Slide 1
1The NDSU Research & Technology Park serves as a catalyst
for innovation in science and technology leading to discoveries
that contribute to North Dakota's economic development.
Chuck Hoge, Executive Director
John Cosgriff, Incubator Manager
Dave Zupi, Emerging Innovation Manager
Innovation Challenge
A non-credit innovation idea competition for NDSU students.
Objectives are to:Encourage students to be innovative
thinkersEnhance student awareness for innovation as a precursor to
entrepreneurship Empower students to pursue entrepreneurship as a
career choiceExpand student access to resources available for
innovators and entrepreneursEngage the current entrepreneur and
business communities with students
Conducted in collaboration with other campus innovation
activities:New Entrepreneurship emphasis at NDSUInnovation
AllianceUniversity Innovation FellowsVarious competitions
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Innovation Challenge OverviewFour Competition Tracks
Three Rounds of CompetitionInnovation ProposalSemifinal Progress
Review/ShowcaseFinal Oral PresentationPrizes1st - $5,0002nd -
$1,0003rd - $500Peoples Choice - $1,000Total - $27,000Business
Community judges for each track
4ProductsAgricultureServicesSocial Impact
Innovation Challenge Additional ActivitiesBison
Brainstorming
Pitch Night
Speaker SeriesPhil Soran Serial EntrepreneurDr. Roger Firestein
Creative Thinking5
Innovation Challenge Boot Camp TrainingDr. Jeffrey Stamp Bold
Thinking1. The Big Aha! - What Ideas Need To Survive 2. Designing
the Future How to Leverage Your Innovation Vision3. Pitch Like A
Pro How To Get People To Back Your Vision6
Events
Competitions
Training
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TodaySepOctNovDecJanFebMarRecruit Students
Bison Brainstorm
Pitch Night
Boot Camp I
Innovation Proposal
Boot Camp II
Semifinals/ Project Showcase
Final Presentations
Awards Ceremony
Boot Camp III
One-on-One Training
31 days
1 day
1 day
1 day
1 day
1 day
1 day
Innovation Challenge Timeline
Innovation Challenge Examples
Heparin QCA simple quantitative for the presence of Heparin
contaminantsAqua Motion InternationalProvide free water safety and
drowning rescue education in countries where drowning is the 3rd
leading cause for unintended death.Opti-M3DDeveloped a 3D printed,
cell culture apparatus which can help in screening efficacy of
various chemotherapeutic agents on tumor cells derived from
individual cancer patients.ProtostheticsDeveloped a product that
equips amputees with affordable prosthetic devices, allowing them
to efficiently perform their daily activities.
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Innovation Challenge LearningsStudents have incredible ideasVery
difficult to engage todays busy studentsNDSU program may be too
longParticipation may increase if for credit Best to use students
to recruit studentsDifficult to get cross-functional teamsMoney is
not primary motivatorExposure to startup community is very
importantStudents need encouragement to go from idea to market
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