Identifies the value of workshops that teach entrepreneurial skills to on campus and community groups.

1. Reaching Campus and Community with
Entrepreneurship Research Workshops
…………………………………………………..……………………
Sara Butts, Engineering, Patents, & Trademark Librarian
Meghann Kuhlmann, Business Librarian
Wichita State University Libraries
October 12, 2018

2. 2
Introduction
Wichita State University → Innovation University
• Strong partnerships with local businesses
• Support for technology transfer and intellectual property
commercialization
• Incubation of start-up businesses
• Interdisciplinary programs
• “Support economic development across the wider region”

3. 3
Entrepreneurship Research Series
• University Libraries launched the
Entrepreneurial Workshop Series in 2016
– 6-11 workshops per semester on intellectual property and
market research topics
– Guest speakers
• Unique Aspects
– Specialized research focus
– Targeted audience: Students and staff as well as business
owners and inventors in the wider community.

4. 4
Visions and Goals
• Increase awareness of PTRC resources among
campus and local inventors
• Promote use of business resources among
students and local business owners
• Connect entrepreneurs and inventors with WSU
Ventures and other university and community
resources

5. 5
The Planning Process
• Ablah Library
– Pre-established workshop series
– Centrally located on campus with new additions east of library
– Creation Space (C-Space) with 3D scan/print, software, etc.
– Liaison librarians for each subject area, including STEM subjects
• Business Resources
• Patent and Trademark Resource Center (PTRC)
– Originally a Patent and Trademark Depository Library in 1991
– The only PTRC in Kansas, located at WSU’s Ablah Library
– Yearly training at U.S. Patent and Trademark Office headquarters

6. 6
The Planning Process
• WSU Ventures (Technology Transfer Office) & Center for
Entrepreneurship
– Included us in Economic Development grant
– Invite us as a resource partner for SBIR events, a panel presentation,
new patent wall, etc.
– Present in our workshop series as guest speakers
– Send us referrals and we reciprocate

7. 7
The Planning Process
Entrepreneurship in Wichita and Region
City of Wichita and surrounding region has invested in support for
start-up businesses and intellectual property commercialization
• Entrepreneurship support organizations
• Networking events
• Start-up friendly culture and policies

8. 8
The Workshop Series
• Tech transfer creates an opportunity for
Engineering and Business librarian partnerships
• Intellectual Property (IP) education empowers
independent inventors and new entrepreneurs to
pursue patent and trademark protection
• Market research for new businesses
• As a public university, community patrons can take
advantage of subscription resources
• Promoting business resources for non-curricular uses
increases usage stats

9. 9
Partnerships
• Partnering with campus
• WSU Ventures & Center for Entrepreneurship
• Shocker New Venture Competition
• Seniors in Engineering and Business partner for this capstone
project in the form of a competition to create a viable company
that includes an element of innovation.
• Partnering with community organizations
• Kansas Small Business Development Center (KSBDC)
• Inventors Association of South Central Kansas (IASCK)
• Network Kansas
• 1 Million Cups
• Partnering with USPTO’s Rocky Mountain Regional
Office’s Outreach Team

10. 10
Outreach
Targeting two distinct audiences
Campus
• Focus on Engineering and Business Departments
• Patent searching and market research instruction in
relevant classes
• Start-up programs with a focus on technology transfer
and/or commercialization
• Shocker New Venture Competition (SNVC) and other
student research competitions

11. 11
Outreach
Business/Inventor community
• Outreach through entrepreneurship support
organizations
• All Day Patent Seminar
• Encountering Innovation week
• Mini Maker Fair
• USPTO & PTRC Road Trips
• College faculty
• Makerspaces
• Kids of all ages
• Local networking opportunities

12. 12
New Patent Wall at WSU
WSU Ventures
GoCreate
KSBDC
PTRC
USPTO

13. 13
Mini Maker Faire at Exploration Place
USPTO
PTRC
Network KS

14. 14
Chat with the USPTO at Reverie Roasters
USPTO
KSBDC
PTRC
Inventors
Entrepreneurs

15. 15
Challenges and Opportunities
Challenges
• Creating sustainable marketing and promotion aimed at
both internal and external audiences
• Limited staff time and budget
Opportunities
• Partnership creation
• Networking opportunities
• Connecting with innovators seeking government
research and development grants (SBIR & STTR)
• Promotion of library resources to new audiences

16. 16
Conclusion
• Created partnerships across campus – making an effort
to tear down the silos
• Embraced the entrepreneurial spirit of the Wichita
community
• Reached out to inventors in Wichita and the surrounding
communities, including rural areas
• Capitalized on institutional goals for innovation
• Continued the mission of providing education and
outreach on behalf of the library and the USPTO
• Leveraging of library resources and staff expertise

17. 17
Research Guides
• Entrepreneurship Research Series (free workshops)
http://libresources.wichita.edu/ers
• Entrepreneurship Guide
http://libresources.wichita.edu/entrepreneurship
• Patents, Trademarks, & Copyright Guide
http://libresources.wichita.edu/patents/trademarks/copyright
Contact Us!
sara.butts@wichita.edu
meghann.kuhlmann@wichita.edu