The Technology Entrepreneur Center [TEC] was created in the College of Engineering at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign in 2000. TEC equips students and faculty to develop an entrepreneurial mindset and create innovative startups with global impact by providing courses, programs, events, ecosystem resources, and opportunities. Created to highlight the University’s rich history and culture of innovation, 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 competitions, workshops and other curricular and extra-curricular events that expose students to the concepts of technology innovation and market adoption. TEC offers on campus and online courses and certificate programs and hosts outreach activities for students and alumni. TEC also administers the annual Cozad New Venture Challenge and the Illinois Innovation Award, among several other programs. Although part of the College of Engineering, the Center is interdisciplinary, having affiliated faculty members from several departments and colleges. TEC faculty members have produced an impressive body of collaborative research and publications in both theoretical and applied disciplines. As of June 2018, the Office of the Associate Dean for Innovation and Entrepreneurship oversees TEC.
