WPI’s Innovation & Entrepreneurship Center supports the culture of entrepreneurial and innovative thinking and action at WPI through skill-based workshops, mentorship, innovation challenges, networking opportunities, hands-on projects, funding and more. Whether it’s a student IQP, MQP, ISP, graduate research, a hobby project, a venture, or nonprofit idea, we’re here to help support the development of your idea and turn it into reality for the greater good of our local and global communities.
All the greatest innovations, companies, and nonprofits in the world started with an idea, a conversation between tinkerers and idealists, or even a “what if…” to solve real-world problems. At WPI, those conversations happen every day during hands-on projects in class, over late-night texts, and while at weekend social events. Get in touch with I&E to let us know how we can assist. If you’re a faculty member and need assistance promoting an event or using the right channels, let us know and we can help.
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Tinkerbox
WPI Tinkerbox provides funding and mentoring for WPI student-initiated innovation and entrepreneurship ideas. Grant recipients have access to accomplished entrepreneurial mentors who provide guidance on projects, workshops aimed at developing and honing entrepreneurial mindset skills, and invitations to community networking events.
WPI’s Experts in Residence program connects aspiring entrepreneurs with accomplished and recognized mentors who are committed to offering guidance and sharing their expertise.
One of the cornerstones of the innovation ecosystem at WPI is the Tech Advisors Network (TAN), essentially a virtual incubator that launched in 2012. The Tech Advisors Network has engaged with entrepreneurs on various new products, such as a smartphone application that prevents texting and driving, an online educational tool for middle school science, and a video monitoring system.
Our I&E programs are intentionally developed to inspire nnovation that will lead into building foundational skills for our students to help elevate their ideas to solve real world problems.
The I&E center now has 5 designated project collaboration spaces to support project teams advance their projects. We support all student projects who are working on their IQP, MQP, ISP, research or personal innovation. We would like ensure that this is accessible to everyone, therefore we have set up a reservation process in LibCal. Each collaboration space is reservable for up to 2 hours each day.
Open to anyone in any area of study at WPI, the McDonough Makerspace and adjacent Fitzgerald Prototype Lab are available to the entire campus community. They are places to germinate ideas, test limits, refine details, and have fun.
Our MakerBucks program helps students to ‘Go and Try’ their hands at a prototyping machine in our Innovation Studio Makerspace to build hardware and software prototypes. Students are given $100 to purchase project supplies and taught how to use our machines including the 3D printers and laser cutters in our prototyping lab as well as utilizing resources and tools to bring their ideas to life.
For questions and inquiries about the program, please contact Mitra Anand at mvanand@wpi.edu
Henrique Checcucci ’24, Sol Giesso ’24, Can Guven ’24, and Efthymios Loukedes ’24 work to reduce waste on campus.
Trilling has the kind of imagination that’s exciting and a little mind-boggling—one that envisions a future where the jet stream moves packages, and people, around the world.
WPI’s Tikerbox program positively impacts Tanzanian citizens through the work of graduate alumnus Raymond Magambo ’21.
of 25 Private Colleges Where Graduates Go on to Earn the Most Money
most innovative schools
U.S. News & World Report (2023)
in funds raised for WPI startups over the last 10 years
total research funding from government, corporate, and private sources through the Office of Sponsored Programs (FY 2023)
