Description

ENGG 321 is the capstone course of the PhD Innovation Programs and provides students with knowledge about the process of commercializing a new technology. During the winter term, students meet on a weekly basis to discuss a variety of reading assignments in innovation and enterprise building. During the spring term, students choose a technology to commercialize, preferably from their own dissertation research efforts. During that term students develop a full enterprise plan for commercialization of the technology, including IP issues and strategy, applications, market forecasting and strategy, product development plans, a full multi-year monthly financial cost plan for all aspects of the enterprise, and a resource plan including personnel and funding. Students meet weekly and make installment presentations to their classmates and instructor for discussion and modification. Ad hoc discussion of related issues to running an enterprise, such as team building and personnel, infrastructure, funding options, whole product, and the “chasm” between invention and product, also takes place. The spring term is an intensive experience and students should reserve sufficient time for the course activity. At the end of the spring term students will present their enterprise plan to a review panel of internal and external seasoned entrepreneurs and an audience of IP Fellows for feedback and discussion.

Prerequisites

ENGM 180; ENGM 187; ENGM 188

Notes

Students in the PhD Innovation Program normally take this course during the fourth year of their PhD program when their research is sufficiently advanced to have identified a new technology for possible commercialization. The course is open to any PhD student who has completed the prerequisite courses. Because of the reduced frequency of meeting, credit is given for only one course, one-half for the winter term and one-half for the spring term, but you only enroll in the course in the winter term. During one term of the same academic year that the students take ENGG 321, the students act as faculty assistants for ENGS 21 or ENGS 89/90 to gain experience in guiding and/or evaluating teams of students engaged in projects.