Research, Innovation and Entrepreneurship: A Multi-Disciplinary Approach

The course begins with a detailed examination of transformative research (and fundamental principles), using the National Science Foundation (NSF) definition of the term. Then the course explores how to define 'opportunity' as a means to select a research topic. A five-step process of innovation is then presented using concepts from the renowned child development scholar Jean Piaget and the Krebs Creativity Cycle developed at the MIT Media Lab. The course concludes with the development of select principles in entrepreneurship, including value creation, competitive advantage and business concept. This is a very multi-disciplinary course but all topics presented assume no prior knowledge of the subject.

The learning outcome from this course is to help students appreciate transformative research as an alternative to the frequent incremental approaches taught and to help them realize that research, innovation and entrepreneurship in the 21st century is for social purpose to address immediate and future problems.