November 17, 2004
Georgia Students Win Technology Commercialization Competition
Glucosamine joint cream wins $17,500 first prize, advances to compete for $150,000.
AUSTIN, Texas—A pair of students from the University of
Georgia promoting a glucosamine cream for joint pain relief won
first place in the International Idea to Product (I2P™), hosted
by The University of Texas at Austin.
Students from the University of New Hampshire took second place
with their business plan proposal for an improved MRI
technology. Students from The University of Texas at Austin
placed third with their plan for wireless, low-cost
telecommunication services for third-world countries.
The first place team won the Chair of Free Enterprise Award,
$10,000 and a slot in next spring's Moot Corp. competition,
which offers a $150,000 prize. The second place team won the
Technology Entrepreneurship Society Award and $5,000, and the
third place team won the TyRex Innovation Award and $2,500.
Fifteen teams from around the world participated, including
teams from Purdue University, Imperial College, London, Stanford
University and Monterrey Tech.
I2P™ was conceived by Dr. Steve Nichols, mechanical engineering
professor and associate vice president for research, and John
Doggett, senior lecturer in entrepreneurship at The University
of Texas at Austin's McCombs School of Business, to enhance
cross-disciplinary studies in entrepreneurship, research,
technology-based product development and emerging markets. It
encourages students to learn about and participate in the
commercialization of research. The international competition
grew from a local I2P event began by students at The University
of Texas at Austin.
More information about the competition can be found at
www.ideatoproduct.org.
For information on specific programs at the McCombs School, consult our contacts page. For media information, contact the Communications Director by phone at 512-471-3314 or by email at CommunicationsDirector@mccombs.utexas.edu.
