NSF I-Corps Southeast Hub - Clemson University
A cutting-edge partnership across the Southeast, advancing university-developed deep technology-based ventures.
southeast hub
Goals & Mission
The Southeast Region I-Corps Hub is committed to transforming the university innovation process, empowering researchers, and fostering a robust regional and national ecosystem for technological advancement and commercialization.
Clemson's I-Corps Staff
The NSF I-Corps Southeast Hub staff at Clemson are here to assist faculty and students in their journeys from lab research to entrepreneurial innovations.
meet the expert
Tanju Karanfil, PhD
As Senior Vice President for Research, Scholarship and Creative Endeavors, Tanju Karanfil has spearheaded numerous initiatives to nurture research activity and collaboration, foster the professional development of faculty, expand partnership with industry and other external organizations, and secure high-value interdisciplinary research projects. Since 2015, Clemson has earned nearly 100 research awards valued at or above $2 million, for a total of more than $550 million. He serves as Clemson's PI for the NSF I-Corps Southeast Hub grant.
meet the expert
Mark A. Roth, EdD, EdS, MBA
Mark is a Senior Business Development Associate at CURF and serves as an I-Corps Liaison for the Southeast Hub. As a United States Army veteran, Mark has a long career in both entrepreneurship and higher education. He has started or been a principal member of fourteen businesses and has raised over $1B to support those enterprises, three of which he has taken to public markets. Mark works closely with faculty across the university, and more specifically, within the College of Engineering, Computer, and Applied Sciences (CECAS) and College of Business.
meet the expert
Pushparajah "Thava" Thavarajah, PhD, MBA
Thava is a Business Development Associate at CURF and serves as an I-Corps Liaison for the Southeast Hub. He has over ten years of experience in higher education and another ten years in industry. His specialties cover agriculture, chemistry, food, and nutrition. Thava has worked extensively across the US, Canada, China, and Sri Lanka as an inventor, scientist, and director of companies. He supports faculty across the university, and more specifically, within the College of Agriculture, Forestry, and Life Sciences (CAFLS) and College of Science.
meet the COORDINATOR
Heather M. Lynch, MBA
Our Calendar of Events
Stay up-to-date with all things I-Corps Southeast Hub at Clemson University! Click on the titles for more information.
Frequently Asked Questions
The U.S. National Science Foundation Innovation Corps (I-CorpsTM) Hubs form the operational backbone of the National Innovation Network (NIN), which consists of universities, NSF-funded and other researchers, established entrepreneurs, local and regional entrepreneurial communities, and federal agencies.
Hubs work collaboratively to build and sustain diverse and inclusive innovation networks across the country. Through its national and regional training programs, Hubs train researchers to bring promising ideas from the laboratory to the marketplace.
The Southeast Hub is one of thirteen hubs nationwide. It is a collaboration of universities led by the Georgia Institute of Technology (Georgia Tech) and includes Clemson, University of Alabama, University of Florida, University of Miami, University of Central Florida, University of South Florida and Morehouse College.
NSF Southeast I-Corps Hub aims to address regional inequities in access to capital, experienced entrepreneurs, mentors and advisors for deep technology researchers. It will provide entrepreneurial training to researchers and students, increase engagement with the Southern community in terms of startups and technology commercialization, and increase interest in science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) fields, especially among underrepresented groups.
Any of our Southeast Hub staff members would be more than happy to assist you and answer questions you may have! You can email us at nsficorps@clemson.edu.