Mission 

We support technology innovation and entrepreneurship in universities and colleges to create experiential learning opportunities for students, and successful, socially beneficial businesses.  

How we work

With a membership of nearly 200 colleges and universities from all over the United States, the NCIIA engages more than 5,000 student entrepreneurs each year, leveraging their respective school campuses as working laboratories and incubators for businesses and ultimately helping them to bring their concepts to commercialization.

Impacts

Since 1995 we have: 

• Funded 305 experiential courses and programs at hundreds of institutions throughout the United States.
• Engaged more than 10,000 students via these courses and programs.
• Funded 347 E-Team (innovative product development) projects that have resulted in 75 new businesses, 380 new jobs, and 38 patents.
• These businesses have leveraged more than $102 million in additional funding.
• Engaged 1,300 students via E-Teams.
• Partnered with government agencies and corporates to advance our mission.
• Gained significant coverage from national media outlets and specialty outlets.

2008-09 by the numbers

• 27 Course and Programs grants awarded (499,794)
• 21 Advanced E-Team grants awarded ($388,247)
• 11 Sustainable Vision grants awarded ($465,432)
• $1.35 million total grants awarded.
• 100% of the 21 E-Team grants have clear social or environmental benefits.
• At least 15 new companies derived from former NCIIA grant-funded E-Teams in 2008-09.
• At least eight exclusive licensing agreements reported by former NCIIA E-Teams
• More than 2,200 participants around the country through the Invention to Venture (I2V) workshop series. 

The Lemelson Foundation

The NCIIA was established in 1995 with support from The Lemelson Foundation, the legacy of prolific inventor Jerome Lemelson. The Lemelson Foundation celebrates and supports inventors and entrepreneurs in order to strengthen social and economic life. The Foundation’s programs in the U.S. and developing countries recognize and celebrate accomplished inventors; provide financial and mentoring support to grassroots inventors; offer hands-on opportunities that enable young people to develop their budding scientific curiosity; and disseminate technologies that improve people’s lives. To date, the Foundation has donated or committed more than $150 million in support of its mission. 

Other funders

The NCIIA and its programs receive additional support from:

Meyer Memorial Trust

Olympus Corporation

National Science Foundation: