I-Corps Node: New York City Regional Innovation Node (NYCRIN)

Cuny City University Of New York, New York NY

Investigators

Abstract

Project Description: This effort involves the creation and implementation of an I-Corps Regional Node in New York (New York City Regional Innovation Node - NYCRIN), which is being led by City University of New York (CUNY) in partnership with New York University (NYU) and Columbia University. The Node is leveraging the existing innovation ecosystem present in New York City (NYC) to create a cooperative center that is connected to the national I-Corps innovation network. NYCRIN is building upon established technology development collaborations that are involved with the fundamental research being conducted at the three partnering institutions. NYCRIN is providing innovators throughout the United States with a structured portal for access to the unique NYC-regional combination of world-class universities, venture capital investment resources, and one of the nation's fastest growing technology start-up environments. Broader Significance: NYCRIN is promoting diversity and outreach activities to Small Business Development Centers throughout New York State. The Node is offering scalable workshops, seminars and counseling sessions to disseminate best practices and the "Lean" methods to non-academic audiences, technology entrepreneurs, and community partners. It is further leveraging and supporting a number of unique training activities, for example: 1) a week-long "sprint" for developing and iterating technical product ideas in small collaborative teams and 2) events that draw hundreds of students to NYC to build new products collaboratively over a limited time period. The Node also includes a wide range of other universities (public, private, and small private technology colleges) in a four state region; providing them with open-source tools and online access to information - to more broadly disseminate NYCRIN activities and outputs. The Node is further networking with local community colleges that have linkages to workforce development efforts and small businesses.