PRAIRIE VIEW, Texas (November 15, 2024) – Prairie View A&M University’s Division of Research & Innovation, through its Innovation, Commercialization, Entrepreneurship, and Economic Development (ICEED) area, recently hosted an insightful session on entrepreneurship. Peter O’Neill, chief innovation officer at Texas A&M, led the discussion, highlighting the tech transfer office’s role in supporting inventors and advancing the commercialization of innovations.
O’Neill introduced key resources for innovators, including a robust patent budget, gap funding for early-stage projects, and guidance for Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) proposals. He also announced new financial incentives: $500 for individual invention disclosures and $1,000 for team disclosures with four or more members. These rewards aim to foster idea-sharing and collaboration across the university.
Additionally, O’Neill previewed the upcoming Innovation Forward conference, set for Nov. 12-14, which will cover emerging topics like artificial intelligence and national security. Following his presentation, ICEED shared its initiatives, including venture disclosure seminars and the Panther’s Invent competition, which empower students and faculty to bring their ideas to market.
By actively promoting invention disclosures, entrepreneurship education, and collaboration, these initiatives align with Prairie View A&M University’s strategic goal of achieving R1 status as a top-tier research institution. Building a robust pipeline for innovation and economic development not only enhances research output but also attracts further funding and partnerships—both crucial for PVAMU’s path toward the prestigious R1 classification.
The session concluded with a productive exchange on fostering entrepreneurship, underscoring PVAMU’s commitment to building a thriving environment for innovation and economic development.