2023 Cohort
12
edits
Changes
[[File:Clemson Logo with Tiger.png|center|Clemson University|link=Special:FilePath/Clemson_Logo_with_Tiger.png]]
=Promoting Student Innovation and Entrepreneurship=
In addition to these national programs '''The DEN''' (Design and Entrepreneurship Network) has become influential on campus. The DEN has proven to be a valuable resources for students interested in Entrepreneurship by hosting events like '''3 Day Startup''' and '''Startup Weekend'''. Clemson's '''IDEAS (Innovation, Design and Entrepreneurship Among Students) and CUBS (Community for Undergraduate Business Students) Communities '''house students from a variety of disciplines with an interest in innovation and entrepreneurship. Students from across campus also have the opportunity to participate in competitions like the '''CECAS Spark Challenge''' and the '''Walter Hunter Business Plan Competition and Lecture Series Pitch Smackdown'''. These competitions encourage students to get involved in the I&E infrastructure both on campus and beyond.
Students in the Clemson Honors college have the opportunity to engage hands-on with design and entrepreneurship thorough the Dr. John DesJardins's Hands-On Design and Entrepreneurship course in the [https://www.clemson.edu/cuhonors/opportunities/intellectual-growth/dixon-fellows.html Dixon Fellows] program. This course offers accepted honors students the opportunity to take an idea through the design process and then pitch it in the CECAS Spark Challenge. Over two semesters, students are introduced to the concept of design thinking and collaborate with one another to develop their ideas into tangible prototypes for the pitch competition.
Captivating innovation talks are held on campus twice a month. '''VoxNovo Talks''', hosted by the Clemson Graduate Student Government, and '''Tiger Talks''', hosted by the Clemson Bioengineering Society, are two popular events that bring together inspirational individuals where shared ideas and perspectives change the world. '''TEDx '''has also been a recent addition to the Clemson innovative atmosphere. The '''Arthur M. Spiro Institute for Entrepreneurial Leadership '''was founded with a mission to support education, research and outreach programs that promote entrepreneurial activity and economic development of the region, state, and nation. The Spiro Institute draws from the expertise within the College of Business and Behavioral Science to explore entrepreneurial leadership. A unique graduate degree in entrepreneurship is offered at Clemson University: an''' MBA in Entrepreneurship and Innovation (MBAe)''' where students begin with an idea, apply rigorous business principles and graduate with both an MBA degree and a market-ready business idea. Innovation and entrepreneurship is also captured in the '''Technology Entrepreneurship Certificate Program''', offered to all graduate students in engineering and science disciplines. Students also have the opportunity to graduate in a Business Management Major with an emphasis area in Entrepreneurship. Opportunities for funding of student-led technologies is offered directly through '''LaunchPadSC''', a competition that is designed to assist individuals and/or teams in the genesis of ideas for new business concepts and to help move them forward in the formation of potential new companies. Also available is mentorship and support through centers like the '''Clemson Regional Small Business Development Center (SBDC)'''. Representatives offer personal consultation, guidance, and assistance to small business owners and entrepreneurs through one-on-one management and technical assistance as well as interactive webinar series. Mentoring is also available through the '''Sustainable Entrepreneurs & Economic Development (SEED) '''eight-session course that is designed to help early-stage entrepreneurs understand the business behind the success.
For related postgraduate study, Clemson’s Wilbur O. and Ann Powers College of Business offers both a [https://www.clemson.edu/business/departments/mba/academics/entrepreneurship/ft-mbae.html full and part-time MBA in Entrepreneurship and Innovation]. The full time program is specifically designed for students looking to launch a start-up or expand an existing small business. These students move through their courses as a cohort, allowing them to form connections with their peers and instructors to foster successful business strategies. Individuals in this program also have the opportunity to participate in an eight week international internship with a start-up company. These internships are tailored to the student’s learning and career goals and also allow students to immerse themselves in the corporate world and culture of the location of their internship
=Encouraging Faculty Innovation and Entrepreneurship=
This relationship is also fostered by faculty involvement in programs like the nationally renowned [http://www.clemson.edu/academics/programs/creative-inquiry/ <b>Creative Inquiry</b>] program - where faculty sponsors play a large role in guiding the innovation techniques and actively contributing to the development of a technology.
One recent initiative to foster cross-disciplinary and innovative curriculum has been made through the '''[http://www.clemson.edu/academics/programs/thinks2/ Clemson Thinks<sup>2</sup>] '''program. The program is built around the idea of Faculty Scholars developing Critical Thinking (CT) courses, based off the [http://www.clemson.edu/cuhonors/current-students/courses/SeminarsSpring2015.html Calhoun Honors College] seminar courses. The [https://www.clemson.edu/business/departments/mba/academics/entrepreneurship/phyfer-hub.html Phyfer Innovation Hub] offers resources for MBA faculty, students, and the local business community to collaborate on all things entrepreneurship and innovation. Located in the Clemson MBA space in downtown Greenville, South Carolina, the Hub provides resources ranging from mentoring startups to supporting innovation in the workplace. Programs provided by the Hub include two podcasts, "[https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLtzpwTXnV_TExvYLiko8htRgN8Z52kK72 Business of Innovation]" and "[https://inone.simplecast.com/ inONE]", related to sharing innovative thought, faculty resources for improving the course experience for MBA students, and the Phyfer Innovation Award.
Few faculty incentives are provided at Clemson University to promote innovation and entrepreneurship outside of the simple motivation for student education and learning. Many faculty members strive for excellence in the research laboratory and cannot find time to chase their entrepreneurial dreams. Overall, the main motivation for faculty to conduct research and be innovative is to produce publications, secure grants, and gain points towards tenure.
=Actively Supporting the University Technology Transfer Function=
[[File:CURF.png|right|200x75px|CURF|link=Special:FilePath/CURF.png]]
The '''Clemson University Research Foundation (CURF)''' is a university corporation organized to provide leadership and expertise to maximize the societal impact of university research and innovation. CURF manages the technology transfer functions of Clemson University by taking assignment of inventions, obtaining intellectual property protection, working with faculty to evaluate commercial potential of discoveries, and licensing inventions to the private sector for public use.
CURF also has developed relationships with several technology advancement firms across the country that have the first right of refusal for developing technologies. One company to highlight is that of '''TAO Life Sciences''', who also has attained industry-partnership status and holds space in the CUBEInC. facility.
[[File:WATT-logo.png|thumb|link=Special:FilePath/WATT-logo.png]]
=Innovation with a Makerspace=
=Facilitating University-Industry Collaboration=
[[File:CUICAR 2.jpg|right|300x200px|CU-ICAR Facility|link=Special:FilePath/CUICAR_2.jpg]]
Clemson University's closest city of innovation is Greenville, SC, the home of many large and small manufacturing companies, mostly centered around the largest employer in the region, BMW. A thriving manufacturing ecosystem related to the automotive industry is present at '''Clemson University International Center for Automotive Research (CU-ICAR)''', an advanced technology-research campus where education, research, and economic development collaborate to create a global venue for automotive innovation.
[[File:CUBEInC Facilities.jpg|left|300x200px|CUBEInC Facility|link=Special:FilePath/CUBEInC_Facilities.jpg]]A second focus for industry collaboration is with the Greenville Health System at the '''Clemson University Bioengineering Innovation Campus (CUBEInC)'''. This facility offers a unique environment in which high-impact medical technology for disease management is developed alongside clinicians with goals to transfer technology from bench to bedside. Within this facility, other biomedical companies partner with Clemson in the Biomedical Corporate Partner Program to preview novel Clemson technology and actively participate in shaping the biomedical work-force.
The '''Advanced Materials Research Laboratories (AMRL)''', an 111,000 square-foot facility that brings together state-of-the-art equipment and researchers to generate a powerful magnet for the advanced materials industry. The National Science Foundation, the Department of Defense, and NASA has all recognized the center's work and offered funding to future innovation.
[[File:NEXT.jpg|right|300x250px|NEXT Innovation Center|link=Special:FilePath/NEXT.jpg]]
The '''Duke Energy Innovation Center '''brings together corporate tenants and entrepreneurial start-up companies for wet/dry labs and office space. This facility benefits from close proximity to the AMRL and Clemson University's high performance computing center.
=Engaging with Regional and Local Economic Development Efforts=
[[File:SCBIO logo.jpg|left|200x150px|SCBIO logo|link=Special:FilePath/SCBIO_logo.jpg]]The state of South Carolina offers support for innovation efforts through '''SCLaunch''', a venture funding source that provides seed stage capital for businesses across the state. '''SCBIO''' is another South Carolina economic development organization that runs networking meetings, entrepreneurial courses, start-up boot camps (such as '''SCBIO Boot Camp'''), and advocates the state legislature on behalf of the state's life science industry. '''Upstate Alliance''' also has a "bio" division that promotes the South Carolina Upstate region through operating companies. '''SC Med TransTech''' is a program aimed at developing translatable medical technology in the state that allows for grants for research aimed at the interests of Stryker Corp.
These efforts are simply the beginning of the drive for economic development in innovation and entrepreneurship. Integration and implementation of a plan to acquire "gap" funding is underway and are integral to the success of Clemson University's vision for entrepreneurship and innovation.
=Landscape Canvas=
[https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1wK90t4Pz7Av8s7yOEuOzQczqCtnhoMYv1fsvVaU2ziY1eYQZwJuVK5xYlcRj_zilcpK9QxPT-xOE2ucVv2GufWc/edit#gid?usp=0 sharing Landscape Canvas Spreadsheet]
[https://docs.google.com/presentation/d/10CILt5e09UjKG1Iw4MHaehAu6xZQSNSaDaleiWZkShE/edit#slide=id.p26 Landscape Canvas Presentation]
<br />University Innovation Fellows:
Fall 2020 - 2023 (currently in training) Megan DeGrezia Hayden Roof Brianna Sebastian-Olazaba, Fall 2020
[[Fellow:Sabrina_Manji|Sabrina Manji]]
[http://universityinnovation.org/wiki/Olivia_Burns Olivia Burns]
Fall 2017
[http://universityinnovation.org/wiki/Kimberly_Green Kimberly Green]
Fall 2016:
[[Carlie Van]]
Spring 2016:
<br />Spring 2015:
[[Connor Bolick]] <br />Fall 2013:
[[Breanne Przestrzelski]]