NSF I-Corps Hub: Research to Impact

University of Memphis hub to offer training to accelerate research innovation and commercialization

The University of Memphis has established a National Science Foundation Innovation Corps (I-Corps) Hub to foster research-driven innovation and commercialization. NSF I-Corps is a prestigious program designed to empower researchers and innovators to transform their discoveries into real-world solutions. The Hub offers lab-to-market training, resources, and mentorship to help faculty researchers translate their research from lab to impact.

The University of Memphis NSF I-Corps Hub supports faculty, students, and researchers in exploring the commercial potential of their research. Whether you are at the idea stage or have an innovation ready for market exploration, this program equips you with the tools to drive innovation forward.

The University of Memphis NSF I-Corps Program provides a 5-week lab-to-market training (1.5-hour training sessions, virtual, 1 evening per week) program that includes:

• Customer discovery - systematic process of engaging with potential end-users to validate the real-world need for your innovation. Through interviews and feedback, participants learn to identify target markets, understand pain points, and refine their product or research to better align with market needs.
• Business model canvas - strategic tool that helps participants map out the key components to commercialize their idea. It includes elements such as value propositions, customer segments, revenue streams, and key resources, providing a clear framework to visualize and refine how their innovation creates, delivers, and captures value.
• Design thinking - problem-solving approach centered on human needs. It encourages participants to empathize with users, define problems, ideate creative solutions, prototype, and test iteratively. This method ensures innovations are practical, user-centered, and tailored to address real-world challenges effectively.

The first I-Corps lab-to-market training begins on Monday, March 17, at 5:30 pm.

If you would like to learn more or apply for this or future training cohorts in the summer or fall, please feel free to contact Chris Ramezanpour at chris.ramezanpour@memphis.edu.