School:Tulane University

Student innovation and entrepreneurship

Tulane University fosters great student innovation and entrepreneurship with classes themed in "science, technology, and entrepreneurship" such as SCEN 4800, SCEN 6000, BMEN 4030-4040, BMEN 2310, BMEN 4900, and MGMT 6240. These classes help students understand how to translate technological/engineering ideas to a market. Furthermore, there are student led organizations such as TEA (Tulane Entrepreneurs Association) in the Freeman Business School that allow students on campus to gain insight with national leaders in entrepreneurship (http://freemanblog.freeman.tulane.edu/tea/index.php/about-2/). Lastly, the Bioinnovation program at Tulane elucidates the mechanisms for PhD students to translate their biolopgical research into a biotech market (http://tulane.edu/bioinnovation-IGERT/). 

Faculty innovation and entrepreneurship

The Bioinnovation Program at Tulane University has combined faculty from different Schools of Medicine, Science and Engineering, Business, Law, and Public health (http://tulane.edu/bioinnovation-IGERT/) to aid in growth of this innovatiion themed program. This interdisciplinary program provides graduate students withtranslational research and entrpreneurial training opportunities. Faculty innovation is also linked to Tulane's Entrepreneurship Association (TEA), in which faculty from the business school help students form entrepreneurial teams and goals. Also, the Engineering for Medicine Center of the J. Bennett Johnston Health and Environmental Research Building (http://tulane.edu/asvpr/ora/jbj.cfm) promotes faculty from Schools of Medicine, Science and Engineering, and Public health to cultivate a research community and transform medical technologies. 

University technology transfer function

The Office of Technology Transfer and Intellectual Property Development (OTT) (https://tulane.edu/ott/) aids to secure intellectual property of Tulane students and faculty and to advance commercial translation. When a student or faculty member discloses an invention or idea it is OTT's expertise to evaluate the commerical potential of the novel idea. Furthermore, OTT directs students accordinlgly on the appropriateness to start a venture based on market size, strength of intellectual property, ability of technology to penetrate the market, and the likelihood of the venture to raise necessary funds. OTT also connects the student and/or faculty inventor of local resources to move their venture forward. Importantly, OTT works hard to reach out to students and faculty and make them aware of OTT's services through entrprenurial seminars and local community activities. 

University-Industry collaboration

A great resource for Tulane University and Industry collaboration is the New Orleans Bioinnovation Center (NOBIC) (http://www.neworleansbio.com/about_us/our_team/). NOBIC is a life-science small business incubator of lab, office, and conference space. It currently holds more than 25 businesses, including startups, service providers, and investors. NOBIC is supported by Luoisiana state funds and grants to provide technical assitance to life-science based startups. The Director of Technology Commercialization assits startups with market analysis, business plans, and grant writing assistance. Other organizations like NOBIC foster industry collabortaion with Tulane University such as New Orleanse BioDistrict (http://biodistrictneworleans.org/), IdeaVillage (http://ideavillage.org/), Propellor (http://gopropeller.org/), and MEPOL (http://www.mepol.org/).