Changes

The '''Arther M. Spiro Institue 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 Sprio 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.

== University technology transfer function ==

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 evaulate commercial potential of discoveries, and licensing inventions to the private sector for public use.

== University-Industry collaboration ==

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.

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.

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.

The '''NEXT Innovation Center''' is a place where a community can thrive and stimulate collaboration between innovators, thinkers, creators, and business builders.  Here, the opportunities are endless- from virtual offices for start-ups, to super cubes and executives, to adaptable conference rooms, dry erase walls, and even Wii rooms.  If a Clemson University student has taken the "next" step in starting up a company, this has the technological infrastructure to allow the company to thrive.

== Regional and local economic development efforts ==

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 medtech technology in the state that allows for grants for research aimed at the interests of Stryker Corp.