Texas A&M New Venture Competition
The Texas A&M New Ventures Competition (TNVC) is hosted by the Texas A&M Engineering Experiment Station and other entities within The Texas A&M University System. Aimed at promoting the commercialization of emerging technology, TNVC is helping today’s innovative ideas become a reality. The competition recognizes Texas-based companies with high-growth potential and provides seed funding to help them effectively execute their ideas and advance product development.
Intellectual Property Workshop
The Texas A&M Engineering Experiment Station’s Office of Commercialization and Entrepreneurship works closely with inventors to identify and monetize the ideas arising from the laboratory. While the process is relatively straightforward, it is important that inventors understand how their intellectual property (IP) can translate into licenses, option agreements and sponsored research opportunities. Workshops review the key aspects of the TEES intellectual property process, ranging from disclosure to final value capture.
Small Business Innovation Research / Small Business Technology Transfer Workshop Series
The second annual Small Business Innovation Research/Small Business Technology Transfer (SBIR/STTR) Workshop Series will be held from 11 a.m.-1:30 p.m. on March 29 and 30 and April 5 and 6. The series will cover topics important for crafting successful proposals. Co-hosts will include the Texas A&M Engineering Experiment Station’s Office of Commercialization and Entrepreneurship and Research Development Services in the Texas A&M University Division of Research. A virtual attendance option will be available. For more information, contact Lenae Scroggins or visit the SBIR/STTR Workshop Series event webpage.
Lunch & Learn
The Office of Commercialization and Entrepreneurship regularly hosts Lunch & Learn opportunities to connect researchers and our team. These events, usually held from noon-1 p.m. on Wednesdays, are attended by most of our team. They start with a brief presentation by faculty on a single technology that they believe has commercial potential. This is followed by an informal discussion of market opportunities and next steps in the commercialization process, including participation in the National Science Foundation (NSF) Innovation Corps (I-Corps) program or other grant opportunities. This opportunity is an ideal way to start exploring whether your technology has commercial potential and to get familiar with our office’s resources. If you are interested in scheduling a Lunch & Learn, please send a disclosure or brief overview of your technology to lenae@tamu.edu.
Innovation Corps
The Office of Commercialization and Entrepreneurship strongly encourages Texas A&M faculty, researchers and graduate students to participate in programs that provide an independent validation of the value proposition and commercial potential of their invention. The NSF I-Corps program helps determine whether entrepreneurship and startup interests you as a career option. Two of the most nationally adopted programs for customer discovery are I-Corps and I-Corps Sites. Our office works closely with graduate students and researchers to provide all the assistance in understanding the demands of the program, pre- and post-guidance after completion of the program and also assisting with mentoring.
I-Corps Sites
The NSF I-Corps Sites at the Texas A&M College of Engineering is a shorter program that follows the same Lean Launchpad curriculum of NSF I-Corps and allows teams that do not have prior NSF funding to participate in future NSF I-Corps cohort. The teams with prior NSF funding (within the last five years) can directly participate in the I-Corps program. There are three cohorts of NSF I-Corps Sites in fall, spring and summer. I-Corps has rolling admittance, so when a team is eligible either through past NSF funding criteria or completion of a I-Corps Sites program, they can apply.
The College of Engineering has one of the highest number of teams nationally since 2012 who have participated in the national cohort of NSF I-Corp program. Please email Dr. Saurabh Biswas to discuss your eligibility, understand the program demands or any other questions.