School:University of Connecticut
Contents
OVERVIEW
The University of Connecticut (UConn) is a public institution located in Mansfield, Connecticut founded in 1881. Standing as its own village with a student population of around 18,000 undergraduate students and 6,500 graduate students UConn is a medium to large size university. Recently there has been a push towards entrepreneurship and innovation at UConn with an increasing number of events and opportunities for aspiring entrepreneurs and innovators to partake in.
STUDENT ENTREPRENEURSHIP
At UConn, entrepreneurship is available as a minor provided as a joint effort through multiple schools within the university. There are numerous additional courses that revolve around entrepreneurship and promoting the ideas and values of a successful entrepreneur. These courses are split into three categories business, engineering, and law.
A different approach to learning about entrepreneurship at UConn would be through the variety of programs offered for aspiring entrepreneurs. One of these is the IDEA Grant program where students can receive smaller amounts of funding for their entrepreneurial ventures without losing ownership of their start-up. Another available resource is the Innovation Quest Program. This is a student innovation competition where participants aim to win in order to earn funds and mentorship throughout the start of their venture.
In addition a variety of extra-curricular activities revolve around entrepreneurship including multiple student organizations. The two most notable student run entrepreneurship organizations are The UConn Entrepreneurship and Innovation Society (UEIS) and The Student Entrepreneurial Organization (SEO). There is also Innovation House which is a themed housing community that aims to bring likeminded individuals together and provide unique opportunities and connections for new students.
One series of opportunities that tend to bring entrepreneurs together across campus includes the entrepreneurship and innovation events that occur every semester. The two largest events includes the Yale-UConn CBIT CORE Hackathon and TEDxUConn.
FACULTY ENTREPRENEURSHIP
When considering the faculty side of the Entrepreneurship and Innovation community at UConn both the Connecticut Center for Entrepreneurship and Innovation and the UConn Entrepreneurship and Innovation Consortium come to mind as the most prominent players.
The Connecticut Center for Entrepreneurship and Innovation (CCEI) is led by Faculty Director Timothy Folta and Managing Director Michelle Cote. CCEI aims to provide students with various opportunities such as the previously mentioned IDEA Grant and Innovation Quest programs.
The UConn Entrepreneurship and Innovation Consortium is led by Co-Director Hadi Bozorgmanesh and Co-Director Timothy Folta. The consortium aims to collect and provide additional opportunities for students regarding entrepreneurship and innovation.
UNIVERSITY TECHNOLOGY TRANSFER FUNCTIONS
UConn does not currently have a transfer office but there are a few offices such as the UConn Entrepreneurship and Innovation Consortium as well as the UConn Entrepreneurship and Innovation Society that both serve a role in connecting and directing students.
COLLEGE-INDUSTRY COLLABORATION
UConn works with Nerac when a student requires professional business advice. The student presents in front of an experienced panel in order to receive feedback on their innovation. This is only directed at a small portion of already established innovators and is invite only. UConn would benefit from additional industry connections.
REGIONAL AND LOCAL ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT
One of the largest resources within the region of UConn is Connecticut Innovations. CTInnovations works to bring investors and entrepreneurs together along with providing additional funding. They are connected with the UConn community and provide a great resource for a student with an established entrepreneurial venture.
CONCLUSION
The University of Connecticut has a rapidly developing entrepreneurial culture. With recent funding allocations towards entrepreneurial programs such as the IDEA Grant and investments into new STEM infrastructure there is clearly a push to create a more innovative and entrepreneurial culture.
For more information please reference for The University of Connecticut Landscape Canvas linked below.
Written By: Justin Hall
