Idea to Product Regional March 2-3 at Saint Louis Univ: Call for Ideas

Greetings from Saint Louis University:

As previously communicated the Idea to Product (I2P) competition is a unique academic competition that is designed to examine the feasibility of more complex, broad sweeping, high impact or technology innovations in the post ideation, yet pre-business plan phase.  

  

For the past six years universities from Missouri and Illinois have sent up to five student teams to compete in the regional.   New this year is the addition of the 20 KEEN engineering entrepreneurship schools (re: http://www.keennetwork.com/about-keen/) to the competition.  According to SLU's KEEN Fellow Dr. Sridhar Condoor  "We are truly excited to expand I2P to include teams from the KEEN schools as the students learn so much about the commercialization process, receive invaluable feedback from the expert judges and are eligible for thousands of dollars in prize money." 

Once again students submit their entry in a two page format (re:  http://www.slu.edu/Documents/business/eweb/I2PMO-ILCompetitionRules2011-12x.pdf) on or before January 30, 2012 to ecenter@slu.edu.  Semi-finalists are then selected from all the schools' submissions and invited to present to a panel of entrepreneurial experts on Friday afternoon March 2nd.  The finals are on held Saturday morning March 3rd with the winners announced that day around 1PM.  For more information please contact Kevin Schulte at schulteka@slu.edu or 314.484.4860 or go to http://www.slu.edu/x19099.xml or http://www.eweb.slu.edu.

Thank you for your previous interest and we look forward to your students participating this year. 

 

Kevin A. Schulte

Entrepreneur in Residence

SLU Parks School of Engineering

314.484.4860

1 Message from MarketLaunchers: St. Louis manufacturer looking for new products

Dear Inventor --

 

Market Launchers has just contracted with a plastics manufacturer here in St. Louis that is looking to acquire additional consumer products to sell in retail stores. We are looking for products that are "Little, portable affordable items that make your life better." Here are the details:

 

• Products do not have to be retail-ready, because the company is a plastics manufacturer and can manufacture them. It should be pretty far along in the development stage, though.
• The company will take care of the packaging so that each product has the same feel as the rest of their line.
• The company prefers products that are patented or patent-pending, but they might sign an NDA in some cases.
• PRICE POINTS: Product must be able to be manufactured for around $2.50 or less, and it should retail for $10 or less. If you're unsure, just ask me.
• If you are already selling it in retail stores, your website or on TV, that is OK.

The company is a new client of mine, and they have their own product line and are looking to expand it. If you think your product(s) meets the above criteria, then please send an e-mail to me (Paul Niemann) at niemann7@aol.com with either of the following info:

 

1.  Your web site address, and your contact info.

OR

2.  A description, including pictures, and your contact info. If you have a picture of the packaging, please include that, too. 

 

Here's what you will get from me within 48 hours of your product submission, via e-mail:

Either an "I'm going to submit this to my client."

OR 

an "I'm sorry, but it's not what we're looking for."

 

Either way, you will hear back from me within 48 hours. Thanks!

 

Best Regards,
 
Paul Niemann
www.MarketLaunchers.com
Office: 636-477-8000
Cell: 217-653-7058

Innovation Week features variety of activities

The Saluki Times
October 13, 2011
By Christi Mathis

CARBONDALE, Ill. -- Southern Illinois University Carbondale is celebrating Innovation Week with five days of special events highlighting the innovative spirit, technological innovation and entrepreneurship found at the University and throughout the region. The events, set for Oct. 24-28, include workshops, guest speakers, a technology and innovation expo and more.

“Innovation is the cornerstone of American economic progress, and perhaps never more crucial than right now. Regional innovation requires new ideas, research and a culture of entrepreneurship that is supported by the community, the University and a mindset to achieve it. The events during Innovation Week demonstrate our commitment to maximizing our positive economic impacts on the region, and run a wide gamut of efforts from workshops, to descriptions of new inventions, and panel discussions by emerging entrepreneurs. These efforts are sure to contribute to a culture and success for innovation all across Southern Illinois,” said John A. Koropchak, vice chancellor for research and graduate dean.

Read more...

Study details SIUC’s widespread economic impact

The Saluki TimesSeptember 01, 2011
By Tom Woolf 09/01/2011 16:03:56

CARBONDALE, Ill. -- $2.3 billion.

That’s how much Southern Illinois University Carbondale contributes in economic activity annually to the Illinois economy, according to a study released today (Sept. 1) by the University.

Authors of “The Economic Impact of Southern Illinois University Carbondale in the Region and the State of Illinois” are Subhash C. Sharma, professor and chair of the Department of Economics; Aboubacar Diaby, a graduate student in the economics department; and Kyle Harfst, executive director of the Southern Illinois Research Park. The last study of the University’s economic impact was 18 years ago.

“The authors have created a reliable and incredibly valuable resource, and I appreciate the amount of work that went into this study,” Chancellor Rita Cheng said, noting that many people across the Carbondale campus and at the School of Medicine in Springfield provided key data and information. “It documents the significant and lasting contributions that our faculty, staff, students, alumni and retirees make not only in southern and central Illinois, but throughout the state.”

The full report is available at http://www.chancellor.siuc.edu/reports/Economic-Impact.pdf .

The study examines SIUC’s annual, or short-term impact, long-term impact and overall impact on the Illinois economy. It also estimates the annual impact in 23 counties in Southern Illinois and nine counties in central Illinois, for the period July 1, 2009, to June 30, 2010.

Southern Illinois counties included in the study are: Alexander, Edwards, Franklin, Gallatin, Hamilton, Hardin, Jackson, Jefferson, Johnson, Massac, Monroe, Perry, Pope, Pulaski, Randolph, St. Clair, Saline, Union, Wabash, Washington, Wayne, White and Williamson.

Central Illinois counties included in the study are: Adams, Christian, Logan, Macon, Macoupin, Menard, Montgomery, Morgan and Sangamon.

SIUC’s annual, or short-term contributions to the state and regional economies reflect employees’ spending, students’ spending, University purchases and operating expenses, capital/permanent improvement projects, research grants and the impact of visitors to the region.

Among short-term impacts:

• Both directly and indirectly, SIUC supports nearly 24,000 jobs in the state and nearly $1.2 billion in personal income (a component of the state output).

• For every $1 appropriated by the state to SIUC, it generates roughly $7.72 of economic activity annually in Illinois.

• For every $1 appropriated by the state to the University, 41 cents are returned to the state and local governments in annual tax revenues.

Long-term contributions reflect SIUC graduates who work in Illinois and contribute to the state economy for the next 40 years of their work life.

The authors note that a doctoral degree will gain $2.9 million more than a high school degree over a typical 40 years of work life. For professional, master’s and bachelor’s degrees, the incremental gains are $4.3 million, $1.95 million and $1.2 million, respectively.

Long-term impacts include:

• SIUC contributes approximately $8.14 billion in increased expected work life earnings for its graduates each year. Since 50 percent of SIUC graduates remain in Illinois, $4.07 billion is circulated in the state’s economy.

• That $4.07 billion in impact creates an additional $7.4 billion in economic activity in the state, meaning each year’s SIUC graduates create about $11.4 billion in economic activity (in 2010 dollar value) in the long run.

• Each $1 appropriated by the state to the University generates approximately $38.60 of economic activity in the long run in the state.

• Fiscal year 2010 graduates will pay at least $458.8 million in state and local taxes (in 2010 dollar value) in their work life. When compared to the $296.2 million state appropriation to SIUC in fiscal 2010, there is a net gain of $162.6 million to the state.

And, overall impacts include:

• Ultimately (in the long- and short-run), each $1 appropriated by the state to SIUC will return $2 in the form of state and local taxes, and will generate $46 of economic activity in the state.

• Of nearly 210,000 alumni, at least 104,600 live in Illinois, including 44,752 living in southern and central Illinois, and 37,000 living in the 23-county region of Southern Illinois. Also, 2,436 SIUC annuitants live in Illinois. SIUC alumni and annuitants annual contribute $17.4 billion in economic activity in the state, and generate directly and indirectly $1.1 billion in state and local taxes. Their contribution is in addition to the short- and long-term contributions.

In terms of the impact on the economy of southern and central Illinois, SIUC’s activities contribute approximately $1.4 billion, 17,707 jobs (directly and indirectly) and nearly $838 million in personal income to the economy of the 32 counties.

In Southern Illinois, SIUC contributes $859 million of total economic activity, directly and indirectly supports 12,402 jobs and generates approximately $551.5 million in personal income.

During fiscal year 2010, the School of Medicine in Springfield contributed nearly $332 million in total economic activities in a 10-county region. A total of 3,801 jobs (direct, indirect and induced) were created as a result of the School of Medicine, and its activities generated $14.5 million in direct and indirect taxes to the state.

As a research institution, SIUC attracts significant external funding. During the last five years (fiscal years 2006-2010), the University generated $357.5 million in research grants. In terms of 2010 dollars, the report reveals that the research grants generated $1.12 billion in the 32 counties of central and Southern Illinois, and directly and indirectly supported 8,550 jobs and $548 million in personal income. In addition, over the five-year period, these grant activities also generated $41.7 million in direct and indirect state and local taxes.

The authors also point out that SIUC provides extensive community service to the region and the state in the areas of economic development, health and social services, culture and volunteerism. In fiscal 2010, SIUC’s Office of Economic and Regional Development assisted 51 businesses in Southern Illinois start and expand; in terms of volunteer contributions, more than 3,600 students provided 50,965 hours of service to not-for-profit agencies.

Additionally, the School of Medicine (SOM) provides a significant amount of community service through specialty and primary care at 100 outreach sites in nearly 50 communities. The school also offers public education programs at various locations concerning a variety of illnesses and injuries.

The report states that “the most important impact of SIUC, which cannot be quantified, is the effect on the community through social and voluntary services provided by SIUC and SOM employees and students, and the SIUC graduates overall being responsible citizens.”

SIU Carbondale spin-out company receives $4.6 million venture capital investment

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
CONTACT: Jeff Myers, jmyers@siu.edu, (618) 453-4511

Carbondale, Illinois, August 23, 2011 – Enki Technology, Inc., a Southern Illinois University Carbondale (SIUC)-based start-up company developing advanced materials to substantially improve the light absorption capabilities and performance of solar panels, recently announced the closing of a substantial round of venture capital funding totaling $4.6 million.

This round of financing includes investors Applied Ventures, LLC, the venture capital arm of Applied Materials, Inc., and Rockport Capital Partners. Applied Materials is based in Silicon Valley, CA, and is the leading manufacturer of equipment for the semiconductor, solar and display industries worldwide. RockPort Capital Partners is a leading cleantech investor with offices in Boston and Silicon Valley.

Enki Technology was incorporated in March 2009 and houses its research and development operations at the Dunn-Richmond Business Development Center in Carbondale, Illinois. Dr. Bakul Dave, professor in SIUC's Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, is a co-founder and Enki's Chief Technology Officer. Enki Technology's business will expand on inventions that Dr. Dave developed and patented at SIUC.

Brenor Brophy, Enki co-founder and CEO, said, "We're grateful for the support of the university and our investors and look forward to bringing this great technology to market." Enki is active in its commercialization efforts, working closely with industry partners and customers to fine tune its products.

Southern Illinois University Carbondale fosters technology-based innovation and business development through the efforts of the Technology Transfer Program and the Southern Illinois Research Park. In the past year alone, this partnership assisted in the creation of three new SIU research-based businesses securing several million dollars in funding.

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$40,000 contest open to student entrepreneurs

Source: The Saluki Times

June 8, 2011
By Christi Mathis 06/08/2011 14:01:58


CARBONDALE, Ill. -- Southern Illinois University Carbondale is launching its first student entrepreneurship competition, offering winners a share of $40,000 in cash to help them start businesses in Southern Illinois.

Collegiate CampCEO 2011-Saluki Operation Bootstrap is a unique event bringing together the inaugural entrepreneurship contest with a new college incarnation of the popular CampCEO and the Operation Bootstrap entrepreneurship experience. This unique experience offers University students the opportunity to brainstorm, innovate, study and plan real-world businesses and present their proposals for business experts to judge. Then, through the infusion of seed capital and technical support, the program empowers students to launch their business ventures in Southern Illinois.

“This is a great opportunity for our students to jump-start successful careers in business,” Chancellor Rita Cheng said. “When you combine their talents and creativity with the mentoring provided by our professional staff and local entrepreneurs, the outcome can only be positive for our students and our region’s economy.”

The eligibility criteria to participate in Collegiate Camp CEO 2011-Saluki Operation Bootstrap are simple. You must be an SIUC student, enrolled for the fall 2011 semester. You must be a U.S. citizen and must plan to start and operate a business in one of the 16 Delta Region counties of Southern Illinois. And, you must be available to participate in the entrepreneurship training and graduation/awards ceremony, set for Aug. 15-19 and Aug. 23, respectively.

Essentially, the program works like this. The application period opens June 13 and students can apply to participate until 5 p.m. on July 22 by submitting an application online at www.surveymonkey.com/s/salukibootstrap2011. For more information, call 618/453-3805 or email startbiz@siu.edu. Plans call for selection of up to 25 participants and selection and notification of successful applicants will occur no later than Aug. 5.

Then, the professional staff of the SIUC Entrepreneurship and Business Development Unit will lead participants in a weeklong entrepreneurship training Aug. 15-19 on the SIUC campus. Each morning from 9 a.m. to noon there will be training with a specialized curriculum. Then, following the lunch break, there will be intense coaching sessions from 1 to 4 p.m., bringing together the students with the entrepreneurship staff and regional business mentors.

Camp participants will show what they’ve learned on Aug. 19. That afternoon they will make “pitch” presentations highlighting their business proposals for a group of entrepreneurs from the region. A graduation and awards ceremony for program participants will wrap things up on Aug. 23 from 5 to 7 p.m. That evening, $40,000 in cash awards and nearly $5,000 in professional consulting services are at stake.

The first-place winner will claim a $7,500 cash award to leverage in securing additional start-up monies. The overall winner will also receive $2,500 in software, books and professional consulting services, bringing the value of their grand prize to $10,000.

Second place nets a $5,000 cash prize along with $1,500 in software, books and professional consulting. In addition, nine program graduates will each win $3,000. All student entrepreneurs who successfully complete the program will receive certificates along with a package of business planning software and entrepreneurship books valued at more than $100.

That’s not all, though. The entrepreneurship and business development staff at SIUC is offering continuing services to program graduates, including free consulting, evaluation, networking opportunities, and professional development assistance throughout the launch and operation of their business ventures.

“SIUC is joining the ranks of prestigious universities by hosting an entrepreneurship contest for students and we can actually award them seed capital funds to start their business or to leverage into a more substantial loan or investment capital. We are working to help stop the ‘brain drain’ and keep young, bright, talented graduates right here in Southern Illinois so they can have a positive impact on our regional economy,” said Emily Carter, director of entrepreneurship and business development for SIUC.

This new program adapts for SIUC students two popular and successful programs. In the past decade CampCEO has drawn scores of youths from a wide region for its intensive, nationally recognized youth entrepreneurship experience and this new program for SIUC students incorporates business development, training, financial advice, marketing concepts and other components of the program.

Collegiate CampCEO 2011-Saluki Operation Bootstrap also brings in the principles of the successful Operation Bootstrap, an entrepreneurship partnership between SIUC and the Delta Regional Authority. The Delta region includes Alexander, Pulaski, Massac, Pope, Johnson, Hardin, Union, Jackson, Williamson, Randolph, Perry, Franklin, Hamilton, White, Gallatin and Saline counties.

“Starting a business and earning a degree wasn’t easy. I used every bit of advice I could get, including all of the help available at the Small Business Development Center. A student entrepreneurship training program would have been invaluable at the time when I went through all the steps necessary to launch my company. Saluki Operation Bootstrap greatly enhances a college education, especially if you possess the entrepreneurial spirit,” said Ben Weinberger, SIUC alumnus and CEO of Digitalsmiths, a multi-million dollar digital media business that began in Weinberger’s college residence hall room with help from other Salukis.

The Delta Regional Authority, through grants, is funding Collegiate CampCEO 2011-Saluki Operation Bootstrap in keeping with the organization’s mission of enhancing economic development and improving the quality of life for Southern Illinoisans.

For additional information, contact SIUC Entrepreneurship and Business Development by calling 618/453-3805 or send an email to startbiz@siu.edu.

Saluki Concept Fund will benefit researchers

Saluki Times
March 16, 2011
By Tim Crosby

CARBONDALE, Ill. -- Making the leap from the drawing board to the marketplace is sometimes the toughest hurdle for new technologies. A new program at Southern Illinois University Carbondale aims to help researchers meet that challenge.

The Saluki Concept Fund will provide up to $20,000 to SIUC researchers to help them nurture new technologies through the sometimes-difficult early stages. The funding will support short-term, concept-proving research that reveals the invention’s potential, helping clear the way for commercialization.

The Saluki Concept Fund is a cooperative effort between the SIUC Office of the Vice Chancellor for Research and the University’s Technology Transfer Program. John A. Koropchak, vice chancellor for research and dean of the SIUC graduate school, said the fund will help the University carry out its missions as a research institution, as well as support the economy.

“Research universities are often called economic engines, in part because some of the research done by the faculty and students can result in new businesses and jobs based on the innovations of that research,” Koropchak said. “However, the process of converting an innovation to a business is almost always resource-limited, making this transition very challenging and often frustrating.”

Koropchak said such an approach has succeeded at other institutions and that he believes it will yield results at SIUC, as well.

“This proof-of-concept program, that has been shown to work at prominent institutions nationwide, is intended to assist this difficult stage and increase the probability that a successful business results,” he said.

SIUC faculty and staff are eligible for the funding, which can last up to one year. To apply, inventors must be listed as an inventor on the associated invention disclosure. A review committee headed by the associate vice chancellor for research and with representatives from the Office of the Vice Chancellor for Research, the Office of Economic and Regional Development and the Technology Transfer Program will make recommendations for awards based on scientific and business factors. Final decisions are made by the vice chancellor for research.

Grant-seekers can submit applications anytime during the year.

The funding will bridge the area left by a dearth of government funding, which usually does not cover early, “concept-proving” work on new inventions. But funding new technologies at that point can often make a critical difference in their ultimate development, said Jeff Myers, senior technology transfer specialist at SIUC.

“It can be common that technologies need an incremental step to become licensed or commercialized, but can’t get funding from traditional funding sources -- the National Science Foundation or the National Institutes for Health or agencies like that,” Myers said. “Programs like these fill that gap, and they’re growing in popularity.”

For more information, visit http://www.techtransfer.siuc.edu/poc/ or call or contact Myers at jmyers@siu.edu or by calling618-453-4511.