The Collaboratorium unites UChicago students with researchers, technologists, and faculty who want to explore the commercialization opportunities and business applications of their work.
A great opportunity for Booth students, other graduate students, post-doctoral scholars, and faculty to connect, the program includes an opportunity for scientists and researchers to pitch as well as network with students about their cutting-edge research and technologies.
Benefits for attending
Benefits for Students
Students gain the opportunity to learn more about a particular field of study, technology, or a given researcher and are asked to actively participate in a discussion about an idea. They showcase their business experience and academic rigor by asking questions and posing suggestions that may pertain to a market opportunity, competitive landscape, or business model. Students also gain the opportunity to network with ideators, who may be seeking to build partnerships with students in order to better-explore a business opportunity. It is important to note that partnerships with ideators are not guaranteed outcome of ideation sessions, but are dependent upon an ideator’s needs and interpersonal dynamics.
Benefits for Ideators
Ideators, meaning anyone presenting an idea (researchers, technologists, and subject matter experts), gain the chance to showcase their research, technology, or ideas. Through discussions with students, ideators develop a better understanding of the next steps they may need to take to pursue a business opportunity. Further, ideators have the chance to network with University of Chicago students and alumni with whom they may be interested in partnering with in order to embark upon any of the following aspirations: further academic study, market research, a business partnership, or participation in an academic competition such as the New Venture Challenge.
Identifying Opportunities
The Polsky Center sources opportunities from a variety of partners. Partners include, but are not limited to, departments associated with the University of Chicago. Examples include Divisions of Biological and Physical Sciences (the Medical Center, Pritzker School of Medicine, Department of Computer Science, Institute of Translational Medicine, Computation Institute, and Institute of Molecular Engineering), as well as Argonne National Laboratory and Fermi National Accelerator Laboratory. The Polsky Center teams work closely with UChicago alumni, and other Chicagoland technology transfer offices and medical centers to identify promising opportunities.
Previous Collaboration Teams
Cancer IQ – 2013
Qualia Health – 2013
Arborvita Associates – 2012
Site Diagnostics – 2012
AgileMD – 2011
Quantitative Insights – 2010
If you have a project you would like to share, please contact Meghan Kinney, Senior Associate Director at the Polsky Center at meghan.kinney@chicagobooth.edu or 773-702-9108