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Press Release: International Technology Competition to Bring Idea Generators to UT-Austin

Oct 24 , 2005

Contact:
Jennifer Parks, Program Coordinator
phone: (512) 471-7501
email: info@ideatoproduct.org
website: www.ideatoproduct.org

Saturday November 5
Semifinals: 9:30-noon, Thompson Conference Center.
Ted Roden Finals: 2:00-5:00. Bass Lecture Hall in Sid Richardson Hall.
Free and Open to the public.

AUSTIN, TX--Student teams from leading universities on three continents will compete in the Idea to Product® International Competition at The University of Texas at Austin November 5. The teams will present their commercialization plans for early-stage technologies, with a focus on unique product ideas with clear market demand. Among the technologies to be presented are a solar water treatment system, a rapidly-deployable hardened shelter, a non-invasive colon cancer detection system, and a human-powered battery charger.

This is an exciting opportunity to learn about cutting edge university-developed technologies from around the world. The third year for the competition, past entries have stepped up university patenting efforts, led university technologies to be licensed, and even spawned new companies. “Students and faculty alike have been impressed with the ability of the program to promote technology innovation, creativity, and leadership in an environment that encourages entrepreneurial abilities,” said Dr. Steven Nichols, who, with John Doggett, co-directs the event.

“New products are being developed all over the planet, but if you want to find out what they are doing, in most cases, you must go door-to-door and talk to people,” said Doggett. “But we’re changing that. Today, I2P has become the best way to learn about exciting new technologies from university laboratories from every part of the world.”

Jennifer Parks, I2P’s program coordinator, added, "You can think of I2P as a pre-business plan competition--a place to prove out possible markets or applications for new technologies before taking them to the next step."

Competition judges—including prominent faculty, business professionals, entrepreneurs, attorneys, and venture capitalists—look for entries that are unique and innovative, feasible to implement, address an identified market need, and have an underlying technology component. The program encourages interdisciplinary collaboration, and the participants include engineering, science, business, and law students.

The teams will compete for a total of $25,000 in cash prizes and a spot in the MootCorp® Competition, a world-renowned business plan competition hosted by the McCombs School of Business.

The competition is hosted by the Murchison Chair of Free Enterprise of the College of Engineering in cooperation with the McCombs School of Business and the student Technology Entrepreneurship Society.  Program grantors include the National Collegiate Inventors and Innovators Alliance, The Herb Kelleher Center for Entrepreneurship, and the Ted Roden Endowment.

Chair of Free Enterprise
The Clint Murchison Chair of Free Enterprise, an endowed chair in the College of Engineering, was established to create and nurture a culture of technology innovation, creativity, leadership, and entrepreneurship at The University of Texas and throughout the global community.

Technology Entrepreneurship Society (TES)
TES is a forum for students interested in technology-focused entrepreneurship. TES has a membership of about 500 students, including students from the Colleges of Engineering, Natural Sciences, Law, Business, Liberal Arts, and Education.

Location
The Thompson Conference Center is located at the southwest corner of Dean Keeton (26th Street) and Red River on The University of Texas campus. The Bass Lecture Hall is entered via Sid Richardson Hall, across the plaza from the Thompson Conference Center. Free parking is available for attendees. For maps of the area and parking details, see www.utexas.edu/cee/tcc/map.shtml.

 

 

 

Hosts	Partners and Sponsors
	Selig Fund in Entrepreneurial Studies Roden Center of Entrepreneurship