I-Corps

Helping faculty, postdocs, and researchers learn more about commercializing their research.

The National Science Foundation I-Corps Program helps faculty, postdocs, and researchers learn more about commercializing their research or invention. Through I-Corps, researchers can take their innovation to the marketplace.

I-Corps Training

UND faculty members, postdocs, and researchers participate as a cohort experience with participants across the Great Plains Hub. Each cohort is a five-week commitment. The regional training curriculum explores the commercial potential of deep technology solutions across any industry sector.

The goal of the training is to prepare researchers and scientists to extend their focus beyond the lab and consider the economic and societal impact of their work.

An I-Corps team must be prepared to commit about 8-10 hours per week for the five-week cohort. A team consists of an entrepreneurial lead (EL) and a technical lead (TL) at a minimum.

For more information, visit Great Plains Region I-Corps.

Great Plains Region I-Corps Hub

The University of North Dakota (UND) is a founding member of the Great Plains I-Corps Hub, led by North Dakota State University (NDSU). The Hub comprises 11 other universities across six states.

Additional Hub members include:

Dakota State University
North Dakota State University
South Dakota School of Mines
South Dakota State University
University of Kansas
University of Montana
University of Nebraska – Omaha
University of South Dakota
University of Wyoming
Wichita State University

The Great Plains Hub hosts immersive, entrepreneurial training focused on helping scientists and researchers examine avenues to propel their research ideas into the market.

UND Cohort: UAS, Aviation, and Bioscience focused (Virtual)

Applications due by September 13, 2026

This cohort will be UAS, Aviation, and Bioscience focused. Participants will have a chance to attend the UAS Summit taking place in Grand Forks during the cohort as well as the Bioscience Summit in Fargo.

The Regional I-Corps training at the University of North Dakota spans five weeks, offering a blended approach to assess the market potential of your technology. This program welcomes both researchers and entrepreneurs, the curriculum explores the commercial potential of deep technology solutions across any industry sector. It prepares researchers to extend their focus beyond the lab and consider the economic and societal impact of their work.

Participants in an I-Corps team should allocate roughly 8-10 hours weekly throughout the duration of the five-week VIRTUAL program. Each team should include, at the very least, an entrepreneurial lead (EL) and a technical lead (TL).