About Us

We support technology innovation and entrepreneurship in universities and colleges to create experiential learning opportunities for students, and successful, socially beneficial businesses.

With a membership of nearly 200 colleges and universities from all over the United States, the NCIIA engages more than 5,000 student and faculty innovators and entrepreneurs each year, helping them to bring their concepts to commercialization.

The NCIIA ‘pipeline’ provides nascent student start-ups with early stage funding, business strategy development training, mentoring, and investment. The NCIIA provides faculty with funding for courses and programs, opportunities for recognition, and entrepreneurship education training and networking.

See some of our grantee videos here.

Since 1995 we have:

• Funded 350 experiential courses and programs at hundreds of institutions throughout the United States.
• Funded 391 E-Team (innovative product development) projects that have resulted in more than 130 new businesses.
• These businesses have leveraged more than $140 million in additional funding.
• Engaged 1,800 students via E-Teams.
• Partnered with government agencies and corporates to advance our mission.
• Gained significant coverage from national media outlets and specialty outlets.

• 25 Course and Programs grants awarded ($607,576)
• 27 Advanced E-Team grants awarded ($453,249)
• 10 Sustainable Vision grants awarded ($425,694)
• $1,486,519 million total grants awarded
• 23 of the 27 E-Team grants have a high focus on social and/or environmental impact through their technologies
• At least 14 new companies launched
• More than 4,500 participants around the country attended NCIIA's training workshops. 

The NCIIA was established in 1995 with support from The Lemelson Foundation, the legacy of prolific inventor Jerome Lemelson. The Lemelson Foundation celebrates and supports inventors and entrepreneurs in order to strengthen social and economic life. The Foundation’s programs in the U.S. and developing countries recognize and celebrate accomplished inventors; provide financial and mentoring support to grassroots inventors; offer hands-on opportunities that enable young people to develop their budding scientific curiosity; and disseminate technologies that improve people’s lives. To date, the Foundation has donated or committed more than $150 million in support of its mission.

The NCIIA and its programs receive additional support from:

• Meyer Memorial Trust
  
• National Science Foundation