Entrepreneurship in iGEM is about fostering the development of a new industry where Synthetic Biology is the underlying technological platform. As with any new industry, it is not clear which business plans will be the most successful. But, there are also more fundamental questions: What Business models will succeed, how will intellectual property affect company formation and funding, what skills are required at each stage of company’s life cycle, how will government policies promote or hinder new companies, what will be the social contract with Synthetic Biology companies, [Insert your question here]?

For this first year we will be considering at least four tracks examining critical business, regulatory and market issues that will determine the path of the Synthetic Biology industry:
* Business Plans
* Economic and Business Models
* Industry Development
* Business and Regulation
If you have an idea for a project that does not fit in any of these tracks, let us know and we will figure out how to make it work.

iGEM HQ has just published the following:

Hurricane Sandy has been a natural catastrophe with major flooding and outages in New York, New Jersey and Washington DC. While Boston is recovering well and Logan airport is open, many flights have been cancelled. We are concerned that some iGEM teams will be delayed or unable to attend the Jamboree.

We are trying to prepare alternative methods of participation for teams who are affected by Hurricane Sandy causing them to be delayed or miss the Jamboree altogether.

IF your travel plans have been affected, please let iGEM Headquarters know as soon as possible.

See the Jamboree contingency page for details.

Dear colleagues and friends, we thank everyone who called to check-in with us as the hurricane passed through New England. There are still many people without power, but it appears the worst of the weather is now behind us. The Jamboree is still expected to proceed this weekend as scheduled. We understand there are significant flight delays. Do be sure to monitor your flights, especially if you are scheduled to connect in NYC or another city in the affected hurricane area (East Coast US). Please contact us either by phone: +1.617.500.3106 or email: jose AT igem.org or hq AT igem DOT org.

The iGEM Entrepreneurship registration is now open. The registration fee for the Entrepreneurship Division is set at the same level as the collegiate World Championship Fee, and therefore Entrepreneurship Division participants will have access to not only the Entrepreneurship Division events but also all World Championship events. The registration link is at http://regonline.com/igem2012ent. The hotel booking link is at https://2012.igem.org/World_Championship_Jamboree/Hotels. We look forward to seeing everyone soon.

We will be opening up registration along with the World Championship registration after the regional Jamborees of the collegiate competition have concluded. iGEM HQ has generously set the registration fee for the Entrepreneurship Division the same as the collegiate World Championship Fee, and therefore Entrepreneurship Division participants will have access to not only the Entrepreneurship Division events but also all World Championship events. Stay tuned for more details. In the mean time, you may want to book your hotels at https://2012.igem.org/World_Championship_Jamboree/Hotels .

Several of the teams have noted that this is the first week for many of them after the summer vacation. Therefore, in fairness to all the teams, we have extended the deadline to submit the elevator pitch videos and presentations to Saturday September 8, 2012. In addition, if you would like feedback before posting please email Jose J. Pacheco (jose AT igem.org) to schedule a video conference call.

Registration for the inaugural year of the Entrepreneurship Division has closed. We have sixteen teams registered: Eleven from North and South America, one from China, and four from Europe. The teams have just started developing their plans and deciding on their projects. Stay tuned here for more information as the summer progresses.

Any questions can be directed to iGEM Headquarters (hq AT igem.org) or Jose J. Pacheco (jose AT igem.org).

As the first round of registration closes, we are excited by the energy and interest that the Entrepreneurship Division has garnered around the Globe. Since this is the the first year, we have heard from several potential teams that the process of securing the support from the business advisors is taking a little bit longer than expected. Therefore, we are now opening up a late registration period. Please proceed to create a team as usual.

Online registration for the iGEM 2012 Entrepreneurship Competition is now open.The fun begins.

Any questions can be directed to iGEM Headquarters (hq AT igem.org) or Jose J. Pacheco (jose AT igem.org).

See who is sponsoring the iGEM 2012 E Competition on the sponsors page!