Entrepreneurship

Why is EPSCoR concerned with entrepreneurship ?

The EPSCoR program encourages an entrepreneurial spirit in the research community through initiatives designed to assists researchers in commercialization of ideas, innovations, and products born out of their research.  By fostering entrepreneurship within the scientific research community the EPSCoR program aligns with the State’s EDGE action plan, Economic Development Generating Excellence (EDGE) , which promotes activities that provide lasting sustainable effects on Oklahoma ’s economy.  This plan was developed through the leadership of Governor Brad Henry with assistance from Chancellor of Higher Education Paul Risser and literally hundreds of Oklahomans from universities, government agencies, and business and industry from the private sector.  

EPSCoR initiatives focused on entrepreneurship


How can I find out more about Entrepreneurship programs ?

For more information, please contact, Ms. Shelley D. Wear, Outreach Coordinator at 405.225.9287 or swear@osrhe.edu

                             

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Entrepreneurial Workshops

What is the purpose of Entrepreneurial Workshops?
EPSCoR is teaming up with the i2E organization (“innovation to enterprise”), an entity of OCAST, to sponsor an interactive workshop designed to assist Oklahoma ’s entrepreneurial-minded college students by addressing topics in the workshop ranging from business plans to venture capital financing.  

What will students learn from the workshop?
Successful Oklahoma entrepreneurs will interact with students and share their insights and experiences from their own journey through the entrepreneurial process.  Participants will learn the nature of the entrepreneurial business process, along with cost concepts, capital alternatives, and how to recognize and overcome the challenges involved.  Students will also learn how to develop and implement individual business plans and to safeguard an innovation, invention or product through discussion of intellectual property, patents, trademarks, copyrights, trade secrets and more.  

Who can participate?
Junior and senior level undergraduates and graduate level college students are invited to participate in this hands-on, interactive workshop.  Cost of the workshop is free to registered students.  Students can also apply for travel funds to cover travel associated with attendance.  

How can I find out more?
Interested students can contact Ms. Shelley D. Wear, Outreach Coordinator at swear@osrhe.edu or call 405.225.9287 or visit http://okepscor.org/events.asp  or i2E.org for the latest information.  

 

Biolife Science symposium  

What is the purpose of the Symposium?
EPSCoR is a proud co-sponsor of the BioLife Science Symposium, which is focused on Oklahoma's bio industry sector.  BioLife is designed to promote the achievements of Oklahoma researchers and emerging life science companies, as well as featuring experts to address relevant issues that will enhance the Bio/life science commercialization process. 

Who can participate?

Anyone interested in the Bio/life science commercialization process, including researchers and scientists, industry experts, investors, and business and community leaders.  

How can I find out more?

To find out more, please visit the i2E website at www.i2E.org or contact Sarah Seagraves at sseagraves@i2E.org or 405.235.2305 .

 

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Industry Internships

Why provide industry internships?
Industry internships are offered to encourage undergraduate students to prepare for careers in scientific and technical fields including areas that support high-tech companies in Oklahoma . 
This program improves the State’s R&D base by placement of undergraduate student interns in Oklahoma R&D facilities.
 

How many industry internships does EPSCoR sponsor?
In partnership with OCAST, EPSCoR provides support for two students each year to engage research internships in industrial settings. OCAST assists the EPSCoR program by matching students to industrial partners desiring student interns.
 

How can I find out more?
For more information contact Dr. James Wicksted, EPSCoR’s Associate Director at 405.744.5807 or
james.wicksted@okstate.edu.

Business Plan Competitions for Graduate & Undergraduate Students

History of the Business Plan Competition
With a vision for promoting a culture of entrepreneurship and with underwriting support from the Donald W. Reynolds Foundation,Oklahoma academic, business, government and technology leaders in collaboration with their counterparts in Arkansas and Nevada conceived the Donald W. Reynolds Governor's Cup. These leaders had a vision for first-class competitions in each state to communicate a message to students that innovations leading to thriving home grown businesses are valued and will be recognized.

i2E, Inc., a private not-for-profit corporation manages the competition in association with EPSCoR,  the Oklahoma State Chamber of Commerce, the Oklahoma Department of Commerce, the Oklahoma State Regents  for Higher Education, the Oklahoma Center for the Advancement of Science and Technology and Presbyterian Health Foundation.

What is the Business Plan Competition?
The Governor's Cup Business Plan Competition is designed to encourage the development and commercialization of ideas and technologies being discovered in our universities. Multi-disciplinary teams that combine members from technical disciplines with members from the Colleges of Business in Oklahoma universities are encouraged. Multi-disciplinary teams bring together the pieces necessary for bridging the gap between technology and the marketplace. With $20,000, $10,000, $5,000 going to the first, second and third place winners respectively in the graduate and undergraduate competition, this prize pool is higher than most national level awards.  In addition, the competition offers cash awards to the semi-finalist and finalist teams and their faculty advisors.  Unique to the Oklahoma competition is the Isocentric Computer Technology Award valued at $15,000.

 

How does this relate to STEM research?
The Business Plan Competition for Undergraduate and Graduate Students promotes the commercialization of innovations, ideas, and products being researched in Oklahoma 's colleges and universities.

 

How does the competition work? 

The competition is open to all faculty-sponsored, full-time and part-time undergraduate and graduate students enrolled at any of Oklahoma’s universities or colleges.  Students can be from different universities, but must be sponsored by a Faculty Advisor from a degreed college.  Teams comprised of at least one student enrolled in the graduate school should compete in the graduate competition (even if undergraduates are members of the team). 

The business plan must be for a seed, start-up or early stage venture and must address the entire business concept (including implementation).  At least one team member must have a key role in the company's management team. Proposals for the buy-out or expansion of an existing company, tax-shelter opportunities, franchise, real estate syndications, and other consulting projects and analyses are not eligible.

·         Phase I:  Submission of a complete written business plan including financial projections and management profile and are reviewed by prominent attorney's, CPAs, consultants, executives, and entrepreneurs critique and score the business plans who select the best twelve as semifinalist to go on to Phase II.

·         Phase II:  Semifinalist participate in an oral competition

 

How do I find out more about the Business Plan Competition for Undergraduate and Graduate Students?
For more information please visit www.okgovernorscup.org. 

 

 

i2E Commercialization Vouchers to Faculty Researchers

What are i2E commercialization vouchers?
Researchers at Oklahoma research institutions can obtain services from i2E (“innovation to enterprise”), a nonprofit corporation that manages the Oklahoma Technology Commercialization Center .  The i2E commercialization vouchers are denominated at $1000 and cover i2E’s standard client engagement fee for the production of an overview report “Quick View” to assess the technology, market, competition and business model aspects following i2E’s proprietary Commercialization Model.  

Who is eligible to receive i2E commercialization vouchers?
Researchers and principal investigators can obtain a voucher, which can be used to acquire i2E commercialization services, from the participating institution’s technology transfer office.


What services are provided by i2E and the commercialization vouchers?
Support services provided by the i2E organization can assist researchers through the process involved in determining the prospective path toward either licensing or venture opportunity and may include:

When appropriate, researchers may have opportunities to present their plans to venture capital
investors for their reaction and input.  Additionally, researchers and university representatives are provided instructions and applications for funding competitions such as the OCAST Technology Business Finance Program (TBFP).
 

How can I find out more?
For more information contact your university technology transfer office to find out if your institution participates in this program or send inquiries to Dr. Frank Waxman, EPSCoR Director at fwaxman@osrhe.edu.

 

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