The Kauffman-Singapore Scholars Program, created through a grant from the Ewing Marion Kauffman Foundation, will begin in May 2009 and offer a unique opportunity to study commercialization and entrepreneurship at the Nanyang Technopreneurship Center, Nanyang Technological University (NTU) in Singapore.
Through this unique pilot program, the five selected scholars with backgrounds in engineering, science, and technology will have the opportunity to better understand and excel
in the global marketplace. The Foundation will provide tuition, room and
board, and travel expenses for the selected scholars.
Because
many innovations languish on laboratory shelves, the program will focus
on showing the students how to take ideas and turn them into businesses
with growth potential and strong appeal
for the rapidly expanding Asian marketplace.
Nanyang
Technological University (NTU) recently was designated the first
Kauffman Campus outside the United States. It offers one of Asia's best
science and technology learning environments, as well as world-class
entrepreneurship education. NTU provides a rare opportunity for U.S.
students to learn how to build a startup business based on technology
transfer. NTU embraces the Kauffman Foundation philosophy that
entrepreneurship education should be an option for students in all
fields of study, not just the business school.
Of 160 applicants from across the nation, three students are from the Midwest and four studied at Kauffman Campuses, which provide business and entrepreneurship courses within science, engineering, liberal arts and other university curricula.
The five Kauffman-Singapore Scholars for 2009 are:
The candidates must have earned within the past three years or are currently pursuing a baccalaureate or master's degree in an engineering, technology or science-related field. Applicants' academic interests and research experience needed to converge with business study. Most importantly, the scholars were required to have experience in bringing new innovations to the market that have resulted in starting or growing a business.
Following completion of NTU's academic program, the scholars will return to the Kauffman Foundation to continue their entrepreneurship education and share information with Foundation staff.
