Michigan Tech and CMU team up for entrepreneurship opportunities with new grant
Central Michigan University and Michigan Technological University’s School of Business and Economics will expand entrepreneurial opportunities and other academic relationships with a grant.
Charles Crespy, dean of the College of Business Administration, applied for an entrepreneurial grant with Michigan Tech.
“They (CMU) did 99 percent of the work,” said Bob Mark, professor of practice for Michigan Tech.
Michigan Tech had a grant for three years prior to this, but will expire April 30 this year.
The new Michigan Initiative Innovation Entrepreneurial grant was jointly applied for with the increase in funding next year at their school.
“We have been with a variety of institutions,” Crespy said. “In Ann Arbor, Mark was the lead person of Michigan Tech.”
With the anticipated arrival of CMU’s College of Medicine, it has drawn some attention from other schools, like Michigan Tech.
“Both schools are a strong complement to one another,” Mark said. “The (medical) school could be a good resource to our students.”
Each university has held competitions in the past to promote the students skills in the field of entrepreneurialism to investors.
“Our New Venture Competition (was) larger,” Crespy said. “Which will bring in more investors.”
At Michigan Tech, attendance from investors for their competitions also is expected to increase, Mark said.
CMU is looking on how this partnership will not only benefit the university, but the state as well.
“Our students can find extra funding for their projects,” Crespy said. “This will spawn more business and jobs in the state.”
The partnership between the two schools began seven weeks ago and the individuals involved said the possibilities are unlimited.
“We’re eager to work together,” Crespy said. “They are a well regarded university in the nation.”
