New business ideas ranging from a networked educational system to potential commercial applications of nanoscale materials helped kick off the first public event of the new Rice Alliance for Technology and Entrepreneurship. Called an Innovation Concept Forum, the Jan. 22 session offered an opportunity for members of the Rice community to get advice on their technology-based business ideas. Steve Currall, director of the Rice Alliance for Technology and Entrepreneurship and associate professor of management and psychology, introduced the program, in which the George R. Brown School of Engineering, the Wiess School of Natural Sciences and the Jesse H. Jones Graduate School of Management have teamed up in an initiative to provide a network and resources for the development of start-up technology businesses arising from innovations by members of the Rice community. Research has shown that universities really have to take a leading role in these kinds of activities.
Universities have to step up and provide the infrastructure.
A panel of entrepreneurs responded to the five business ideas and facilitated questions from the audience. Currall and Watkins co-founded the Rice Alliance. Following the question and answer period attendees broke into five groups to focus more closely on developing each of the five ideas. Future public innovation concept forums are scheduled for Feb. 19 and April 1, and a Business Plan Forum, at which nearly completed business plans will be presented to potential investors, is scheduled for May 6. The content of the forum presentations is kept confidential to protect the presenters' ideas.