University of Michigan Flint
University of Michigan – Flint
303 E. Kearsley Street • 810-762-3300
Technology Transfer
Office of Research
http://www.umflint.edu/research/
The U-M Flint’s Office of Research assists in any way that will aid UM-Flint faculty, students, and staff meet their research goals. The office acts as both an advocate and a facilitator of research and creative activities on campus. For faculty and staff, this means anything related to moving research along which includes: managing your internal and external sponsored grants to ensure that funds are spent according to federal and university compliance requirements, ensuring your projects are ran efficiently, and that sound financial management principles are provided to guide all spending. For students it means finding opportunities to engage in research and/or acquire research skills. The majority of the office’s activities are not related to technology transfer but rather more traditional research support, including locate funding opportunities, assist with proposal preparation, secure institutional approvals, design systems to streamline the paperwork process, communicate news of UM-Flint research, and assist with the oversight of projected budgets
Three unique opportunities for students include:
- Undergraduate Research Opportunity Program. The Undergraduate Research Opportunity Program (UROP) creates research partnerships between University of Michigan faculty and students. UROP encourages and facilitates research and creative activities by undergraduates representing all academic disciplines. These experiences provide students with the necessary skills to succeed throughout their academic careers while assisting faculty with their research.
- Michigan Undergraduate Research Forum. The Michigan Undergraduate Research Forum (MURF) is an undergraduate research conference sponsored jointly by the three campuses of the University of Michigan, Michigan State University, and Wayne State University. The forum is designed to allow students the opportunity to display poster presentations of their research in the rotunda of the State Capitol Building.
- Meeting of Minds Undergraduate Research Conference. The annual Meeting of Minds Undergraduate Conference provides a forum for the publication and dissemination of undergraduate student research. A shared responsibility between the University of Michigan - Flint, Oakland University, and the University of Michigan - Dearborn.
Incubators
LAUNCH
http://www.umflint.edu/launch/
Student Business Hatchery: The University is a source of tremendous academic resources. Entrepreneurship is one key way for this to translate into intellectual property that can reach the market. The process of operating a hatchery brings together students, faculty, staff, alumni and community leaders to leverage ideas and connections. This effort will not directly compete with more traditional off-campus incubators because university initiatives are rarely traditional manufacturing, established retail or service businesses. Some proposed student hatchery businesses include a bike rental and repair shop, a storefront and online used and local CD store, and a Flint-themed clothing and merchandise brand. Mentoring is provided by faculty and successful local alumni. Networking takes place with other students, investors, and industry reps.
The Launch hatchery provides support in the following areas:
- Legal: trademarks, contracts, incorporation
- Marketing: packaging, web sites, public relations
- Facility: space and infrastructure needed to support the eCells
- Finance: connections to venture capital and angel investors
University-Industry Commercialization Programs
None housed on UM-Flint campus at this time. Services provided from Ann Arbor office.
Entrepreneurship Education related to Economic Development
Internships
Marketing Assistance Program. The program ties School of Management (SOM) students with businesses on semester-long group projects that help to solve marketing issues and develop strategies for success. Students are involved in a challenging project that can teach them more about their career field than typical classroom work. Businesses receive answers to complicated questions they have about marketing their company. Together, they work to better the community that they live, attend school, and work in. SOM also is starting a Center for Entrepreneurial Leadership and a Mass Mutual Family Business Center.
Economic Development/Outreach
Center for Entrepreneurial Leadership
Starting in September 2008, the University of Michigan-Flint’s Center for Entrepreneurial Leadership will offer a ten-month opportunity to organizational leaders and business owners to help them face challenges, create and exploit business opportunities, while facilitating the development of valuable networking relationships in the Mid and Southeast Michigan business community. The Leadership Program provides CEL candidates with the tools and resources to assess their firm’s internal weaknesses and strengths, while focusing on developing effective methods to promote business growth.
Family Business Center
Starting in September 2008, The Family Business Center of Detroit-Flint will provide an academic setting for family businesses to have seminars exploring a multitude of issues that concern this dramatic segment of our regional economy. Topics such as succession planning, tax planning, and operational issues will be featured. The center will develop a library, affinity groups, and a newsletter. Seminars will take place in Troy and surrounding areas.