ENGG 321.20 - Advanced Innovation and Entrepreneurship II

Description

This course is the second in a two-course series (ENGG 321.1 and ENGG 321.2) which serves as the capstone course of the PhD Innovation Programs and provides students with knowledge about the process of commercializing a new technology. In ENGG 321.2 during the spring term, students choose a technology to commercialize, preferably from their own dissertation research efforts. 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

ENGG 321.1

Notes

Students in the PhD Innovation Program normally take the two-term course ENGG 321.1 and 321.2 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. ENGG 321.1 and ENGG 321.2 each carry a full credit, but both terms must be taken for credit to be earned. At the completion of the ENGG 321.1 term, a grade of ON (Ongoing) is assigned. At the completion of the ENGG 321.2 term, a final grade (i.e. HP, P, LP, NC) is assigned. Upon earning a passing grade in ENGG 321.2, the student’s ON grade for ENGG 321.1 is updated to CR (credit). Due to the nature of the course and time commitment expected, students enrolled in ENGG 321.1 are expected to concurrently enroll in full-time research (three credits) or the equivalent combination of course work and research. Students enrolled in ENGG 321.2 are expected to concurrently enroll in two credits of research, or the equivalent combination of course work and research, to balance the additional time commitment of the course in the second term. During one term of the same academic year that the students take ENGG 321, the students may 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.