Learning & Resources

Turning ideas into impact requires tools, training, and support. Whether you are a faculty member exploring commercialization pathways or a student curious about entrepreneurship, these resources will help you navigate the innovation journey at URI.

Faculty-Affiliated Startup Guide

Coming Soon

Launching a startup based on university research involves unique steps and considerations. Our upcoming guide will walk you through the essentials.

NSF I-Corps

National Science Foundation Innovation Corps

Visit I-Corps ↗

The National Science Foundation's Innovation Corps (I-Corps) helps researchers explore the commercial potential of their technologies. Through customer discovery training, mentorship, and up to $50,000 in funding, I-Corps provides an entry point into entrepreneurship for faculty, staff, and students.

I-Corps programs are offered across New England, with the regional hub led by MIT in partnership with Brown, Harvard, Northeastern, and others. Completing a regional course may also qualify teams for the national I-Corps program.

Program Benefits

  • Up to $50,000 in funding

    Financial support for customer discovery

  • Customer discovery training

    Structured methodology for market validation

  • Expert mentorship

    Guidance from experienced entrepreneurs

  • National network access

    Connect with the broader I-Corps community

RISE-UP Programs at URI

Regional Innovation by Scaling Entrepreneurship via University Partnerships

Learn More about RISE-UP ↗

RISE-UP is a tri-state collaboration funded by the U.S. Office of Naval Research to support dual-use innovation (technologies with both commercial and defense applications). At URI, RISE-UP offers several opportunities for inventors to build entrepreneurial skills and bring research closer to market:

Patents2Products (P2P)

A fellowship program for graduate students, postdocs, and faculty to transform intellectual property into market-ready innovations. Fellows receive stipends, mentorship, and hands-on training in commercialization.

Innovation Faculty Fellows

A year-long program for faculty and postdocs to integrate entrepreneurship into their teaching and research while building a cross-disciplinary network.

Ideation Studio

A semester-based program where teams of students, researchers, and community members develop business models and prototypes using Lean Startup methodology.

More Resources Coming Soon

We are continuously expanding resources to support inventors and entrepreneurs at URI. Additional tools and guides will be added here as they become available.

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