The document summarizes the TEAMS Outreach Program, which partners students from multiple schools with entrepreneurial projects. The program focuses on commercializing technologies and supporting economic development. Student teams work directly with clients on projects like feasibility studies, strategic plans, and community assessments. Projects come from sources like Idaho National Lab and support economic growth. Students gain experience applying business skills to solve real problems. The program has supported over 40 technology projects and many other initiatives. It provides students hands-on learning while creating value for clients and communities.

1. OVERVIEW: TEAMS* OUTREACH PROGRAM
(*Technology & Entrepreneurial Assistance Managed by Students)
Breakthrough event: a multi-school technology commercialization contest sponsored by
Idaho National Lab & Idaho Economic Development Association

2. Overview
TRAILS: A true partnership between Boise State University, the Idaho National Lab (INL) and the
Inland Northwest Research Alliance (INRA)
Norris Krueger, Boise State University (nkrueger@boisestate.edu)
TRAILS offers students an opportunity for hands-on experience at creating entrepreneurial value –creating
genuine, visible value.
Would your students want to help bring a cutting-edge technology to market?
Would your students want to help ramp up community economic development?
Basic Model:
Student project teams fulfill their business capstone requirements through working closely with a diverse set of
entrepreneurial projects that focus on two particular broad themes:
* Commercializing novel technologies
* Economic development
Process:
Each team works with external clients in negotiating the scope of their project(s). For example, teams working
with a community will negotiate their project with the local contacts, the sponsoring agency (if any) and the
instructor. All parties then sign off on the assignment. During the semester teams share their progress (and their
hurdles) with other teams, including a midterm formal progress report and presentation. At the end of the
semester the team make a formal presentation to their clients, usually on-site, with a 'dress rehearsal' presentation
to the class. We invite guests to the final presentation from the local business and technology communities.
Project Types:
Technology Commercialization Projects
We recruit technology projects from multiple sources, but the key source is the large federal research lab here in
Idaho, the Idaho National Energy & Environmental Labs (INEEL). Commercialization assessments begin with a
thorough industry analysis followed by a market analysis (a la QuickLook). Student teams then develop a
strategic plan for implementing commercialization. These are presented to the inventors and tech transfer
professionals.
1) New technologies developed that INEEL wants to license. Examples include:
* Software (data warehousing, computer security monitoring)
* Biotech
* Environmental remediation
2) Also from our own College of Engineering: (e.g., a MEMS innovation)
3) Currently planning to add projects from local high tech community (e.g., www.kickstand.org)
Example: This semester we have teams supporting the rollout of the next-generation of wireless by
Sprint/Lucent, developing and assessing business models by segment.
Economic Development
Similarly, we work with INEEL's economic development group to recruit projects where student teams can help
local communities. However, as with the technology projects the successful work of our students has attracted
interest from other development entities in the region. Sample projects include:
1) Community assessments, such as developing opportunity-capacity matrices to guide future projects.
(For all of these, students present to development professionals and local leaders.)
2) Feasibility studies for new industries (past projects have demonstrated high potential for a new
industry cluster based on hydroponics; feasibility study for the Sacajawea Interpretive Center in Salmon, Idaho.)
3) Designing new development efforts (past projects include designing a next-generation producers co-
op for rural Idaho; current projects include designing a distance learning center in northeast Idaho).
Note: The co-op project is now moving toward funded implementation!
4) Specialized projects (this semester we have teams doing inventories of telecomm resources in several
Idaho cities. The students will present their findings at Connect-Idaho, a major conference to ramp up rural
connectivity. Students will be presenting to the Governor and other top officials from government and industry!)
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3. Future Directions in Progress:
1) There is considerable and growing interest by other groups seeking our students’ assistance. On the
technology side, we have caught the attention of the high tech community: Support groups such as
Kickstand (www.kickstand.org), TechConnect and the Idaho Science & Technology Corp.
2) On the economic development front, we have found growing interest from development entities:
Department of Commerce, Idaho Rural Parnership, Idaho Economic Development Assn.
3) Cross-campus partnerships: College of Engineering (techs) and Honors Program (ED)
4) INRA, the regional university research consortium (www.inra.org) just asked us to investigate
rolling out the TRAILS model to consortium schools. Our students (not just faculty) will be
involved in this rollout!
5) Now, INRA asked us to create cross-school projects so students from multiple schools collaborate
on TRAILS-type projects, leading to shared classes in entrepreneurship and economic
development.
Key Student Lessons Learned:
Provide students multiple opportunities for hands-on experience at creating true entrepreneurial value (for the
theorists: this is truly constructivistic problem-based learning (PBL)) where they have to apply their skills at:
* Ill-structured problem-solving (and project management under such conditions)
* Building and maintaining a self-managed high-performance cross-functional work team
* Integrate and apply a wide range of business skills in an entrepreneurial setting
* An inside look at how large real world projects get designed and implemented.
1) Currently we are writing a handbook for the impending rollout of TRAILS to other area schools under
the aegis of INRA.
2) Working to link project reports online at BSU and INRA websites.
3) Testimonials from clients and others (e.g., the Governor of Idaho)
Student Excitement:
1) Students now maneuver to be in these capstone sections!
2) Providing clear choice of projects helps (e.g., Native American student on Sacajawea Center team)
3) Similarly, having the teams self-organized and self-managed helps “light their fires”!
4) Most Important: Students love a golden opportunity to make a real difference!
Exciting Outcomes:
1) Tangible impact on high-stakes technology commercialization decisions
2) Tangible impact on local communities, often rural (but could easily be urban)
3) Improving student skills at team building, problem-solving and presentation skills, written and oral.
4) Projects provide real world context to illustrate key concepts such as business models, competitive
intelligence, industry analysis, benchmarking and, of course, business plans!
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4. One of three national best practice awards that the students earned (this one from SBA)
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5. TEAMS Projects: Its Final Year+
Technology Commercialization
TRAILS projects for INL: Over 40 projects to date (now with 3 schools involved), favorites:
2006 Stoel Rives Winner**: Medical Actinium for Therapeutic Treatment
2006 R&D 100 Winner*; 2006 Stoel Rives Winner**: Natural Gas Liquefier
2006 Stoel Rives Finalist**: Protein Adhesive from Blue Mussels
Remote-Control Arc Welder (2005 student winner at Idaho TechLaunch)
Change Detection Systems (2005 student runner-up at Idaho TechLaunch)
In Situ Bio-Reactor (recent lab spinoff)
Gazelle (High-Growth) Entrepreneurs
Centerpoint Companies: Corporate training and leadership development (3 projects)
BlackFin Technologies: Assessing market for new software (OSIRIS)
Pinpoint Performance: In-depth cost analysis
Clients of TECenter (incubator): Over 20 projects to date, favorites include:
WFO - viral marketing study
Builders Advantage – strategic partnering analysis
Construction Concepts – competitive analysis
Banshee Riverboards – sponsorship database & recruiting (Idaho TechLaunch finalist)
NeoReef (Stoel Rives Finalist**, Idaho TechLaunch finalist)
Social Entrepreneurship
Hope’s Door: Women’s Shelter, Nampa
Life’s Kitchen: At-risk youth getting trained in food industry
Ride Idaho: Week-long bike tour (2 projects)
Idaho Nonprofit Development Center: Market positioning study
The Advocates: Thrift store supporting women’s shelter, Hailey
Idaho Division of Vocational Rehabilitation: Expanding federal work incentives (3 projects)
Cultural Entrepreneurship
Idaho Film Industry Task Force: grants primer & calendar for workforce development
Idaho Film Industry Task Force: HR needs assessment for film industry
Western States College: film school for at-risk youth
Idaho International Film Festival: planning for 2006
Rivendell Music Academy [now ArtsWest magnet charter]: cutting edge new music program
Onomatopoeia: Website analysis (www.kevinkirk.net) & competitive analysis for jazz industry
Economic Development
Value-Added Producers Co-op: Feasibility study and business plan for eastern Idaho co-op
Emu Ranching Industry Feasibility Study (for Mackay, Idaho)
Hydroponics/Speciality Produce (for Arco, Idaho)
Nevada/Idaho Community Development Finance Institution: Feasibility of expansion
Hispanic Entrepreneur Initiative: Revitalizing Hispanic business support group (2 projects)
Idaho Office of Science & Technology: Assisting with core competences
Idaho Legislature/Idaho TechConnect: Idaho Innovation Index
Kickstand (tech entrepreneur support group): Feasibility of adding dues
Idaho City: Business Recruitment Project
Native American Cultural Center (2 projects)
Aquarium & Education Center: feasibility study
* R&D Magazine’s annual R&D 100 award for best new technologies of year
** Idaho Innovation Awards, sponsored by Stoel Rives (www.stoel.com)
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