The Innovation Co-Lab is a department of Oregon State University-Cascades that helps innovators turn their ideas into reality.
At the same time, we train tomorrow's innovators by giving them experiential learning opportunities that grow businesses or non-profits.
We work with innovators, creators, founders, and managers in the community as well as the university. We work with:
Startups
Businesses
Nonprofits
We help our clients build and sell new, amazing things. As a result, we create jobs, help our clients get funding, and grow the economy in Oregon.
At the same time, our student interns learn through real-world projects and build skills they can use in their careers.
The Co-Lab provides one-on-one coaching. As a Co-Lab client, we help you stay accountable to your goals, lower the risk of starting a business, and help you learn:
Additionally, you may join our facilitated startup group with Opportunity Knocks or join our online mentor network.
The Co-Lab and Opportunity Knocks are running a Launchpad Workshop in November 2022.
This introductory workshop will discuss how you can:
Learn more about how the Co-Lab works with businesses and nonprofits while helping students develop job skills.
Client Projects
The Co-Lab employs student interns as junior consultants that work on a variety of projects. With coaching from the Executive Director, business students build marketing plans, setup social media for clients, research leads, and manage projects. Computer Science students build web apps, mobile apps, data dashboards and more.
Additionally, the Co-Lab runs a high-school program each summer called STEM-Pathways to teach high-schoolers about how to create products. In this paid internship, students complete up to 2 projects for local businesses, government agencies, or nonprofits. In 2021, students built sensors in conjunction with the Oregon Manufacturing Extension Partnership and in 2022, students completed the pitch for DreamUp and built a data and grant tracking dashboard for Central Oregon STEM Hub.
Ecosystem and Infrastructure Projects
The Executive Director and student consultants also take on projects to benefit the community. For examples, the Co-Lab assisted with the disbursement of several million dollars of Small Business Relief Funds with Central Oregon Intergovernmental Counsel, is the principal investigator for building an Innovation Hub in Central Oregon and is assisting with the development of the Innovation District on OSU-Cascades’ campus.
Get access to our coaching, student consultancy, and other resources that you need to launch your new venture.
If you are interested in working with the Co-Lab, please contact the Executive Director.
The Innovation Co-Lab is located at the Graduate Research Center on the second floor.