Looking for research funding? Apply for I-Corps@Ohio through Feb. 7 [video]

December 10, 2015 | Events, News, UToday
By Christine Billau



The University of Toledo’s technology transfer team is trumpeting a call for proposals to inventors eager to translate lab research into commercial success.

Leaders of the new I-Corps@Ohio program are on the hunt for 20 teams across the state to participate in the program during summer 2016. The window for submissions opened Monday, Jan. 4.

iCorps@Ohio logoEach selected team receives $15,000 and the supervision of business and entrepreneurial mentors to help validate the market potential of university-developed innovations and launch startup companies.

“This program is designed for faculty and students to learn about customer discovery. The team works together to ensure that there is a good product-market fit, which is essential before you establish a new company. Additionally, teams develop a business model canvas and a value proposition for the technology,” UT Associate Vice President of Technology Transfer Stephen Snider said. “This program speeds up a process that normally takes two years.”

UT is one of the founders of the I-Corps@Ohio program funded by the Ohio Department of Higher Education and designed to accelerate the commercialization of research being conducted at universities in the state.

“The curriculum allows the teams to focus very, very specifically on the core customer segments that they believe have the need for the technology,” I-Corps@Ohio Director Michael Camp said.

I-Corps@Ohio is modeled after a similar program launched by the National Science Foundation that is proven to increase innovation, entrepreneurship and industry collaboration.

The plan is to train a total of 60 teams over three years at universities and colleges across Ohio in methods to build and test their business models, as well as attract venture funding.

“This is a valuable program for anyone who has developed technology at the University that they would like to commercialize through a startup company,” Snider said. “This training program will help innovators grow as entrepreneurs to drive economic development in our community and beyond.”

“I want to congratulate our participating universities for taking this first step toward better commercialization of our research,” Ohio Department of Higher Education Chancellor John Carey said. “I look forward to seeing the results of their efforts.”

The deadline for submissions is Sunday, Feb. 7. To learn more about I-Corps@Ohio to apply, visit http://icorpsohio.org.

If you would like to discuss the program, contact Snider at stephen.snider@utoledo.edu or 419.530.6225.

httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YjXQaQjWoPw

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