The program has helped me to understand the process of defining opportunities from my ideas and developing strategies to pursue them. This knowledge, together with the chance to learn from technology entrepreneurs and work with “real world” faculty helped me gain the confidence to start my own business.
Chalance Williams, ITTN Fellow, 2006
As a scientist, the thing I value most is that the entrepreneurship program challenged me to think outside of the box and helped me gain the knowledge and skills to become a successful entrepreneur. I have truly been changed by the program!
Danunetta Jones, ITTN Fellow, 2006
Scientific knowledge is widely used to identify and develop promising technologies but commercializing new technologies and building sustainable businesses requires a different approach and skill set. Developed in collaboration with the US Army Research Laboratory (ARL), our Integrated Technology Transfer Network (ITTN) provides top minority science students from across the nation with an advanced graduate study and mentoring program that helps them learn how to move from “mind to market” and prepares them to become technology innovators and entrepreneurial leaders of the future.
Merging existing science expertise with innovative entrepreneurial approaches, the ITTN is an intensive year long program offered to a select group of 15 students each year. Throughout the school year and during a special summer residency at the ARL, students work on cutting edge technology transfer and commercialization projects, interact with practicing entrepreneurs and research mentors, and participate in challenging seminar coursework on technology entrepreneurship. Students completing the program earn course credit toward an MBA in Entrepreneurship and are awarded a graduate Certificate in Technology Entrepreneurship. More importantly, students discover their entrepreneurial potential and are transformed into “entrepreneurial scientists” positioned to take their new skills and knowledge and turn promising research and technologies into successful new ventures.