Entrepreneurship has emerged as a central educational theme within Columbia Engineering. Columbia Engineering promotes engineering innovation and engaged entrepreneurship. Our entrepreneurship programs provide education and support for Columbia Engineering students and faculty, socially engaged entrepreneurs, and members of the Harlem community through the following:
- Developing, implementing, and sustaining innovative entrepreneurship education programming.
- Supporting Columbia students with new business ideas
- Building virtual and physical infrastructures that promote new technology ideas, facilitate technology transfer, and incubate new products, process, and service ventures
- Facilitating cross-campus collaborations and community partnerships
Several key initiatives include:
SEAS Translational Fellows Program
To provide necessary support and resources to SEAS postdoctoral researchers interested in commercializing research originating at SEAS the Translational Fellows Program (TFP) supports twenty percent of the salary of selected SEAS postdoctoral researchers and research scientists for one year. This is a competitive, nomination based postdoctoral research program provides mentoring resources, conflict-of-interest (COI) management, and other support to maximize the opportunity to create a new venture. The TFP aligns resources available through Columbia’s entrepreneurial ecosystem to accelerate the pace of technology translation.
The Columbia Makerspace
The Makerspace is a place for all Columbia-affiliated faculty, staff, post-docs, and students to develop their ideas into tangible items using it as a resource for projects, hobbies, building prototypes, or just trying something new. The Columbia Maker Space boasts a range of 3D printers, a laser cutter, and a number of CNC tools for digital fabrication. It is also well equipped with tools including a comprehensive set of bicycle repair tools.
The Res. Inc. Program
Res.Inc. provides a platform for undergraduate students to build and launch companies. As part of the University Living and Learning Center, Res.Inc. students live and work together in a community focused on entrepreneurship and the cultivation of innovative ideas. Students learn to use Lean Launch methodologies and participate in weekly seminars led by domain area experts within the Columbia network.