Mission Statement

The Technology Entrepreneur Center (TEC) is an interdisciplinary program in the College of Engineering engaging a vast pool of faculty, students, and alumni to provide the education, experiences, and resources that students need to become innovative leaders and empower them to change the world around them.

About

Created in 2000 to highlight the University’s rich history and culture of innovation, the TEC continues to inspire its students to become the next generation of world-changing visionaries, leaders and entrepreneurs.  This is accomplished through its courses, venture and product competitions, workshops, and other curricular and extra-curricular events that expose students to the complex concepts inherent in the simultaneous processes of technology innovation and market adoption. The Center offers on-site and online certificate programs for education and professional development and hosts outreach activities for students and alumni. The TEC also administers the annual V. Dale Cozad New Venture Competition and the $30,000 Lemelson-MIT Illinois Student Prize for innovation, among several other programs.