EXPERTISE

• Research in Entrepreneurship Education - As part of the Center’s mission to conduct research in education in innovation and commerce, the Center advances the science of education in entrepreneurship by sponsoring and assessing innovative programs in entrepreneurship education. The Center's current educational initiatives include:
• The Paso del Norte Venture Competition
• The Mike Loya Center Grand Challenge Workshop
• Mike Loya Weekend Start-Up
• Rookie Entrepreneur Program
• Applied Research for Commercialization of Innovation - Through funds provided by the Anita Mochen Loya Funds for Innovation, the Center supports research and development projects that hold the potential for commercializing UTEP discoveries, innovations, and inventions. Past seed-funding projects include, among others, "RO concentrate minimization and sustainable utilization of by-product solids," "Forming and testing structural building materials made from agricultural waste products," and "Integrated power sources for consumer electronics technology."
• Research in Innovation and Commerce - The Center's research in innovation and commerce seeks to add to the nation's fundamental knowledge of how innovations are generated and translated into commerce, particularly from the standpoint of universities. Examples of the Center's research include projects on paths for commercialization of university research and on improvement of communication in cross-functional teams. The Center encourages faculty across the UTEP campus to initiate their own research projects related to innovation and commerce.