Page 25 - UD Research Magazine Vol5-No2

spin in
spins out innovation
door, occupy the radar screens of students with expertise in engineering, science, marketing, graphic design, public policy and communication, and go through weeks of analysis, brainstorming, debate, reality checks, engineering options, test- ing, market checks, revisions, field tests, refinements, adjustments, calibrations— whatever these idea-collider-accelerator teams find necessary.
At the end of the conveyor belt, under- graduate students come away with a far greater understanding of business demands and the experience of collaborating on work that matters. The entrepreneurs may come away with an upgraded product, a new process, a fresh marketing approach— maybe even new employees.
“Students begin to understand what it means to be an entrepreneur,” said David Weir, director of OEIP. “Some say, ‘That’s what I want to be.’ Others see it,
understand it, but say ‘I want to be part of a big company.’”
The Spin In program was built with undergraduate students in mind—a way to expand their expertise and insight at a critical point in their careers and give them a competitive advantage. The obvious benefit to business owners was an added value that now is increasing the demand for more partnerships.
“We came out with bonus points,” said Cyndi McLaughlin, assistant director. “We came out with entrepreneurs who are really excited. So we were able to meet two needs, not just one.”
In just two years’ time, 100 students from 11 departments in five of the Uni- versity’s seven colleges have participated in Spin In, which draws support from the National Science Foundation’s Experi- mental Program to Stimulate Competitive Research (EPSCoR).
by Beth Miller
UD’s Spin In program
gives students a chance to apply what they’re learning in real-life business challenges, helping entrepreneurs solve problems or develop new products. One of the most suc- cessful projects to date is the “mTrigger,” a biofeedback de- vice expected to go to market by early 2016. The team, seen in its office at the Delaware Technology Park, developed, tested and continues to refine the device.
KATHY F. ATKINSON
Fourteen projects have spun into this fascinating machine so far. Ten are com- plete, four are ongoing or on the drawing board, and six students have been gobbled up for employment—including one who soon may be the CEO of a startup.
The biggest challenge now for OEIP is how to scale this recipe to meet an increas- ing demand without smothering its unique innovative spice.
“You have to pick the right project and the right entrepreneur,” said Weir. “It’s
an educational experience with a strong entrepreneurial flavor—and we don’t want to lose that.”
OEIP soon will gain a bit more room to expand the work and its reach as resources become available. The program will have space in the incubator section of the University’s new STAR Campus next year. Teams will have about 500 square feet to spread out their 3-D printers and
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