- How can you capitalize of the student population for innovation? It is difficult to direct their energy outside of their daily work? How do you guide them? How can programs incorporate closer ties with local companies to foster innovation?
- Academia is not the thought driver. Many tech programs are still more focused on programming rather than incorporating innovation thinking.
- Many Universities can offer expertise and space.
- There is a need to break the students out of the college bubble. They need to see how their work connects to industry and build relationships.
- Universities can be the neutral ground between students and industry
- The Lipscomb Spark program is resource that should be utilize within the entrepreneurial community.
- Lipscomb graduate degrees are offered at night. Conference/educational space by day.
- New downtown facility will be a great resource
- Spark could be more a service for the business community, be a place of compelling conversation, and create events around topics from researchers.
- What about making 20% of Spark’s events (use of space) free?
- People often have ideas within companies and can’t get traction for the ideas. Ultimately they move on.
- Some universities have trouble getting their students to the EC because it is far away from campus and can’t motivate students.
- Just like others students need a strong sense of what they are going to get out of a program before investing their time. Time is precious.
- The Entrepreneur Center has been the wrong hook for students. EC more about leadership and business students not necessarily tech or skills oriented.
- Need to get students more involved in Hackathons.
- Very few students seek to reach beyond the campus.
- Project oriented task bring more people together. Diverse range of students could be assigned to work on a specific project.
