By Brett Adkins, Director, Office of Technology Transfer, and NSF I-Corps Hub: Desert and Pacific Region Project Director, Boise State University  

Powered by Collaboration: A Vision for Innovation

NSF I-Corps

As a partner institution in the NSF I-Corps Hub: Desert and Pacific Region, Boise State is connected to a broader network led by Arizona State University. Through this program, faculty and students get the chance to participate in a four-week “customer discovery” course where they learn how to validate their business ideas.

Dr. Trevor Lujan, a recent faculty participant, shared:

“The I-Corps program gave us a structure to test our ideas in the real world. Talking with potential customers helped us identify new opportunities and build unexpected partnerships. It changed how we think about translating our research.”

Dr. Daniel Fologea, Maddie Grier, and Aviana Smith also took their research—radiation-sensitive liposomes, a precise and less toxic cancer drug delivery system—through a regional NSF I-Corps course. None of them had a business background, but that was precisely the point. “Pretty much everything we learned was related to business,” said Grier. “Taking something I was familiar with scientifically and putting it in that context was really new.” Smith agreed and said, “There’s just no amount of love, passion, and drive that will make it in the business world without it being profitable and wanted by some industry.” 

Fologea also added “I-Corps was not at all what I expected; it was better. Our business goals changed completely. What we started with and what we ended up with were very different.” Through their customer interviews, the team is now collaborating with partners in France to develop specialized lipids for building liposomes. 

NSF Accelerating Research Translation

The TRANSFORM project is funded through NSF’s Accelerating Research Translation (ART) program, a $6 million initiative. The TRANSFORM program is designed to do exactly that: speed up how research becomes something useful, accessible, and beneficial to society.

Led by Dr. Brian Wampler, Boise State’s President’s Professor of Public Scholarship and Engagement, the project is more than a grant, it’s a mindset shift. TRANSFORM is about opening doors, removing barriers, and creating a culture where faculty, students, and partners from all walks of life can co-create meaningful change. The project works along two major tracks:

1. Market-Oriented Translational Research: For researchers with ideas that could become products, services, or even startups. Faculty can apply for seed grants to get their innovations off the ground. This seed funding leads into guided entrepreneurial training programs like the NSF I-Corps.
2. Community-Engaged Translational Research: For scholars who want to partner with nonprofits, governments, and other groups to tackle real-world problems together. This track supports opportunities for research to be co-developed by the people it’s meant to serve.

Behind the scenes, Boise State is also investing in better infrastructure, streamlined processes, and stronger connections to support this growing innovation pipeline.

Partnering Beyond Campus

Boise State isn’t doing this work alone. It’s part of a broader movement in Idaho to support innovation statewide. Within the Boise metro area, Trailhead serves as the community’s innovation hub. Through workshops, pitch nights, and collaborative workspace, Trailhead provides a physical space and a community where entrepreneurs of all kinds connect. Boise State works closely with Trailhead through shared leadership, aligned goals, and joint events that bring together students, startups, and seasoned founders.

At the state level, the Idaho Global Entrepreneurial Mission (IGEM) Grant Program invests in rural community development and economic growth. While not university-specific, IGEM’s support for infrastructure and job creation helps create fertile ground for innovations developed at Boise State to take root and thrive across the state.

Another valuable piece of Idaho’s innovation network is Elevate Idaho, a statewide initiative that offers free, personalized support to help researchers and entrepreneurs navigate the path from idea to commercialization. Whether it’s understanding funding opportunities, identifying licensing options, or connecting with industry experts, Elevate Idaho serves as a front door to resources that help innovators take the next step.

Building a Future of Impact

Together, these efforts—NSF I-Corps, TRANSFORM, key community partners, and state-level support form a connected ecosystem where ideas can grow into solutions. Boise State is reimagining what a research university can do, not just for its students and faculty, but for the entire state of Idaho. It’s a place where innovation is more than a buzzword, it’s a daily practice, a shared goal, and a path to impact.