Multi-Disciplined Ecosystem-Centric Bioentrepreneurship Education: Case Study – University of San Francisco (USF)

Abstract

Bioentrepreneurship education has evolved into at least three different types, all of which co-exist: Education 1.0 - In Service of Biotechnology Startups, Education 2.0 – In Service of Biotechnology Innovation Ecosystems, and Education 3.0 – In Collaboration with Biotechnology Innovation Ecosystems. Examples are given at all levels, along with a Case Study of the Bioentrepreneurship (BioE) program at the University of San Francisco (USF). The USF program draws from twelve expertise disciplines described by the Bioenterprise Innovation Expertise Model (BIEM 2.0), those essential disciplines bioenterprise requires to bridge the science/technology discovery/invention through to viable commercial product life cycle. As a result, the USF program reaches graduate students across the university. The utilization of the BIEM 2.0 model throughout the BioE courses is discussed, as well as the incorporation into the curriculum of BioTech Nation interviews with biotechnology industry executives and scientists. Due to the COVID-19 Pandemic and the requirement to move the BioE courses to a remote modality, future plans include the development of a fully online Bioentrepreneurship (BioE) certificate, primarily targeting the California state biotechnology corridor of San Francisco, Los Angeles, Orange County, and San Diego Biotechnology Innovation Ecosystems. Additional new BioE courseware will address the growing sector of Digital Health.