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24 Doing Business in Connecticut | 2017 SPONSORED REPORT Innovation Surge University of Connecticut Helps Drive Entrepreneurship; Experts Predict Explosion in New Ventures C onnecticut has long been known for innovation. After all, we developed can openers and submarines, Frisbees and lollipops, ESPN and anesthesia, hamburgers and colored TVs. "Connecticut's entrepreneurial spirit has always been one of the state's defining characteristics and that strong impulse toward innovation continues today,'' said UConn Engineering Dean Kazem Kazerounian. Recently, Kazerounian said, there has been a surge in promising entrepre- neurial endeavors that has him—and many others—excited about the future of innovation here. "If even a fraction of the startups we're seeing reach their potential, it could be a great boon to the state,'' he said. The University of Connecticut is one of the biggest proponents of innovation and entrepreneurship in the state, and strives to be a key advocate for econom- ic growth. UConn is developing students who have an entrepreneurial mindset, offer- ing competitions for those with great ideas and supporting dozens of students, faculty and alumni who are creating new businesses (see related stories). Within the year, the much anticipat- ed Innovation Partnership Building will open on UConn's main campus. Already attracting powerful companies, includ- ing United Technologies, Eversource Energy and Comcast, the building will allow teams of top academic researchers, private scientists and business entrepre- neurs to develop new technologies in energy, electronics, materials science, ad- ditive manufacturing, cybersecurity and other specialties. "The initiatives underway at UConn are incredible,'' said John A. Elliott, dean of the UConn School of Business. "We recognize that it isn't enough to just generate brilliant ideas. It requires the knowledge and backing of a variety of business experts and investors to guide a proposal from infancy to maturity, and then position it for a marketplace launch.'' "The engagement and camaraderie between UConn's engineering experts, the medical school innovators, business school leaders, law advisers and creative minds from many other disciplines has been phenomenal,'' he said. "We have engaged alumni and friends of the University who share a vision of the tre- mendous innovation frontiers that can be found in Connecticut. I believe these efforts will make us a national leader in ingenuity.'' Innovation Intrigues Many— Especially Younger Generation Each February for the last five years, Rich Dino, a management professor and entrepreneur, organizes the Innovation Quest (iQ) competition at UConn. This year, more than 200 ambitious students attended the kickoff, and formed 81 teams vying to present 'the next great idea' to a panel of judges. "At UConn, we encourage students and faculty with bright ideas and a can-do spirit to pursue entrepreneurial dreams,'' said Dino. "Some people think that entrepreneurs are these quiet geniuses who rise to stardom completely on their own, and that's totally false.'' Dino, who started four enterprises and serves on the advisory boards of high-tech startups, said it isn't enough just to generate ideas. "The person with a great idea and a willingness to work hard, challenge their beliefs, fail, accept suggestions from others and then bounce back and try again—he or she has the best chance for entrepreneurial success,'' Dino said. "Our goal is to help them along that journey.'' UConn has developed a number of resources to foster students with an entrepreneurial orientation, Kazerounian said. For instance, the new Within the year, the much anticipated Innovation Partnership Building will open on UConn's Storrs campus. Already attracting powerful companies, including United Technologies, Eversource Energy and Comcast, the building will allow teams of top academic researchers, private scientists and business entrepreneurs to develop new technologies in energy, electronics, materials science, additive manufacturing, cybersecurity and other specialties. Rendering: University of Connecticut By Claire Hall