The IGB strives to connect research and technology with industry to maximize the impact of their science, and foster resources necessary to become a successful innovator and entrepreneur.
IGB Innovation Resources
- Professional Skills for Careers in Biosciences (PSCB)
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IGB's workshop-based certificate program is intended for graduate students and postdocs to develop and enhance their universal job skills.
- Fox Family Innovation and Entrepreneurship Lecture Series
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The Fox family and the IGB have partnered to bring a series of speakers to discuss all aspects of innovation and entrepreneurship, including speakers from the Office of Technology Management and the Technology Entrepreneur Center on campus to external speakers from public and private industry.
These lectures are made possible through a generous gift by Peter and Kim Fox and family to support bioeconomic development.
- Mark Tracy Undergraduate Translational Research Fellowship
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The Mark Tracy Undergraduate Translational Research Fellowship provides undergraduate students from the University of Illinois the opportunity to participate in innovative research with direct applications to the biotech industry.
Campus Resources / Entrepreneurial Opportunities
- Office of Technology Management (OTM)
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OTM assists in the protection and licensing of University intellectual property. They provide numerous resources, including invention reporting forms to support commercialization of your technology, and the Inventor's Handbook, an introduction to the University's intellectual property policies, patenting and commercialization services, intellectual property fundamentals, and the inventor's role.
- Technology Entrepreneur Center (TEC)
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Offers on-campus and online courses and certificate programs.
- Research Park
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A technology hub for corporate research, development operations, and startup companies, including tech incubator EnterpriseWorks. The Research Park Entrepreneur-in-Residence (EIR) program provides free consulting to new startup ventures and prospective technology entrepreneurs.
IGB Early Innovator Program
The Early Innovator Program (EIP) is a 10-week summer program hosted by the IGB, designed to teach participants the skills necessary to become innovative leaders in their fields, and to support IGB scientists in considering creative ways to bring science to society. Trainees will learn from subject matter experts about the process of innovation, protecting and developing discoveries beyond the laboratory, and bringing new technologies and services to the marketplace.
To be considered for the Early Innovator Program (EIP), applicants must be University of Illinois graduate students or postdoctoral researchers doing work related to an IGB theme.
The summer session will culminate in a product pitch competition with up to $10,000 in proof-of-concept funding for the top winners!
The program will include sessions about:
- Market analysis and customer discovery
- Invention disclosures
- Intellectual property
- Regulatory considerations
- Building professional networks
- Personal branding and storytelling
Participants will have opportunities to interact with peers and staff members from other campus entrepreneurship programs.
IGB is working in partnership with iVenture, the Technology Entrepreneur Center (TEC) and Research Park’s Entrepreneur in Residence program to provide a more comprehensive experience for our future entrepreneurs across campus.
Time commitment: The program begins meeting the week of May 13. Participants should expect to meet for one weekly two-hour session for the duration of the 10-week program, plus additional time outside of class to apply the concepts discussed in sessions and prepare their final presentations. The program will conclude at the end of July, final date to be determined.
Learn about our previous cohorts!
Contact
Tracy Parish
Director of External Relations and Strategic Partnerships
tparish@illinois.edu
(217) 265-0880