School:University of Georgia

Picture above: A leader in innovation and economic engagement, UGA was designated as an Innovation & Economic Prosperity University by the Association of Public and Land-grant Universities (APLU), the nation's oldest higher education association!

Click here to see UGA University Innovation Fellow Student Priorities

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Promoting Student Innovation and Entrepreneurship

Campus-wide

Student Industry Fellows Program

Innovation Bootcamp through Innovation Gateway

New Materials Innovation Center

Student Center for Entrepreneurship (Studio 225)

UGA Idea Accelerator Program

Experiential Learning

Innovation Hub

Georgia Magazine

Dawg Camp Innovate

International Coffee Hour

Grady College of Journalism & Mass Communication

New Media Institute

TedxUGA

Digital Drive Thru

Cannes Creativity Festival Abroad

The Red & Black

Arts Careers and Entrepreneurship Day

Arts Career Entrepreneurship Space (ACES)

Terry College of Business

Society of Entrepreneurs
UGA's Next Top Entrepreneur

UGA Launch Pad

UGA Idea Accelerator Program
Entrepreneurship and New Venture Formation
Innovative Business Projects
Innovation Management
Interdisciplinary certificate in Entrepreneurship
MBA with a Concentration in Entrepreneurship
Entrepreneurship Certificate
Entrepreneurs and Innovation Summit
Music Business Certificate

College of Engineering
- Entrepreneurship for Engineers and Scientists
- Senior Design
- Innovation and Discovery Challenge Clusters
  College of Family & Consumer Sciences - Social Entrepreneurship
  College of Agriculture & Environmental Science - UGA Fabricate

Non-UGA Resources

Four Athens

Athens Hatch

Hackyard Athens

Encouraging Faculty Innovation and Entrepreneurship

Purpose: These organizations and programs at the University of Georgia are dedicated to advancing research, fostering innovation, and translating academic expertise into real-world applications and economic growth.

Proponents:

The Georgia BioBusiness Center (GBBC): The BioBusiness Center works with startups based upon UGA developed research and recruited companies with research and technology ties to the University of Georgia.

The Georgia Research Alliance (GRA): The Georgia Research Alliance expands research and commercialization capacity in Georgia’s universities to launch new companies, create high-value jobs and transform lives.

The Office of Research: The office designed the Faculty Innovation Fellows Program to support faculty who want to engage in commercialization and product development.

The College of Education: The College of Education works directly with the Office of Information Technology to give faculty the opportunity to enhance their teaching skills through the Innovation in Teaching Technology (ITT) Faculty Academy.

UGA Research Foundation (UGARF): This foundation is responsible for managing intellectual property, technology transfer, and commercialization of research discoveries made by UGA faculty and staff. They work with faculty to protect and license their innovations and innovations.

Innovation Gateway: The Innovation Gateway facilitates the transfer of technologies developed at the university into the marketplace. They offer support in patenting, licensing, and forming startup companies based on UGA research.

Actively Supporting the University Technology Transfer Function

Purpose: The University of Georgia (UGA) plays a vital role in supporting the technology transfer function through its Innovation Gateway. This platform serves as a bridge, linking the UGA community with the industry, to harness university expertise and inventions for societal benefit, economic growth, and enhancing research visibility. Central to this effort is the University of Georgia Research Foundation (UGARF), responsible for managing all intellectual property within the institution. Among its core functions are the assessment of technology disclosures for their patentability and commercial viability, the protection and maintenance of intellectual property rights, and fostering technology marketing and partnership opportunities. Additionally, the Innovation Gateway handles critical aspects like compliance for licensed technologies and providing support for early-stage funding prospects. For faculty, educational resources are available through streamlining research collaborations, ensuring proper material transfer and confidentiality stipulations.

Proponents:

The Georgia BioBusiness Center (GBBC): The Georgia BioBusiness Center works with startups based upon UGA developed research and recruited companies with research and technology ties to the University of Georgia.

The Technology Commercialization Office (TCO): This office focuses on commercialization of new research and products. It also supports the Innovation Gateway, which serves the UGA community by connecting industry with university expertise and inventions for the public good, promoting economic development and increasing research visibility.

The Technology Commercialization Office (TCO): helps promote UGA's research mission, both domestically and internationally, licensing, outreach and a robust internship program.

The University of Georgia Research Foundation (UGARF): This foundation is responsible for administering all intellectual property at The University of Georgia. The functions include: evaluating technology disclosures for patentability and commercial potential, intellectual property prosecution and maintenance (patents, trademarks, plant variety protection certificates, copyrights, or trademarks) on university technology, technology marketing and partnering, manage compliance issues for licensed technology company formation and identification of early-stage funding opportunities, receiving and distributing license income, faculty education on startup, patenting and technology commercialization processes.

Facilitating University-Industry Collaborations

Purpose: Through these dedicated offices, research initiatives, and innovative centers, UGA actively promotes interdisciplinary research, technological advancement, and economic development, thereby catalyzing new discoveries, startups, and collaborations that strengthen university-industry relationships and our community.

Proponents:

UGA Office of Research: The Office of Research encourages and supports innovative interdisciplinary research, scholarship and creative activities. Industry members can sponsor research, engage start ups, access research services, and license technologies and digital images.

UGA Office of Economic Development: The mission of the Office of Economic Development is to extend the resources of the university to help Georgia and beyond prosper, working every day to improve the quality of life for Georgians. Based in Atlanta, the office serves businesses and communities throughout the state. Established in 2013, the office enhances the university's role in industry collaborations.

Downtown Connector: UGA Office of Economic Development link to reach potential industry partners in the area.

Innovation Gateway: Innovation Gateway fosters a network of industry, economic development, and university partners, amplifying its ability to develop new products and companies based on the university resarch. Since 2015, new invention disclosures and licensing revenues are up 30 percent, startup projects have increased 40 percent, and more than 20 startup companies have been launched.

Food Product Innovation & Commercialization Center: Created by the Department of Food Science and Technology in the College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences, the center forms a strategic alliance with external marketing, technology, and engineering groups to help food companies take a new product from conception, through consumer research, formulation, prototyping, shelf-life analysis, and market launch.

New Materials Innovation Center: With support from the U.S. Department of Commerce, UGA has created a center which fulfills the local and regional need for a large-scale testing facility for new materials being developed by entrepreneurs, startups, and researchers.

Corporate Connect: Corporate Connect is a program to connects UGA Student Veterans with companies and organizations that desire to hire veterans.

Engaging with Regional and Local Development Affairs

Purpose: These entities and programs collectively showcase the University of Georgia's commitment to economic development, community engagement, leadership development, environmental stewardship, education, and support for rural students. They play vital roles in extending the university's resources and expertise to benefit the state and its residents.

Proponents:

UGA Office of Economic Development: The mission of the Office of Economic Development is to extend the resources of the university to help Georgia and beyond prosper, working every day to improve the quality of life for Georgians. Based in Atlanta, the office serves businesses and communities throughout the state. Established in 2013, the office enhances the university's role in industry collaboration

UGA Office of Community Relations: The Office of Community Relations at UGA functions to build strong partnerships and links between the University and the Athens-Clarke County community, government, businesses, neighborhoods, non-profit organizations and community leaders and individuals.

UGA Public Service & Outreach: UGA is a national leader in university outreach with faculty, staff and students in all of UGA’s schools and colleges contributing to Georgia’s short- and long-term prosperity. In addition, eight Public Service and Outreach units focus specifically on serving Georgia.

Programs:

Archway Partnership

Carl Vinson Institute of Government > PROPEL (Planning Rural Opportunities for Prosperity and Economic Leadership) program, which strives to guide low-income rural cities and counties through a six-step model to develop and implement a plan to advance their rural economies.

J.W. Fanning Institute for Leadership Development

Marine Extension Service/Georgia Sea Grant

Office of Service-Learning

Small Business Development Center

State Botanical Garden of Georgia

UGA Center for Continuing Education & Hotel

RISE > creating community for UGA's rural students.