The Innovation & Business Engagement Hub organizes immersive lean launchpad workshops series focused on training UC Santa Cruz teams advancing university innovations or working on translational and use-inspired research projects. These series provide valuable training on identifying pathways for adoption and implementation and finding a scalable business model through the customer discovery process.
Through the Innovation & Business Engagement Hub’s ongoing collaboration with Bay Area I-Corps, those teams with a technology innovation based on discoveries in fundamental science and engineering may be eligible to participate in the National Science Foundation Innovation-Corps Teams program with successful workshop series completion and recommendation from the instructor. This national program provides a 7-week extended team training series and $50,000 of grant funding for customer discovery and validation activities. Teams completing the national program have been shown to be more competitive and successful in securing follow-on innovation funding.
Upcoming Series-Spring/Summer 2024