About the Faculty Innovation Fellows

Michigan Wolverine Innovation Network (MWIN)

The Office of Economic Development (OED) at UM-Flint is pleased to launch the 2023-2024 Michigan Wolverine Innovation Network (MWIN) Faculty Innovation Fellows program. The goal of the program is to foster innovation, creativity, and the entrepreneurial mindset throughout all academic disciplines on campus.

The 2023-2024 Faculty Innovation Fellows will participate as a cohort in virtual and in-person workshops focused on entrepreneurship and the innovation process. Fellows will be guided from ideation to product development, launch, and potential commercialization of their innovation.

One Faculty Innovation Fellow will be selected from each UM-Flint school/college. Faculty from all academic disciplines are encouraged to apply, and as such, innovation is defined broadly.

The MWIN Capstone course will allow students to learn valuable career skills by working in collaborative teams to create innovative solutions for market identified needs. Each MWIN Capstone cohort will be expected to solve one or more of the following:

An industry-identified technology problem or gap
A small business or entrepreneur-identified technology problem
A Faculty Innovation Fellow research or project idea that has real world applications

Why does this benefit faculty?

Faculty Innovation Fellows will work as a cohort to develop new opportunities for the UM-Flint campus and community partners. Along the way, faculty will expand their knowledge of entrepreneurship and commercialization. Fellows will also be connected with a network of peers and the regional innovation and entrepreneurship ecosystem. Faculty will also have the opportunity to build a Capstone course that can expand job opportunities and career preparation
for graduates.

Funding from the C.S. Mott Foundation will provide a $5,000 stipend for up to 6 Faculty Innovation Fellows in the Winter 2024 semester.

Expectations

All Faculty Innovation Fellows will participate in bi-weekly working sessions throughout the Winter 2024 semester. These sessions will be held virtually and in-person.

As a team, the cohort will be provided with professional development sessions with faculty and experts to better understand the product development lifecycle, commercialization process and the entrepreneurial mindset.

Support

Each Fellow will receive a $5,000 stipend to compensate them for semester-length training.

Up to 6 Faculty Innovation Fellows, one per school/college will be chosen for the Winter 2024 cohort.

Or reach out directly to: Paula Nas, Director of Economic Development, Office of Research and Economic Development

Phone

810-241-4053

Email

pnas@umich.edu

About the Faculty Innovation Fellows

Michigan Wolverine Innovation Network (MWIN)

Why does this benefit faculty?

Expectations

Support

Submit any questions below:

Or reach out directly to: Paula Nas, Director of Economic Development, Office of Research and Economic Development

Phone

Email

UM-FLINT, OFFICE OF ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT

BUSINESS HOURS

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