National Science Foundation I-Corps
Watch our informational video
TRANSFORMING INVENTION TO IMPACT
The National Science Foundation program is an immersive, entrepreneurial training program that facilitates the transformation of invention to impact. I-Corps prepares researchers to extend their focus beyond the laboratory to increase the economic and societal impact of NSF-funded and other basic research projects.
The Great Plains Region is a consortium of eight partner universities in North Dakota, South Dakota, Nebraska, Montana, Kansas, and Wyoming. The partner universities bring together their researchers’ expertise and the universities’ resources to support the Hub’s activities. Each university has a culture of cultivating entrepreneurship. North Dakota State University is the lead institution and is responsible for the overall operation of the Hub.
The I-Corps program provides FREE training and coaching to help researchers and innovators identify target markets, conduct market research, and evaluate market readiness. In addition, teams will receive grants of up to $2500 to further their commercialization research effort. Each team will consist of:
- Technical lead
- Entrepreneurial lead
- Mentor
The I-Corps program is a 5-week program which includes the I-Corps Customer Discovery Academy comprising three 1.5-hour classes focusing on how to:
- Identify target markets
- Conduct customer research
- Gain and understanding of technology commercialization and barriers to success
The program is open faculty, staff, students, and community members.
Watch our I-Corps Week video
This recording features local Montana entrepreneurs who share their success stories and offer their valuable advice to emerging entrepreneurs. The recording is an opportunity to learn from those who have navigated the entrepreneurial landscape and gain insights for your own ventures.
Regional I-Corps Groups
As a part of the Great Plains I-Corps Hub, teams from UM have the chance to participate in the Regional I-Corps Cohorts. The Regional I-Corps training provides teams with the opportunity to learn the best practices about customer discovery needed to understand their ecosystem and stakeholders more thoroughly. Throughout the process, teams will acquire feedback on the best path forward from trained instructors and mentors and identify key milestones on the commercialization pathway. The unique program gives teams the opportunity to connect with innovators across the Great Plains region.
To learn more, please visit the
Get Started
Contact:
Sarah Truglio Director of Innovation & Entrepreneurship/I-Corps Faculty Lead