We are now at capacity for this event. All registrations received starting on March 13, 2023 will be placed on a waitlist. We will inform you if we can accommodate your registration request no later than March 24, 2023.

 

From Lab to Impact: Broadening Participation Summit - Northeast is a special short conference designed to help university researchers like you learn how to move your discoveries and inventions from the lab to the market, expand your research and career opportunities, and engage with the regional innovation ecosystem.

Through this summit, sponsored by the National Science Foundation (NSF) I-Corps™ program, we aim to engage the nation's diverse talent in strengthening and scaling the research that will drive tomorrow's technologies and societal impact.

Who Should Attend?
If you identify as a member of a group historically underrepresented in STEM (especially women and/or BIPOC, including those from Minority Serving Institutions, Hispanic Serving Institutions, and Tribal Colleges and Universities), and are located in the Northeast region of the US (NE/NY/NJ), you are invited to apply for a travel grant to attend. For more details on who should apply, please visit our FAQ page.

Event Schedule

Monday, April 24  | 4:00 pm ET | Dinner & Reception
MIT's InnovationHQ and the MIT Museum
We expect to also offer several Lab Tours on Monday afternoon before the event begins.

Tuesday, April 25 | 8:00 am - 4:00 pm ET | Summit
Marriott Boston Cambridge
50 Broadway, Cambridge, MA

 

What to Expect at the Summit

During the event, you will uncover proven processes to help you drive impactful research translations and hear insights from peer researchers who have benefited from NSF I-Corps™. Our interactive program will allow you to explore the potential impact of your research, and you’ll have the opportunity to network with researchers from across the Northeastern US, as well as connect with institutional and regional innovation resources. You can view the at-a-glance agenda on our FAQ page.

 

Benefits for Faculty

• Formulate new research questions and identify new funding opportunities
• Gather hands-on data to validate technology applications
• Learn the language of innovation while validating technology concepts and exploring market potential

Benefits for Graduate Students, Postdocs and Research Staff

• Understand the big picture and where your research will have the most impact
• Increase confidence in communicating with industry / enhance career options
• Expand personal network with other researchers and connections to regional translation support resources.

 

Interested in attending? We encourage you to apply today for an invitation! Participants will be notified of their acceptance by email; prior to the start of the conference, a detailed agenda and list of speakers, as well as information on travel, lodging and meals, and reimbursement, will be sent to accepted participants.

 

About the Organizers
The Host and lead event organizer is the NSF I-Corps™ program at the New England Regional Innovation Node at MIT.  Key Partners include the GEM Fellowship I4 Program, VentureWell, the New York Region Hub, the Interior Northeast Region Hub, and the Northeast Hub. The NSF I-Corps™ program (TIP Directorate) is funding the Summit (Award #1933486).

 

About NSF I-Corps™
I-Corps™ provides real-world, experiential instruction that allows scientists and engineers to evaluate a technology’s commercial opportunity, a critical first step toward successful translation into products, processes and services that benefit society. 

The I-Corps™ curriculum is not about how to write a research paper, business plan or NSF proposal. Instead, I-Corps™ participants receive direct, hands-on experience in customer discovery to evaluate the potential of their innovation. The result is a new understanding of what problems your technology may solve, who has those problems, and why your solution will be compelling. You will have evidence that will enable you to make better decisions.

Two types of educational programs are widely available. Short introductory courses are offered locally at universities across the country through the National Innovation Network of I-Corps™ Hubs, Nodes, and Sites. You may find a listing of these locations here.