Contents
Promoting Student Innovation and Entrepreneurship
Student innovation at Clemson University starts with engaged learning and undergraduate research, which is combined in the Creative Inquiry Program. This program has had immense success in inspiring students to get involved in design and innovation. Engineering World Health (EWH) and Engineers Without Border (EWB) also have a large presence on the campus and motivate students to change the world through their ideas.
In addition to these national programs The DEN(Design and Entrepreneurship Network) and Clemson IDEAS(Innovation, Design, and Entrepreneurship Among Students at Clemson University) have become influential on campus. They prove to be a valuable resources for students interested in Entrepreneurship by hosting events like 3 Day Startup and Startup Weekend. Clemson's Entrepreneurial Living-Learning Community houses trailblazing students from all disciplines throughout the university who seek a living environment that enhances inventiveness and originality.
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. The Arthur 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 theTechnology 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.
Encouraging Faculty Innovation and Entrepreneurship
The expertise and passion behind the faculty in course offerings taught in various departments is fundamentally what peaks the interest of students. Early courses such as CES 102: Engineering Disciplines and Skills and MGT 201: Principles of Management touch on the importance of fundamental elements to innovation and entrepreneurship in the early undergraduate years. Thorughout the course of their undergraduate degree, students are exposed to courses that spark realization of the importance of innovation and entrepreneurship and foster deeper involvement. Courses in the Executive Leadership and Entrepreneurship Department represnt this sector in which faculty are minimally involved. It is not until Senior Capstone Design classes such as Design Theory and Applied Design, that students begin to flourish under the mentorship of their faculty.
This relationship is also fostered by faculty involvement in programs like Creative Inquiries- where faculty sponsors play a large role in guiding the innovation techniques and actively contributing to the development of a technology.
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.
Actively Supporting the 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.
CURF owns and operates several facilities that support business incubation and enable Clemson research activities: the Center for Applied Technology, Griffth Incubator, and the National Brick Research Center.
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.
Facilitating 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.
Engaging with 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.
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
Related Links
Clemson University Student Priorities
University Innovation Fellows: