Aug31
WPI's Innovation & Entrepreneurship Center supports the culture of entrepreneurial and innovative thinking and action at WPI through skill-based workshops, solvathons, guidance, mentorship, competitions, networking opportunities, hands-on projects, and more. Whether it's a student MQP, faculty research in the lab, a hobby project, a venture, or nonprofit idea, we're here to help.
All the greatest innovations, companies, and nonprofits in the world started with an idea, a conversations between tinkerers and idealists, or even a "what if..." to solve real-world problems. At WPI, those conversations happen every day during hands-on projects in class, over late-night texts, and while at weekend social events. Get in touch with I&E to let us know how we can assist. If you're a faculty member and need assistance promoting an event or using the right channels, let us know and we can help.
Innovation and Entrepreneurship Team 3D Prints, Donates Face Shields
When the COVID-19 crisis revealed a shortage of protective face shields for healthcare workers, WPI's Innovation & Entrepreneurship team kicked into high gear. Using 3D printers in the prototyping lab of the Foisie Innovation Studio (and following social distancing guidelines), they recently made and donated hundreds of these protective pieces to local healthcare organizations. Read more about how this project came together.
Program type: Discover
StartupTree is WPI's hub for all things I&E! Discover upcoming events, applications and competitions; connect with cofounders and form your team; find mentors, investors, and internships/jobs at startups; and collaborate with entrepreneurial students/alumni across the globe.
Program type: Get Started
Goat Tank is an 8-week program of hands-on workshops and mentorship starting Weds, Oct 23rd to inspire diverse teams (at least 50% women) to innovate with projects that create societal or WPI community impact. Participants develop confidence, skills, and mindset, while creating value propositions for their projects. It culminates in a “Goat Tank challenge with teams pitching their value proposition and negotiating an “ask” with judges for money, resources, mentorship, etc. (be creative).
Program type: Get Started
Summer Experience Grants
The Career Development Center Grants assist undergraduate students in financing unpaid/underpaid summer experiences that are related to their career interests. Grants are given for all types of summer experiences that are career focused, ranging from the corporate world to non-profit; in the U.S. and abroad.
Program type: Get Started
NSF I-Corp at WPI
WPI I-Corp is a several week-long incubator-like program that educates on and provides financial support to teams to complete intensive customer discovery. This aids ventures to define their customer and their needs early in the development process, reducing future pivots which will save the team much time and money.
Program type: Execute
One of the cornerstones of the innovation ecosystem at WPI is the Tech Advisors Network (TAN), essentially a virtual incubator that launched in 2012. The Tech Advisors Network provides advising and networking services to support innovators and entrepreneurs. Advisees: Who are we incubating? Innovators and entrepreneurs who are members of the extended WPI community: alumni, faculty, staff, and students.
Program Type: Execute
The GEIR program is for entrepreneurs and international students who have completed an undergraduate education and qualify for an H1-B Visa*, sponsored by WPI for up to two years. The GEIRs will work for 8 hours per week at the Foisie Innovation Studio while receiving support to grow their ventures through programs like WPI’s Technical Advisors Network (TAN). The expectation is that during the course of the GEIR program, participants will work to ensure they are well positioned to obtain a longer term-visa outside of WPI.
Program Type: Execute
IP Protection through WPI
The Office of Technology Transfer at WPI helps innovators investigate the patentability of an invention. WPI will also cover the cost of the patent. It is important to contact the OTC as early as possible after an invention is made and before it is described outside the group of inventors, as there may be substantial consequences in public disclosure for the legal rights involved.
WPI’s Innovation & Entrepreneurship Center offers space, resources, and inspiration for new discoveries to come alive. The university’s active I&E community runs programs, makes connections, and ensures the vital spirit of innovation remains strong. Read about what we’ve been doing.
Calendar
Coaching at the I&E Center
Are you interested in how the I&E Center can coach you in innovation strategies, best practices, and how to move forward? Get in touch with us to find out.
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Announcements
May 04, 2020
Teacher Preparation Program, Teaching & Professional Development, The STEM Education Center, Social Science & Policy Studies
News
Mitra Anand, makerspace technician, with the face shields the team created.
April 22, 2020
$56.2M
research funding (FY 2020)
4X
national average for research universities' invention disclosures and licenses
(2017)
$7M
funds raised for new ventures
WPI Tech Advisors Network (2017)
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