MSU leading the way for innovation
April 27, 2009
Entrepreneurship at Mississippi State University (MSU) took a large step forward this past month, holding its first Entrepreneur Center Forum on April 17. Assistant president for research and technical development, Dr. Gary Butler, has been leading MSU toward embracing entrepreneurial spirit that will educate a new generation of innovators, while stimulating growth that will generate positive economic impact for the university and the state.
The development of the MSU Entrepreneurship Center was a key topic of discussion at this year’s forum. The center will include the Thad Cochran Endowment for Entrepreneurship and the Jack Hatcher Engineering Entrepreneurship Certificate Program. This university wide resource will promote entrepreneurship and support MSU start-ups. Part of the mission of this new center would be to promote student-led entrepreneurship, lead in education and research, guide first-time entrepreneurs, advise and support existing entrepreneurs, and facilitate strategic business relationships.
“We see the Center as a catalyst for creating a new entrepreneurial ecosystem on campus that will foster a new generation of MSU entrepreneurs,” said Butler.
Another presentation was given at the Entrepreneur Center Forum by Bill Aulet, who is the entrepreneur in residence at the MIT Entrepreneurship Center in Boston. When the idea of a university wide center was just beginning to take shape, leaders at MSU picked Aulet as their first choice to be a mentor in the development of the plan to create this university resource.
At the forum, Aulet shared the key to the success he experienced with a number of MIT spin-outs. He drew from his knowledge and experience to explain to the crowd how to support and ensure the success of new ventures and established firms.
With the help of the Entrepreneurship Steering Committee, Dean Lynn Richardson of the College of Business, Dean Sarah Rajala of the Bagley College of Engineering, and alumni support like that of Jack and Nell Hatcher, the vision of the new center has taken shape. The current schedule has the planning phase near completion before venturing into fundraising and identifying a faculty team and advisory committee.
In late 2009 many items will be in action; the search for a director, an entrepreneur in residence, office development, and E-Center curriculum. MSU plans to kick off the official Entrepreneur Center in mid-2010.
“We are excited by the possibilities and we know how important this will be to the university. We invite those interested to contact us and share in this experience as we take ‘invention to innovation’ with the development of the MSU Entrepreneurship Center,” said Gerald Nelson, director of the Jack Hatcher Engineering Entrepreneurship Certificate Program and the Thad Cochran Endowment for Entrepreneurship.