Grant Establishes First Commonwealth Productization Center at Millersville
Millersville University has received a Pennsylvania State System of Higher Education (PASSHE) University/Business Infrastructure Seed Grant to establish the Computer Software Productization Center (CSPC). The Center is founded on the expertise of MU faculty and students, as well as local community advisors.
The CSPS initiative, the first of its kind in the Commonwealth, involves interdisciplinary collaboration. A team of MU faculty and students in computer science, business, and communication will shepherd Central Pennsylvania entrepreneurial computer software ideas from the drawing board to commercial ready applications.
Dr. Stephanie Elzer, computer science, Dr. Pat McCaskey, business, and Dr. Theresa Russell-Loretz, communication and theatre, serve on the faculty steering committee. They will receive release time to recruit and work with CSPC community advisory board to identify and purchase necessary resources and outfit workspace for faculty, students and community stakeholders and supervise student interns.
"Software Productization" refers to the process of turning a rudimentary software concept or early prototype into a marketable product.
"Once the collaboration with the MU CSPC is complete, the entrepreneur will be prepared to sell the product, either by raising additional funds through existing companies or venture capitalists, or by directly selling to a customer base," said Elzer, the principal investigator of the project. The MU CSPC will assist local entrepreneurs with market research, the technical implementation of a working prototype of the software, the development of business and marketing plans for the launching of the product, and the branding and physical packaging of the product.
Elzer noted students will play a large role in the process.
"Students will be key in designing and implementing the software, conducting market research and developing business, communication and branding plans. They will have many opportunities for hands-on internships and employment," Elzer said.
The goals of the Center are: to serve regional economic and community development needs; to enhance the quality of instruction and learning resources for MU students; and to link the University community to regional business resources. The Center hopes to successfully pilot three software productization projects by January 2011.
The PASSHE grant of $182,541 will be matched by Millersville University over three years for $203,700.