How does the Office for Technology Transfer and Commercialization help you transform your technology ideas into reality? The process begins with a meeting to discuss your ideas and learn about your needs. We get to know you and ask various questions in order to determine the potential of your ideas; what work has already been completed and what goals need to be achieved next to assure your success. Topics reviewed include:

Compelling business concepts

Is your technology a compelling solution that meets unmet needs in the market?

• Starting a business can be an exciting venture offering many rewards. However, you must be prepared and you must understand the basics. 
• Free Business Plan samples
• The State of Michigan has resources, including a Guide to Starting and Operating a Small Business 

Market potential

What is its revenue potential? how much market share is possible?

• To conduct marketing research you must gather facts and opinions in an orderly, objective way to find out what people want to buy.
• Marketing is what makes your business grow

Competition

Do you have any competition in the marketplace? Do you stand to take a leadership position once your technology is brought to market?

Business takes place in a highly competitive, volatile environment, so it is important to understand the competition.

Technology advantage 

Does your technology present a formidable advantage for your potential customers? What are the barriers for future competitors to enter the same market space as your technology?

Capable management team

 Do you or your team possess the management and technical skills to bring the technology to market successfully and sustain growth into the future? Learn more about top 5 traits needed for a start-up management team.

Maturity of the technology 

Is your technology in the early or late stages of development?

High growth potential 

Does your technology concept have the potential of an Initial Public Offering (IPO) within three to five years?  What are other viable exit strategies for your company?

I-Corps

The NSF Innovation Corps (I-Corps) is a set of activities and programs that prepares scientists and engineers to extend their focus beyond the laboratory and broadens the impact of select, NSF-funded, basic-research projects.

Combining experience and guidance from established entrepreneurs with a targeted curriculum, I-Corps is a public-private partnership program that teaches grantees to identify valuable product opportunities that can emerge from academic research, and offers entrepreneurship training to student participants.

Great Lakes Regional I-Corp Hubs

NSF Great Lakes Regional I-Corp hubs offer immersive education in STEM and medical/healthcare fields teaching researchers how to successfully transfer knowledge into products and processes. The programs empower teams of scientists, engineers, and researchers to understand the potential value of their technology and inventions, by teaching them how to assess the market opportunity for new technology and commercial potential: 

• Is there a clear problem/need for the technology?
• Who are the customers?
• What are the customer pain points?
• Is the solution better than the competition?
• Is there commercial potential?

Alliance partners in the Hub offer in person and virtual training and events throughout the year.  Additional program and application details for teams can be found here: https://www.greatlakesicorps.org/coming-events/

For more details on the program, please contact Technology Commercialization at 313-577-5655.