1. +
Strategic Plan
for Innovation Support
The HSL’s Role in Innovate@Carolina
MCforNC
2. +
Project Background
Innovation is a key on college campuses
Innovate@Carolina has been a driving force
Previously scrapped plans for an incubator
Project Goal: The HSL would like to facilitate and
propagate innovation and entrepreneurship at UNC as part
of Innovate@Carolina
3. +
MCforNC’s Role
Problem MCforNC Deliverables
Create a framework for the HSL MCforNC will conduct analysis
to integrate itself into the ethos of HSL resources
of Innovate@Carolina. This
model should allow the HSL to By leveraging above mentioned
stand out amongst both resources, MCforNC will
libraries and other innovation provide a strategic plan to
programs. create a stimulating
environment where innovation
can occur.
5. +
Approach
Analyze the current model and structure of Innovate@Carolina
Identify HSL’s resources
Identify/Create a role that HSL can play at UNC under
Innovate@Carolina.
7. +
Research
What resources does the HSL have?
What are the innovation related initiatives on campus?
Where should HSL carve its niche in the current model?
8. +
Librarians Space
The HSL has a full time staff of HSL currently has enough physical space to
librarians hold 3-4 innovative groups year round.
Many of these librarians have However, no one thinks or associates a Library
backgrounds in other health related as an innovation hub.
professions
HSL is isolated from the core campus and the
Librarians field queries by lack of paid parking for visitors nearby are also a
students, usually big concern.
Librarians may also teach classes
on a variety of subjects (such as
research)
Ilovemyhsl.org gauges librarian
performance through student
feedback
9. +
How to fit in the HSL?
Where and how does the HSL fit in?
11. +
Analysis
5 Key Areas of Focus
1) Space:
HSL has ample space that could be allocated for students
2) Visibility:
The HSL needs to be unique. Its resources must also be promoted
3) Connections:
Connect different peoples to allow for sharing of knowledge
4) Expertise:
Utilize the expertise of librarians and other HSL staff
5) E-Resources:
Emphasize e-resource usage and education
12. Limitations to Consider
Monetary
•Funding difficult to come by
•Work with what is already available
Physical
•Accessibility of the HSL by the greater campus
community
Structural
•The HSL is a library and therefore has preexisting
goals and infrastructure that must be considered
+
13. +
Innovation on Campus
There are a multitude of innovation programs already in
operation:
Launching the Venture
The Carolina Challenge
Carolina KickStart
Carolina Launch Pad
HSL’s model must be unique but still “fit in”
14. +
Limitations of Innovate@Carolina
An abundance of programs for innovation
They represent a number of stages of the innovation process
Programs tend to weed out those without proper preparation
Ideas may be lost in favor of legal, technical, and business knowledge
15. +
How to fit in the HSL?
Where and how does the HSL fit in?
17. +
Solution
We realized that a lot of innovative ideas fail at UNC because
student’s lack fundamental knowledge of Business Planning
We want to focus on this issue and use HSL and its resources to
better prepare students to follow their venture and/or better prepare
students to be participants of Innovate@Carolina programs like
Carolina Challenge.
18. +
MCforNC’s Plan
The Model
The HSL should run a series of 2-3 seminars of 1-1.5 hrs each.
Course will cover areas such as the following:
How to conduct efficient research
How to ask critical questions (and answer them)
Other fundamental components.
Also run small group discussions and research sessions with librarian
supervision.
19. +
MCforNC’s Plan
Market Research Sample Seminar Curriculum
30 minute intro by librarian/other market research expert
Topics covered:
Importance of market research
Techniques of market research (basic use of NCLive databases).
Spreadsheet of most relevant results with brief description of
potential competitors.
How to use library subscription resources to help
answer related questions (e.g. let's say you want to
develop vaccines that don't need refrigeration. Which, exactly, are
those vaccines, and which diseases are they trying to cure, and what
countries are those diseases in, and how would refrigeration-less
vaccines help those countries?)
20. +
MCforNC’s Plan
One on One Group Discussion Sample Curriculum
1.5 hours of One on One (primarily with groups such as Carolina
Challenge participants) where librarians would float and offer ideas and
advice.
Topics Covered:
Discuss with the teams their ideas.
Walk through the basic market research questions (who's your
customer? What do they need? How does this product solve their
problem?)
Next, discuss which specific resources would be good to answer
those questions
let students do research for about 45 minutes
come back, discuss results of research. What did they struggle
with? What did they answer? Where did they actually look?
Provide necessary feedback to make them better team.
21. +
How does the model tie in with HSL?
Tie in with 5 Key Areas of Focus
1) Space: The HSL would use its ample meeting space for teams to
meet and work along with library professionals
2) Visibility: Collaboration with other programs and association with
preparing innovators
3) Connections: Connection with other programs
4) Expertise: Librarians will teach students how to properly conduct
research amongst other skills
5) E-Resources: Students would learn to conduct research using HSL’s
subscribed databases
22. +
What is Next?
MCforNC Summer Plan
MCforNC will develop a survey to gauge student knowledge in areas such as market
research. Administer the survey with help of HSL. (This will provide the data to back our
model and give us an idea of what areas to focus on)
MCforNC will meet and discuss with other current Carolina incubators. Focus on
questions like why are some people rejected? what are they most often missing? How
would these programs like to see students improve/change? Based on the information we
receive, we will provide a final product of what seminars HSL should hold and a sample
curriculum of each seminar.
Follow up with HSL until they have all the speakers, and all of the seminars finalized, and
scheduled.
23. +
How to fit in the HSL?
HSL: Where the Road to Innovation Begins
24. +
Recap
The HSL wants to bolster innovation and play a role in Innovate@Carolina
Areas of Focus
1) Space
2) Visibility
3) Connections
4) Expertise
5) E-Resources
25. +
Recap
Solution: Provide seminars and classes to help students learn to think critically
about their ideas and give them the basic skills necessary to effectively convey
and proceed with their innovative ideas
Addressing the Areas of Focus
1) Space: Use of space for seminars and classes
2) Visibility: Exposure as part of Innovate@Carolina
3) Connections: Connect with other programs and schools
4) Expertise: Use of librarians as teachers
5) E-Resources: Use of databases and journals to teach students
26. +
Recap
Up Next
Survey students to gauge their research abilities and to provide data
to back model
Sit down with various UNC innovation programs and discuss what
they look for in student’s innovation plans
Continue refining the HSL’s model
Follow through with HSL until implementation
