Sponsorship Opportunities 2009 - 2010

Institute sponsorship provides opportunities for firms and individuals who share our passion for innovation and entrepreneurship to support the Institute and its partners in their efforts to stimulate interest, create an entrepreneurial mindset among students, faculty and staff, raise community awareness and support innovation and technology commercialization across North Texas.

Sponsorship programs are available at different levels of commitment with benefits designed to accommodate the varied interests and needs of our supporters. Both the Strategic Investor and Program Sponsor initiatives provide opportunities to achieve recognition, increase visibility and deliver your message to students, faculty, and a broad audience of entrepreneurs, businesses, service providers and others in the local community. The IIE Innovation Alliance provides an opportunity for organizations, firms and individuals to affiliate with the institute and be recognized as an active member of the entrepreneurial community at a lower cost.

Sponsors will receive a variety of tangible and intangible benefits for their organizations and their clients, including complimentary admission to most institute programs.

About the Institute

The Institute for Innovation & Entrepreneurship at UTD was established in April 2006 as a collaborative initiative of the schools of Arts and Humanities, Behavioral and Brain Sciences, Economic, Political and Policy Sciences, Engineering and Computer Science, Management, and Natural Sciences and Mathematics. The Institute’s role is that of a facilitator, catalyst and program sponsor - leveraging the power of ideas and technology to create new ventures and add economic, social and cultural value to our community.

The Institute plays a major role in promoting cross-disciplinary academic, student and technology commercialization activities across the university, and sponsors a broad range of educational outreach programs and initiatives engaging the broader community, including:  

• Faculty/Staff Development Programs: including the Commercialization & Entrepreneurship Boot Camp, designed to stimulate interest in entrepreneurship and support the commercial-lization of UT Dallas technologies. 

• Venture Development Program: an “incubator without walls,” supporting the commercialization of technologies developed within or in partnership with the university, facilitating the transition from idea to market and enhancing the likelihood of new venture success.
  
• Community Outreach:  a variety of programs targeted at entrepreneurs and the general public, including the Entrepreneurial Development Series, the Research and New Venture Showcase events, and the UTD Innovation Opportunity Camp for high school students.
  
  

• Research: world class research that extends our understanding of the theory and practice of innovation, commercial entrepreneurship and the processes of creative thinking.
  

Sponsorship Opportunities

Sponsorship is essential to support institute programs. Although faculty salaries and facilities are provided by the university, all program expenses, scholarship awards and administrative expenses are funded by community sponsorships and participant fees. Most events are offered to faculty, staff and students at no charge. Three different programs are available. Further details are available on the following pages:

Strategic Investors

Our Strategic Investors provide the financial foundation for the Institute with multi-year commitments of annual support ranging from $7,500 (bronze level) to $15,000 (gold level). These contributions underwrite internal programs for faculty, staff and students, and support the general, administrative and marketing operations of the Institute.

Strategic Investors are recognized as general sponsors for all Institute events and activities and receive specific benefits in exchange for their support, including complimentary or discounted registrations to all events, the opportunity to participate as speakers or panelists in selected events, etc. Strategic Investors are recognized on our website and in our program and promotional literature, and acknowledged as appropriate in press releases, public statements, etc. A three year commitment is requested, with annual installments due on August 15th of each year.

Program Sponsors

A variety of program sponsorship opportunities are available, including scholarship awards and series, program, and luncheon/reception sponsorships.Program Sponsors receive specific benefits in exchange for their support, including complimentary or discounted registrations and the opportunity to participate as speakers or panelists for the sponsored event. Program Sponsors are recognized on our website and in our program and promotional literature, and acknowledged as appropriate in press releases, public statements, etc. A variety of program sponsorship opportunities are available for 2008-2009, as detailed below.

Innovation Alliance

The Innovation Alliance provides an opportunity for organizations, entrepreneurial firms and individuals to affiliate with the institute and be recognized as an active member of the entrepreneurial community at a lower level of investment. Alliance members will be acknowledged on our website and in selected program materials, included in our Resources for Entrepreneurs directory as appropriate, and receive complimentary or discounted registrations to institute programs and events.

For additional information on the Institute, its programs and sponsorship opportunity, please contact our Executive Director, Dr. Joseph C. Picken, at 972-883-4986.