School:University of Delaware
Contents
- 1 Promoting student innovation and entrepreneurship
- 2 Encouraging faculty innovation and entrepreneurship
- 3 Actively supporting the university technology transfer function
- 4 Facilitating University-Industry Collaboration
- 5 Engaging with regional and local economic development efforts
- 6 Related Links
Promoting student innovation and entrepreneurship
Student innovation and entrepreneurship are encouraged in select fields, namely business and to a certain extent in engineering. There is a huge variety of course offerings that have a strong entrepreneurial emphasis. In all of these courses, students work with problem owners to not only validate that the problem exists but to create new solutions that have unique value. Through this process, students create new products or business ideas, which they further develop over the course of the semester by forming relationships with these same problem owners mentioned before. While this is promising for business students, engineering students are primarily interested in innovation and recognize it as a skill required of them. All students have a basic awareness that there are a multitude of resources on campus for them but if they are interested in pursuing entrepreneurship there is always room for improvement. Faculty members and stakeholders are extremely supportive of implementing an innovation and entrepreneurship initiative on campus. The Delaware Innovation Fellows, administered by the University of Delaware's Horn Entrepreneurship, offers a four-year enrichment experience for those who want to be more immersed in entrepreneurship and leadership. This is just one example of many. Horn Entrepreneurship is University of Delaware's entrepreneurship program full of programs in and out of the classroom, as well as a Venture Development Center where deserving students have 24/7 access to work on their ventures.
- The need to centralize the resources available across all colleges
- Create a streamlined system for anyone that is interested in innovation/entrepreneurship
- Communicate the Universities innovation/entrepreneurship resources effectively
- Identify how we can “light a spark” in someone to have them see innovation/entrepreneurship in a new way
- Challenge students to step outside of their comfort zones to form relationships with those they otherwise wouldn't have
- Empower students to realize and know their own skills so they can build off of them
- Facilitating the connection of students interested in similar problems/solutions with different skill sets to form teams
Encouraging faculty innovation and entrepreneurship
The Office of Economic Innovation and Partnerships (OEIP) plays a significant role in assisting faculty members with innovation. Faculty members are allowed to take a day every week to work on their own ideas, which could potentially lead to product innovation, a startup or a licensing opportunity. OEIP also provides assistance with training related to SBIR (Small Business Innovation Research) and STTR (Small Business Technology Transfer) grant application process. OEIP is working on making their online interface easier for faculty members to navigate.
Actively supporting the university technology transfer function
The Technology Transfer Center (TTC) within the Office of Economic Innovation and Partnerships (OEIP) is responsible for the protection, management, and commercialization of the University of Delaware's intellectual property assets. The TTC also provides advice to UD faculty, staff and graduate students regarding the disclosure of innovations, IP protection in the form of patents, copyrights, trademarks, as well as contracts and other research-related agreements. As inventors become entrepreneurs, the TTC, in cooperation with the Delaware Small Business Development Center (SBDC), assists with the growth of new businesses by providing consulting and training in areas such as business strategy and planning, funding strategy, team development, and management skill development.
Facilitating University-Industry Collaboration
The Delaware Technology Park offers space for new startups and established companies. STAR campus is home to the universities rehabilitation centers and health science laboratories. With the completion of a new building adjacent to STAR, startups and small companies will be able to lease office space on campus and also provide opportunities for students. Leading Edge Venture, First State Innovation, Vital Venture Capital, and Yet2ventures are financial venture firms that students can contact for investments. A good mentor network can also be found by either talking to a Horn Advisory Board member or a Lerner Executive Mentor. The university also offers several courses that promote growing a business, including ENTR352 (Business Launchpad: Turning Ideas into Successful Companies), and several capstone courses that promote the development of teamwork and innovative thinking through designing an industry level product by the end of the semester, including BMEG450 (Biomedical Engineering Design).
Engaging with regional and local economic development efforts
The Small Business Development Center (SBDC) is a resource for new businesses and startups. Along with consulting, they can help with procuring space to set up their business, in the Delaware technology park. The Office of Economic Innovation and Partnerships (OEIP) helps university employees with patent filing and commercializing viable ideas. Undergraduate students go through the Venture Development Center (VDC) for assistance with the above, but, if their ventures are ready they can use the resources above.
Related Links
Landscape Canvas:
University of Delaware Student Priorites
Fellows:
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