Integration of technology incubator programs with academic entrepreneurship curriculum

Engineers are excellent sources of high growth-potential entrepreneurial ventures, with their creative product and technology ideas. However, this resource has not been effectively tapped by academia in general. This paper reviews entrepreneurship, the debates over teaching entrepreneurship and critical success factors for new venture creation. Also described is an innovative, holistic inter-disciplinary engineering entrepreneurship program backed by the resources and activities of a technology incubator. This provides engineering students and researchers with tools and opportunities for entrepreneurial success, establish deeper and more meaningful community ties, and facilitate the incubation of investable technology-based start-ups. Packaging the "incubator concept" into a series of graduate, undergraduate and continuing education short courses is a unique feature of UCF's entrepreneurship program, which offers practical insights, tools, objectives, case studies, strategies and actions that one can apply to any stage of an entrepreneurial or intrapreneurial venture from initial idea to growth and profitability. Guest lectures and interaction/networking opportunities with successful or struggling technical entrepreneurs, corporate intrapreneurs, angel investors, venture capitalists, technology incubator directors, attorneys, financial advisors, consultants, and other business service providers are added benefits of this program. This program has received very favorable reviews from local, state and national organizations.