NSF program partnership enables OSU researchers to market their technology

Wednesday, July 19, 2023

Media Call:
Harrison Hill | Senior Investigate Communications Specialist | 405-744-9081 | [email protected]

Analysis at Oklahoma Point out University may well start out as papers and lab studies, but it
is generally turned into authentic earth, impactful systems.  

On the other hand, scientists simply cannot do that by itself. That is wherever OSU’s Cowboy Systems
and the Countrywide Science Foundation’s Innovation Corp (I-Corps) system appear in.  

“Cowboy Technologies, OSU’s technologies commercialization arm, functions with 30 producing
technologies per yr in the NSF I-Corps program,” explained John Nickel, Cowboy Technologies
assistant director. “Participation in this method generates a pathway for teams to
implement to NSF’s $50,000 Countrywide I-Corps program, giving them with additional prospects
for advancement and aid.” 

The new release of the NSF’s biennial report on the I-Corps program highlights its influence around the a long time — which
OSU college are very pleased to be a part of.

Out of the 2,500 teams that have participated in I-Corps considering the fact that the program’s inception in 2012,
a lot more than 50 % have released startups which have cumulatively lifted $3.16 billion
in subsequent funding.

The key intention of the NSF I-Corps Teams application is to stimulate scientists to take a look at
the business probable of their systems and fully grasp the current market demand from customers. It
will help detect possible clients, evaluate industry requirements and collect useful insights
to tell their know-how improvement and commercialization approaches. 

“At Cowboy Technologies, we take into consideration the I-Corps plan vital for the advancement
of certified systems or startup organizations,” Nickel stated. “We demand participation
for all our producing systems, as confidently identifying a shopper and their
demands at the outset is important to very long-term success.” 

The NSF I-Corps application is an initiative that aims to foster entrepreneurship and
commercialization of revolutionary systems rising from educational analysis. It supplies
funding, schooling and means to aid researchers and their teams bridge the gap
involving their scientific discoveries and profitable commercialization. 

“For over a decade, this immersive, entrepreneurial instruction method has helped countless numbers
of NSF-funded scientists acquire the competencies needed to detect sector chances
for discoveries that emerge from their get the job done,” NSF Director Sethuraman Panchanathan
explained. “Possessing been portion of the I-Corps application myself, I know firsthand how impactful
this can be. I-Corps education empowers the entrepreneurial spirit and helps make it feasible
to transform laboratory effects into new gadgets, products and solutions and providers that can serve
the requires of folks all through the country.” 

Groups that take part in the plan are suitable to acquire up to $3,000 in crew
stipends and reimbursable travel funds to guidance their client discovery things to do.  

OSU researchers intrigued in participating in the I-Corps application can post their
technology’s data here or by getting in touch with Nickel at [email protected] or reserve an appointment.