Innovation & Entrepreneurship | Worcester Polytechnic Institute

Innovation and entrepreneurship flourish at WPI through:

Education and programs for students
Technology transfer services for inventors
A robust research enterprise
Campus spaces for makers and entrepreneurs

Through courses, team projects, and independent studies, students learn to think like entrepreneurs, create value with their work, and develop their innovative ideas into marketable products and companies.

WPI helps faculty members connect with peers and industry, amplify the impact of their work, and turn their research breakthroughs into new products, services, and businesses that make a difference to society.

And WPI has no shortage of space to create. Expert staff, advisors, and mentors support WPI inventors in classrooms, laboratories, the WPI Innovation Studio, and Core Research Facilities.

Are You a Faculty Member?

a female and male looking at equipment with a male in the background at a computer station

Are you a WPI faculty member with questions about how to protect and commercialize your invention? The Office of Technology Innovation and Entrepreneurship (OTIE) is ready to help with resources, connections to industry partners, formal and informal networking opportunities, and support for certain startups led by faculty, alumni, and community members.

Learn more about how OTIE can help you

Are You a Student?

two students discussing a project posterboard

WPI students are known for using their creativity and innovation to make the world better. The university is committed to nurturing the entrepreneurial spirit in students through the process of ideation, innovation, and incubation. Students are supported with cross-cutting curriculum, mentorship programs, entrepreneurial-focused information, and more.

Learn how the i3 Lab at the Innovation Center can help you

Alumni & Partners

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WPI’s spirit of innovation and entrepreneurship is bigger than our campus. Alumni may tap into WPI’s tech transfer resources, give back by supporting new programs, and serve as advisors to student entrepreneurs. Industry partners may sponsor research, collaborate with WPI on tech initiatives, and utilize WPI’s cutting-edge facilities.

Find out how WPI's I&E community could work for you.

Find Out About WPI's Research Enterprise

WPI researchers push boundaries because they are driven to make a difference in the lives of people and the way organizations achieve transformative results. Find out how WPI's commitment to an innovative research enterprise includes our cutting-edge Core Research Facilities, extensive lab equipment offerings, and is the foundation of the university’s entrepreneurial spirit.

Research at WPI

Finding Space to Create

Looking for a place to germinate ideas, test limits, refine details, and have fun? The McDonough Makerspace and adjacent Fitzgerald Prototype Lab in the Innovation Studio are available to the entire campus community.

Students may also apply to the MakerBucks program for up to $200 that can be applied toward academic, creative, or entrepreneurial endeavors. For questions about the program, please contact Mitra Anand at mvanand@wpi.edu.

Learn more about WPI's Makerspace

#17

of 25 private colleges where graduates go on to earn the most money

Newsweek (2021)

#63

most innovative schools

U.S. News & World Report (2025)

$1.7 billion

in funds raised for WPI startups over the last 10 years

$42.5 million

total research funding from government, corporate, and private sources through the Office of Sponsored Programs (FY 2023)