Unleashing innovation: UC's Lab2Market program empowers STEM entrepreneurship
Bridging the gap between science and market impact
The University of Cincinnati is spearheading a new initiative by launching its Lab2Market program, empowering the next generation of STEM researchers into the realm of entrepreneurship.
Recognizing the importance of commercialization in translating scientific and technological research into tangible societal and environmental benefits, UC is taking a bold step in nurturing a culture of innovation and market-driven thinking.
Lab2Market unveiled: A two-pronged approach
- To introduce graduate STEM students to the intricacies of entrepreneurship and the technology commercialization process.
- To equip students with the skills to envision market applications for their research, enhancing their prospects in the industry job market.
Candace Wade, program coordinator for UC’s Center for Entrepreneurship, sees this program as a catalyst for further propelling STEM research to produce positive societal impact.
“Lab2Market introduces STEM students to opportunities beyond the technical training they're used to. The program helps students think about the market applications of their research and how they can drive impact beyond the lab,” Wade said.
“Our job is to show them how to make that leap.”
Phase I: Lab2Market Symposium
Photo/Andrew Higley/UC Creative + Brand
The Lab2Market journey kicks off with an annual symposium, a cornerstone event designed to immerse graduate-level UC STEM students in the intricacies of entrepreneurship and the technology commercialization process.
During the immersive workshop, students will have the unique opportunity to learn from UC faculty members who are also founders, gaining insights into entrepreneurial resources and receive valuable feedback on their research from local entrepreneurs and investors. The event is free for UC graduate students focusing on STEM research, with selected participants eligible for a $100 scholarship credit.
Regardless of location, applicants can partake in virtual components, while in-person attendees engage in a pre-event workshop, preparing them to articulate their research within the market landscape.
Phase II: Customer Discovery Fellowship
UC biomedical engineering professor Jason Heikenfeld, speaks with mechanical engineering student Brian Castillo. Photo/Suzanne Buzek
This intensive program is specifically designed to guide students through the intricacies of conducting customer discovery research, a crucial step in understanding the market applications of their work.
Operating on a weekly schedule over a 14-week semester, participants engage in a cohort environment learning the ropes of market research. Modeled after the National Science Foundation's Innovation Corps program, students emerge with a profound understanding of the lean startup methodology and a robust network of industry connections — assets poised to shape their future research endeavors and career trajectories.
Expectations are high, with students committing 8-10 hours per week to customer discovery research and participating in weekly meetings where they present their progress. In recognition of their dedication, accepted participants receive a $5,000 fellowship awarded in the second and ninth weeks of the term.
Shaping the future of STEM entrepreneurship
The application process for Phase II is open to students with research ideas connected to their field and those ready to contribute their skills to UC faculty or affiliated startups.
By empowering the next generation of STEM leaders with the skills to bridge the gap between research and market impact, UC fosters a culture of innovation that promises to shape the future of STEM entrepreneurship. To learn more, visit the Lab2Market website.
Featured image at top: Students speak with program leaders at the Lab2Market symposium. Photo/Suzanne Buzek.
Innovation Lives Here
The University of Cincinnati is leading public urban universities into a new era of innovation and impact. Our faculty, staff and students are saving lives, changing outcomes and bending the future in our city's direction. Next Lives Here.
Related Stories
UC Research Ranking Climbs
January 10, 2002
The University of Cincinnati moved up in two different national rankings established by the National Science Foundation (NSF) to compare college and university research efforts.
Three of Four UC Fulbrights Scholars from McMicken
January 28, 2002
Tainted water supplies in Bangladesh, international security and missile defense, transformations in Mexico and greater understanding of India - this varied list sums up the work of four Fulbright Scholars at the University of Cincinnati who are concentrating on real-life issues involving our neighbors around the world.
Celebrating CAS' Deep Roots in Cincinnati
November 11, 2002
UC s College of Applied Science (CAS) is set to celebrate its rich heritage as the quiet cornerstone upon which Cincinnati industry, learning and culture has built itself since the school s founding on Nov. 20, 1828. The school was founded as the Ohio Mechanics Institute, the first school dedicated to technical education west of the Alleghenies. On Wednesday, Nov. 20, the college will toast its birth with a Founder s Day reception from 4:30-6:30 p.m. in the first floor of the CAS Administration Building, 2220 Victory Parkway.