culture has been active since around 2011, with the DifferenceMaker Program kicking off in 2012. Since then, a wealth of programs have been started to connect students with more opportunities for entrepreneurship. The university has taken many steps to work with the City of Lowell and local companies for the greater benefit and economic development of the area. There are many programs in place that have given us a great head start, but there is more to come yet.

Our strategic plan centers around the idea of Jump-Starting Awareness, where students acknowledge that the programs exist but aren’t necessarily aware of the other offerings in place to help the entrepreneurial process go as smoothly as possible. Our priorities are to introduce fun and engaging events to get students inspired toward an entrepreneurial venture. We want to show that the work can be extremely rewarding, even in failure. We aim to do this through a variety of channels.

= '''Fall 2015 Innovation Fellows''' =

==== Rachel Silk – Marketing and Entrepreneurship ‘16 ====

Rachel is an active member of the entrepreneurial environment at UMass Lowell. A participant in the DifferenceMaker Program, her team started a non-profit, Love of the Game, dedicated to connecting people with disabilities to their community through sports. As an Innovation Fellow, she hopes to unify the university by generating increased awareness for the offerings for I&E.

==== Stephen Kender – Plastics Engineering ‘18 ====

Stephen is also active in the innovative culture in the community around him. He and his team started a sports equipment company, KEnDERS Athletic Body Armor, around a novel and revolutionary technology. With the training from the Innovation Fellows program, he hopes to develop new and existing entrepreneurial skills so he can bring back a plethora of opportunities for his school and his community.

 

== '''JUMP-STARTING AWARENESS''' ==

''Our plans involve getting students engaged in the process of I&E, and will work with and alongside the current programs on campus. While our projects will stand on their own, we will work very hard to display the full offerings on campus to the participants.''

=== River Hawk Tank: ===

*Meant to involve students in a fun and engaging activity, as a pre-cursor to the DifferenceMaker Program
*Will be akin to a mini-accelerator, with small deliverable-based learning and quick crash course sessions
*Will be targeting new students, to show them the complete offerings of the DifferenceMaker Program
*When the program ends, we will funnel participants directly into the DifferenceMaker competitions
*Program Layout
** Session 1: Pitch Ideas/Problems
***Form teams/solutions
***Do not have to present they could just write it down and we could read it out loud.
**Session 2: Reach out to teams, guide them with their solutions
***Make sure things are viable/the team is passionate enough if it is not viable
**Session 3: Basic Business Model (Deliverable), Practice Pitch?
**Session 4: Mock Shark Tank (Practice for College Competitions)

==== Timeline ====

''Spring 2016'': Begin organizing and promoting the program, gearing up current students on the fence about entrepreneurship

''Spring/Summer 2016'': Talk with faculty and organizations on campus about being speakers in our Tank program

''Summer 2016'': Visit orientations, giving pitches for the River Hawk Tank and getting incoming students interested

''Fall 2016'': Jump-start the program in the first week or two of school, and funnel students into the DifferenceMaker Program

''After Program'': Meeting with DifferenceMakers, faculty, etc. to see where to improve

=== Prototyping Hackathons ===

*Current hackathons at the university are just idea mixers, due to the lack of spaces available for a prototyping one
*New makerspaces and centers for innovation open up amazing possibilities
*Hackathon allows students to get creative with others in the end goal of creating a prototype to solve a problem
*Hackathons will be hosted in the Spring semester (possibly integrating a Fall semester one in the future) and will be a lead-in to other DifferenceMaker Programs. Typically will be 48 hours.
*Will have one or more themes (somewhat specific) to guide teams in their ideation

==== Timeline ====
<div>''Fall 2016'': Once dates and spaces are finalized, reach out to local industry suppliers for donations and connections</div>
''Winter 2016'': Continue collecting donations, work with DifferenceMaker program to develop specific themes and rules. Advertise and promote the hackathon (announce theme and rules before winter break)

''Spring 2016'': First weekend of February, just before the Idea Challenge Application Deadlines

''Spring 2016'': Host hackathon and collect feedback on how well it was operated. Contact donors and see if they are alright with being recurring sponsors at annual events

=== TEDx ===

*This event will be centered around inspiring students toward innovation with tips from local entrepreneurs
*Will engage the broader innovative community

==== Timeline ====

''Fall 2016'': Organize a date and location with the university (or with the city)

''Winter 2016'': Begin advertising and reaching out to prospective speakers

''Spring 2016'': Advertise more heavily and finalize list of speakers. Host event, and figure out where to improve

== '''CONNECTING FACULTY AND STUDENTS''' ==

One other project we will be working on involves connecting students to faculty to help them learn more about a specific skill. We currently have a Mentor Program, but for students needing a basic education in a certain area it is much too formal.

Like the website LinkedIn, we seek to have faculty list their skills on the school website. These skills will have tags that can be searched for when students need help with one. When a student has a positive learning experience, they can endorse professors for a particular skill. There will be no way to “downvote” any professors, so there are no safeguards needed to prevent corrupting that system. All that is needed for this program is to talk with the website developers (who are currently working on a new site, so the timing could work out well) and see how it can be integrated.

 

= '''2013 Innovation Fellows''' =

==== '''Kevin Desjardins''' ====

==== '''Ana Gouveia''' ====

==== '''James Abdallah''' ====

==== '''Jacob Hulme''' ====

== '''Enhance & Synergize the University I&E Ecosystem''' ==

=== '''Inspire Club''' ===

Inspire Club seeks to introduce students to innovation and entrepreneurship as well as connect them to campus and community resources such as ‘DifferenceMakers”, “M2D2”, “E For All”, etc. Weekly meetings will be held to expose students to an assortment of enriching experiences from innovative business model development tools and rapid prototyping exercises to guest panels and networking events. Students will be encouraged to develop ideas and solutions on an individual basis as well as to form teams in which they will combine, re-create, refine, and expand on them. We believe that this approach will engender high levels of student leadership and foster teamwork. Inspire will become an integral part of the student I&E pathway leading students from simple ideas to sustainable venture ready models. The skills learned will reflect the lean and iterative nature of the evolving economy and not only be valuable for start-ups but also in a traditional corporate environment where forward thinking, collaboration, and creativity are rapidly being adopted.

 

===  '''Goals of Inspire:'''  ===

*      Introduce creative problem-solving, innovation and entrepreneurship
*      Identify purpose in each student's education
*      Connect students to I&E resources
*      Encourage student leadership
*      Push for development of a Maker Space 
*      Help develop new experiential activities 
*      Motivate & Capture new audiences

 

= '''Related Links''' =

[http://universityinnovation.org/University%20of%20Massachusetts%20Lowell University of Massachusetts Lowell]

University Innovation Fellows:

[http://universityinnovation.org/Ana%20Gouveia Ana Gouveia]

[http://universityinnovation.org/James%20Abdallah James Abdallah]

[http://universityinnovation.org/Kevin%20Desjardins Kevin Desjardins]

[http://universityinnovation.org/Jacob%20Hulme Jacob Hulme]

Student Priorities

Priorities:UMass Lowell Student Priorities

2015-10-12T17:12:51Z

Ephenstephen:

= '''Overview- A Campus on the Move''' =

The University of Massachusetts Lowell is a top-tier research university with a full plate of offerings for innovation and entrepreneurship. The faculty and administration are eager to connect with the movement of promoting an innovative culture at the university level. Being a national research university, UMass Lowell has been evolving quite a bit in the past few years: new buildings have sprouted everywhere, classrooms are being upgraded to support a culture of learning, and centers for innovation are being built to involve as many students as possible in I&E. As well, programs and offerings have been refined over the years to adapt to our changing society.

UMass Lowell's entrepreneurial culture has been active since around 2011, with the DifferenceMaker Program kicking off in 2012. Since then, a wealth of programs have been started to connect students with more opportunities for entrepreneurship. The university has taken many steps to work with the City of Lowell and local companies for the greater benefit and economic development of the area. There are many programs in place that have given us a great head start, but there is more to come yet.

Our strategic plan centers around the idea of Jump-Starting Awareness, where students acknowledge that the programs exist but aren’t necessarily aware of the other offerings in place to help the entrepreneurial process go as smoothly as possible. Our priorities are to introduce fun and engaging events to get students inspired toward an entrepreneurial venture. We want to show that the work can be extremely rewarding, even in failure. We aim to do this through a variety of channels.

= '''Fall 2015 Innovation Fellows''' =

=== Rachel Silk – Marketing and Entrepreneurship ‘16 ===

Rachel is an active member of the entrepreneurial environment at UMass Lowell. A participant in the DifferenceMaker Program, her team started a non-profit, Love of the Game, dedicated to connecting people with disabilities to their community through sports. As an Innovation Fellow, she hopes to unify the university by generating increased awareness for the offerings for I&E.

=== Stephen Kender – Plastics Engineering ‘18 ===

Stephen is also active in the innovative culture in the community around him. He and his team started a sports equipment company, KEnDERS Athletic Body Armor, around a novel and revolutionary technology. With the training from the Innovation Fellows program, he hopes to develop new and existing entrepreneurial skills so he can bring back a plethora of opportunities for his school and his community.

 

== '''JUMP-STARTING AWARENESS''' ==

''Our plans involve getting students engaged in the process of I&E, and will work with and alongside the current programs on campus. While our projects will stand on their own, we will work very hard to display the full offerings on campus to the participants.''

=== River Hawk Tank: ===

*Meant to involve students in a fun and engaging activity, as a pre-cursor to the DifferenceMaker Program
*Will be akin to a mini-accelerator, with small deliverable-based learning and quick crash course sessions
*Will be targeting new students, to show them the complete offerings of the DifferenceMaker Program
*When the program ends, we will funnel participants directly into the DifferenceMaker competitions
*Program Layout
** Session 1: Pitch Ideas/Problems
***Form teams/solutions
***Do not have to present they could just write it down and we could read it out loud.
**Session 2: Reach out to teams, guide them with their solutions
***Make sure things are viable/the team is passionate enough if it is not viable
**Session 3: Basic Business Model (Deliverable), Practice Pitch?
**Session 4: Mock Shark Tank (Practice for College Competitions)

==== Timeline ====

''Spring 2016'': Begin organizing and promoting the program, gearing up current students on the fence about entrepreneurship

''Spring/Summer 2016'': Talk with faculty and organizations on campus about being speakers in our Tank program

''Summer 2016'': Visit orientations, giving pitches for the River Hawk Tank and getting incoming students interested

''Fall 2016'': Jump-start the program in the first week or two of school, and funnel students into the DifferenceMaker Program

''After Program'': Meeting with DifferenceMakers, faculty, etc. to see where to improve

=== Prototyping Hackathons ===

*Current hackathons at the university are just idea mixers, due to the lack of spaces available for a prototyping one
*New makerspaces and centers for innovation open up amazing possibilities
*Hackathon allows students to get creative with others in the end goal of creating a prototype to solve a problem
*Hackathons will be hosted in the Spring semester (possibly integrating a Fall semester one in the future) and will be a lead-in to other DifferenceMaker Programs. Typically will be 48 hours.
*Will have one or more themes (somewhat specific) to guide teams in their ideation

==== Timeline ====
<div>''Fall 2016'': Once dates and spaces are finalized, reach out to local industry suppliers for donations and connections</div>
''Winter 2016'': Continue collecting donations, work with DifferenceMaker program to develop specific themes and rules. Advertise and promote the hackathon (announce theme and rules before winter break)

''Spring 2016'': First weekend of February, just before the Idea Challenge Application Deadlines

''Spring 2016'': Host hackathon and collect feedback on how well it was operated. Contact donors and see if they are alright with being recurring sponsors at annual events

=== TEDx ===

*This event will be centered around inspiring students toward innovation with tips from local entrepreneurs
*Will engage the broader innovative community

==== Timeline ====

''Fall 2016'': Organize a date and location with the university (or with the city)

''Winter 2016'': Begin advertising and reaching out to prospective speakers

''Spring 2016'': Advertise more heavily and finalize list of speakers. Host event, and figure out where to improve

== '''CONNECTING FACULTY AND STUDENTS''' ==

One other project we will be working on involves connecting students to faculty to help them learn more about a specific skill. We currently have a Mentor Program, but for students needing a basic education in a certain area it is much too formal.

Like the website LinkedIn, we seek to have faculty list their skills on the school website. These skills will have tags that can be searched for when students need help with one. When a student has a positive learning experience, they can endorse professors for a particular skill. There will be no way to “downvote” any professors, so there are no safeguards needed to prevent corrupting that system. All that is needed for this program is to talk with the website developers (who are currently working on a new site, so the timing could work out well) and see how it can be integrated.

 

= '''2013 Innovation Fellows''' =

=== '''Kevin Desjardins''' ===

=== '''Ana Gouveia''' ===

=== '''James Abdallah''' ===

=== '''Jacob Hulme''' ===



== '''Enhance & Synergize the University I&E Ecosystem''' ==

=== '''Inspire Club''' ===

Inspire Club seeks to introduce students to innovation and entrepreneurship as well as connect them to campus and community resources such as ‘DifferenceMakers”, “M2D2”, “E For All”, etc. Weekly meetings will be held to expose students to an assortment of enriching experiences from innovative business model development tools and rapid prototyping exercises to guest panels and networking events. Students will be encouraged to develop ideas and solutions on an individual basis as well as to form teams in which they will combine, re-create, refine, and expand on them. We believe that this approach will engender high levels of student leadership and foster teamwork. Inspire will become an integral part of the student I&E pathway leading students from simple ideas to sustainable venture ready models. The skills learned will reflect the lean and iterative nature of the evolving economy and not only be valuable for start-ups but also in a traditional corporate environment where forward thinking, collaboration, and creativity are rapidly being adopted.

 

===  '''Goals of Inspire:'''  ===

*      Introduce creative problem-solving, innovation and entrepreneurship
*      Identify purpose in each student's education
*      Connect students to I&E resources
*      Encourage student leadership
*      Push for development of a Maker Space 
*      Help develop new experiential activities 
*      Motivate & Capture new audiences

 

= '''Related Links''' =

[http://universityinnovation.org/University%20of%20Massachusetts%20Lowell University of Massachusetts Lowell]

University Innovation Fellows:

[http://universityinnovation.org/Ana%20Gouveia Ana Gouveia]

[http://universityinnovation.org/James%20Abdallah James Abdallah]

[http://universityinnovation.org/Kevin%20Desjardins Kevin Desjardins]

[http://universityinnovation.org/Jacob%20Hulme Jacob Hulme]

Student Priorities

Priorities:UMass Lowell Student Priorities

2015-10-12T17:09:40Z

Ephenstephen:

= '''Overview- A Campus on the Move''' =

The University of Massachusetts Lowell is a top-tier research university with a full plate of offerings for innovation and entrepreneurship. The faculty and administration are eager to connect with the movement of promoting an innovative culture at the university level. Being a national research university, UMass Lowell has been evolving quite a bit in the past few years: new buildings have sprouted everywhere, classrooms are being upgraded to support a culture of learning, and centers for innovation are being built to involve as many students as possible in I&E. As well, programs and offerings have been refined over the years to adapt to our changing society.

UMass Lowell's entrepreneurial culture has been active since around 2011, with the DifferenceMaker Program kicking off in 2012. Since then, a wealth of programs have been started to connect students with more opportunities for entrepreneurship. The university has taken many steps to work with the City of Lowell and local companies for the greater benefit and economic development of the area. There are many programs in place that have given us a great head start, but there is more to come yet.

Our strategic plan centers around the idea of Jump-Starting Awareness, where students acknowledge that the programs exist but aren’t necessarily aware of the other offerings in place to help the entrepreneurial process go as smoothly as possible. Our priorities are to introduce fun and engaging events to get students inspired toward an entrepreneurial venture. We want to show that the work can be extremely rewarding, even in failure. We aim to do this through a variety of channels.

= '''Fall 2015 Innovation Fellows''' =

Rachel Silk – Marketing and Entrepreneurship ‘16

Rachel is an active member of the entrepreneurial environment at UMass Lowell. A participant in the DifferenceMaker Program, her team started a non-profit, Love of the Game, dedicated to connecting people with disabilities to their community through sports. As an Innovation Fellow, she hopes to unify the university by generating increased awareness for the offerings for I&E.

Stephen Kender – Plastics Engineering ‘18

Stephen is also active in the innovative culture in the community around him. He and his team started a sports equipment company, KEnDERS Athletic Body Armor, around a novel and revolutionary technology. With the training from the Innovation Fellows program, he hopes to develop new and existing entrepreneurial skills so he can bring back a plethora of opportunities for his school and his community.

 

== '''JUMP-STARTING AWARENESS''' ==

''Our plans involve getting students engaged in the process of I&E, and will work with and alongside the current programs on campus. While our projects will stand on their own, we will work very hard to display the full offerings on campus to the participants.''

=== River Hawk Tank: ===

*Meant to involve students in a fun and engaging activity, as a pre-cursor to the DifferenceMaker Program
*Will be akin to a mini-accelerator, with small deliverable-based learning and quick crash course sessions
*Will be targeting new students, to show them the complete offerings of the DifferenceMaker Program
*When the program ends, we will funnel participants directly into the DifferenceMaker competitions
*Program Layout
** Session 1: Pitch Ideas/Problems
***Form teams/solutions
***Do not have to present they could just write it down and we could read it out loud.
**Session 2: Reach out to teams, guide them with their solutions
***Make sure things are viable/the team is passionate enough if it is not viable
**Session 3: Basic Business Model (Deliverable), Practice Pitch?
**Session 4: Mock Shark Tank (Practice for College Competitions)

''Spring 2016'': Begin organizing and promoting the program, gearing up current students on the fence about entrepreneurship

''Spring/Summer 2016'': Talk with faculty and organizations on campus about being speakers in our Tank program

''Summer 2016'': Visit orientations, giving pitches for the River Hawk Tank and getting incoming students interested

''Fall 2016'': Jump-start the program in the first week or two of school, and funnel students into the DifferenceMaker Program

''After Program'': Meeting with DifferenceMakers, faculty, etc. to see where to improve

Prototyping Hackathons

·         Current hackathons at the university are just idea mixers, due to the lack of spaces available for a prototyping one

·         New makerspaces and centers for innovation open up amazing possibilities

·         Hackathon allows students to get creative with others in the end goal of creating a prototype to solve a problem

·         Hackathons will be hosted in the Spring semester (possibly integrating a Fall semester one in the future) and will be a lead-in to other DifferenceMaker Programs. Typically will be 48 hours.

·         Will have one or more themes (somewhat specific) to guide teams in their ideation

''Fall 2016'': Once dates and spaces are finalized, reach out to local industry suppliers for donations and connections

''Winter 2016'': Continue collecting donations, work with DifferenceMaker program to develop specific themes and rules. Advertise and promote the hackathon (announce theme and rules before winter break)

''Spring 2016'': First weekend of February, just before the Idea Challenge Application Deadlines

''Spring 2016'': Host hackathon and collect feedback on how well it was operated. Contact donors and see if they are alright with being recurring sponsors at annual events

TEDx

·         This event will be centered around inspiring students toward innovation with tips from local entrepreneurs

·         Will engage the broader innovative community

''Fall 2016'': Organize a date and location with the university (or with the city)

''Winter 2016'': Begin advertising and reaching out to prospective speakers

''Spring 2016'': Advertise more heavily and finalize list of speakers. Host event, and figure out where to improve

'''CONNECTING FACULTY AND STUDENTS'''

One other project we will be working on involves connecting students to faculty to help them learn more about a specific skill. We currently have a Mentor Program, but for students needing a basic education in a certain area it is much too formal.

Like the website LinkedIn, we seek to have faculty list their skills on the school website. These skills will have tags that can be searched for when students need help with one. When a student has a positive learning experience, they can endorse professors for a particular skill. There will be no way to “downvote” any professors, so there are no safeguards needed to prevent corrupting that system. All that is needed for this program is to talk with the website developers (who are currently working on a new site, so the timing could work out well) and see how it can be integrated.

 

'''2013 Innovation Fellows'''

'''Pitch Videos'''

'''Kevin Desjardins'''

[[File:|Unknown Object]]

'''Ana Gouveia'''

[[File:|Unknown Object]]

'''James Abdallah'''

[[File:|Unknown Object]]

'''Jacob Hulme'''

[[File:|Unknown Object]]

'''Enhance & Synergize the University I&E Ecosystem'''

'''Inspire Club'''

Inspire Club seeks to introduce students to innovation and entrepreneurship as well as connect them to campus and community resources such as ‘DifferenceMakers”, “M2D2”, “E For All”, etc. Weekly meetings will be held to expose students to an assortment of enriching experiences from innovative business model development tools and rapid prototyping exercises to guest panels and networking events. Students will be encouraged to develop ideas and solutions on an individual basis as well as to form teams in which they will combine, re-create, refine, and expand on them. We believe that this approach will engender high levels of student leadership and foster teamwork. Inspire will become an integral part of the student I&E pathway leading students from simple ideas to sustainable venture ready models. The skills learned will reflect the lean and iterative nature of the evolving economy and not only be valuable for start-ups but also in a traditional corporate environment where forward thinking, collaboration, and creativity are rapidly being adopted.

 

 '''Goals of Inspire:''' 

*      Introduce creative problem-solving, innovation and entrepreneurship
*      Identify purpose in each student's education
*      Connect students to I&E resources
*      Encourage student leadership
*      Push for development of a Maker Space 
*      Help develop new experiential activities 
*      Motivate & Capture new audiences

 

'''Related Links'''

[http://universityinnovation.org/University%20of%20Massachusetts%20Lowell University of Massachusetts Lowell]

University Innovation Fellows:

[http://universityinnovation.org/Ana%20Gouveia Ana Gouveia]

[http://universityinnovation.org/James%20Abdallah James Abdallah]

[http://universityinnovation.org/Kevin%20Desjardins Kevin Desjardins]

[http://universityinnovation.org/Jacob%20Hulme Jacob Hulme]

Student Priorities

Priorities:UMass Lowell Student Priorities

2015-10-12T17:06:46Z

Ephenstephen:

= Overview- A Campus on the Move = The University of Massachusetts Lowell is a top-tier research university with a full plate of offerings for innovation and entrepreneurship. The faculty and administration are eager to connect with the movement of promoting an innovative culture at the university level. Being a national research university, UMass Lowell has been evolving quite a bit in the past few years: new buildings have sprouted everywhere, classrooms are being upgraded to support a culture of learning, and centers for innovation are being built to involve as many students as possible in I&E. As well, programs and offerings have been refined over the years to adapt to our changing society. UMass Lowell's entrepenurial culture has been active since around 2011, with the DifferenceMaker Program kicking off in 2012. Since then, a wealth of programs have been started to connect students with more opportunies for entrepreneurship. The university has taken many steps to work with the City of Lowell and local companies for the greater benefit and economic development of the area. There are many programs in place that have given us a great head start, but there is more to come yet. Our strategic plan will incorporate the promotion and growth of what has already begun to grow a reputation on campus (DifferenceMaker, Hawk Hatch, and other opportunities), the development of new space, and the organization and funding for a design challenge to give students innovative and entrepreneurial experience as well as help our university's surrounding community. = 2013 Innovation Fellows = = Pitch Videos = == Kevin Desjardins == {{#Widget:Youtube|id=SkuXc0MAlsQ}} == Ana Gouveia == {{#Widget:Youtube|id=atgA6BH-4_s}} == James Abdallah == {{#Widget:Youtube|id=bOq_qfJ3AuM}} == Jacob Hulme == {{#Widget:Youtube|id=yS-M9faYKjs}} = Strategy #1: Enhance & Synergize the University I&E Ecosystem = == Club Inspire  == Club Inspire seeks to introduce students to innovation and entrepreneurship as well as connect them to campus and community resources such as ‘DifferenceMakers”, “M2D2”, “E For All”, etc. Weekly meetings will be held to expose students to an assortment of enriching experiences from innovative business model development tools and rapid prototyping exercises to guest panels and networking events. Students will be encouraged to develop ideas and solutions on an individual basis as well as to form teams in which they will combine, re-create, refine, and expand on them. We believe that this approach will engender high levels of student leadership and foster teamwork. Inspire will become an integral part of the student I&E pathway leading students from simple ideas to sustainable venture ready models. The skills learned will reflect the lean and iterative nature of the evolving economy and not only be valuable for start-ups but also in a traditional corporate environment where forward thinking, collaboration, and creativity are rapidly being adopted.
<div> </div>  '''Goals of Inspire:'''  *      Introduce creative problem-solving, innovation and entrepreneurship *      Identify purpose in each student's education *      Connect students to I&E resources *      Encourage student leadership *      Push for development of a Maker Space  *      Help develop new experiential activities  *      Motivate & Capture new audiences = Strategy #2: "The Mill" & Design Challenge = The following are some ideas for plans that we want to begin out this summer & beyond ==  The Mill == *The history of Lowell has provided us with a storyline that is completely engulfed in disruptive and innovative thinking. *The Industrial Revolution began in Lowell, and the history and mills that are here remind us that they should be used as a way to inspire innovative thinking. The concept would provide maker space: *The history of Lowell has provided us with a storyline that is completely engulfed in disruptive and innovative thinking. *The Industrial Revolution began in Lowell, and the history and mills that are here remind us that they should be used as a way to inspire innovative thinking.  *We could transform a room within a mill into a design center, with whiteboards and new tools as well as old machinery from the mill's era, to generate creativity. *We would need to find funding and space to renovate. *This would allow students to see their surrounding environment and things that they could improve and change, because it is slightly off-campus. *The goal would be to give students a more open space, where they can go to brainstorm and break things so they can potentially create more. == Design Challenge == *Description: The Design Challenge would be developed to help UMass Lowell students recognize current inefficiencies within Lowell's infrastructure.  This will not only help our current economic development of Lowell, but it will give students real-world experience moving forward. We would hopefully gain a grant to help fund this, and run multiple challenges per year. *Milestones: **Reach out to current graduate students- Fall 2013 through Spring 2014 **Formulate a list of interested graduate students- Fall 2013 through Spring 2014 **Create a forum and central space for these graduate students- Summer 2014 **Host webinar sessions on goals of the program- Summer 2014 **Re-evaluate interested graduate students- Fall 2014 **Afford benefits and rewards to committed graduate students- Fall 2014 **Generate awareness of program to other current students- Spring 2015 **Market resources- Spring 2015 **Connect undergraduate students with graduate students- Fall 2015 = = = Strategy #3: Promote and Support Current Entrepreneurial Programs  = The following are already on campus but need further promoting to improve our entrepreneurial mindset culture == DifferenceMaker'''™'''  Program == '''About DifferenceMaker™:'''  The DifferenceMaker™ Program sponsors specific events and activities that support students in solving big problems through innovation and entrepreneurship. The Program is highly experiential and offers students a series of workshops that they can engage in to better understand innovation, entrepreneurship and launching a startup of their interest. Their mission is as follows:<blockquote>"Our goal is simple: engage students in developing sustainable solutions to real world problems. Tackling “big problems” like climate change, poverty, pollution, and hunger can prove challenging for one person, or even one organization, so DifferenceMaker works with partners to leverage experience, reach, and resources."</blockquote>Students of all majors and disciplines are welcome to join this Program and make a difference at UMass Lowell, in the community, or in the world through innovative and entrepreneurial action. These DifferenceMaker™ Projects include interdisciplinary student teams from all majors and skill sets.   '''Goals of DifferenceMaker™:'''  ·      Introduce all UMass Lowell students to creative problem-solving, innovation and entrepreneurship ·      Accelerate purpose in each student's education ·      Connect current students to alumni who have experience ·      Encourage a social responsibility ethos = Related Links = [[University of Massachusetts Lowell]] University Innovation Fellows: [[Ana Gouveia]] [[James Abdallah]] [[Kevin Desjardins]] [[Jacob Hulme]] [[Category:Student Priorities|Student_Priorities]]