UNM Rainforest Innovations provides internship programs for professionals and students interested in technology transfer. The Internship Academy was originally started in 2011 as an international project with Poznan University in Poland. Since then, the project has become a fully developed program for university professionals and students from different countries who want to learn best practices for technology transfer from a U.S. university program.
Professional Internship
UNM Rainforest Innovations’ Professional Internship Program is an intensive program 1-4 week program designed for professionals who seek to gain an understanding of the role of technology transfer office. The program is intended to provide participants with comprehensive knowledge, including administration and operation, and commercialization and management of inventions. The program is administered by experienced professionals at UNM Rainforest Innovations, as well as accomplished entrepreneurs and business professionals.
Objectives
The goal of Professional Internship Academy is to provide participants with knowledge and understanding of wide range of responsibilities technology transfer office must fulfill. The program involves a dynamic mixture of seminars, group work, observations, and activities.
Participants will:
- Acquire knowledge about the roles and responsibilities of a technology transfer office
- Develop an understanding of how businesses, technologies, and laws intersect
- Learn tools and skill set necessary for managing and commercializing inventions
- Gain business-oriented mindset
- Understand how to identify potential market applications of a wide range of technologies
- Evaluate how to get technologies to companies that can successfully commercialize them
Curriculum
Topics include:
- Introduction to Operation of a Technology Transfer Office
- Intellectual Property: Invention Disclosure, Patents, Option/License and other agreements
- Marketing
- Management and Commercialization of Technologies
- Technology and/or Entrepreneur Matching
- Job Shadowing
- Open Discussion and Consultation
Student Internship
UNM Rainforest Innovations’ Student Internship Program is an intensive 5-day program designed for students who seek to gain understanding of the role of technology transfer office. The program is also intended to foster entrepreneurship mindset. The program is administered by experienced professionals at UNM Rainforest Innovations, as well as accomplished entrepreneurs and business professionals. UNM Rainforest Innovations also collaborates with UNM’s Innovation Academy on the program (http://innovationacademy.unm.edu/).
Objectives
The goal of UNM Rainforest Innovations internship program for students is twofold: to help participants learn how technology transfer office works and to provide them with opportunities to start thinking and acting like an entrepreneur. The program involves a dynamic mixture of seminars, group work, observations, and activities.
Participants will:
- Attend staff presentations and meetings to learn about the roles and responsibilities of a US university technology transfer office
- Develop an understanding of how business, technology, and laws intersect
- Learn tools and skill set necessary for entrepreneurial success
- Explore their potential in becoming an entrepreneur
- Meet with UNM researchers in specific field of technologies
- Participate in meetings with inventors, investors, and entrepreneurs
- Meet with Innovation Fellows
- Attend events, university classes and seminars
- Tour incubators and university research centers and programs
- Participate in a three-minute pitch competition
Curriculum
Topics include:
- Introduction to Entrepreneurship
- Intellectual Property: Invention Disclosure, Patents, and Option/Licensing and other agreements
- Marketing
- Office Operations and Accounting
- Business Plan Basics & Elevator Pitch
Condition
- Tuition: $1000/week
- Travel Expenses/accommodation/ meals are not included (we can make suggestions)
- Work hours: 8am to 5pm on Mondays-Thursdays and 8am to 12 pm on Friday
- No computer will be provided
- Work station will be provided (office may need to be shared)
- Student’s academic and work resume should be provided to UNM Rainforest Innovations in advance to coordinate meetings
- Signed CDA is required
- Limited access to our confidential information and database system