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Entrepreneurship and Innovation

For Students: Experiential Learning

Mines empowers students to turn ideas into action through hands-on experiences that combine technical expertise with entrepreneurship and innovation. Across every program, you'll develop the problem-solving, leadership and business skills needed to transform discoveries into real-world solutions. Through industry projects, mentorship and collaborative learning opportunities, you'll graduate prepared to lead innovation in your field.

 

For Faculty: Advancing Science

Mines fosters a culture where research, innovation and entrepreneurship accelerate impact. Faculty are supported with resources, partnerships and commercialization pathways that help move discoveries beyond the lab and into practical application. By combining academic excellence with entrepreneurial thinking, faculty advance solutions to global challenges while preparing the next generation of innovators.

 

For Partners: Bringing Ideas to Market

Mines collaborates with industry, investors and entrepreneurs to transform promising ideas into market-ready technologies and ventures. By connecting technical innovation with business strategy, commercialization expertise and strong professional networks, we help accelerate the path from discovery to impact. Together, we create opportunities to launch new ventures and strengthen industries that drive economic growth and societal progress.

 

 

Access to Mines Resources

Mines Facilities

Great ideas and talent thrive in our primary technology-sharing and innovation spaces, including the Labriola Innovation Hub and Aramco xWorks Innovation Space.

Mines Talent

Colorado advanced technology companies and a global energy and materials sector rely on Mines faculty consultants and on a steady flow of STEM-minded interns and graduates. Partners include Lockheed Martin, Ball Aerospace, Newmont, Chevron, Xcel Energy and various agencies.

Mines Ventures

The Beck Venture Center and McNeil Center for Entrepreneurship and Innovation provide capital, ideas and community to drive scientific discovery and foster a culture where the spirit of innovation has the power to transform the world.

Mines Venture Fund

At the forefront of engineering and applied science innovation, Mines Venture Fund One (MVF1) is a strategic venture fund deeply integrated into Colorado School of Mines, a top-ranked R1 research university. This pioneering collaboration highlights the value of rigorous applied learning and financial support, demonstrating a commitment to transforming cutting-edge research, inventions and technological breakthroughs into solutions that redefine industries and shape the future. Operating alongside the university’s entrepreneurial and innovation programs—such as the Beck Venture Center, the Labriola Innovation Hub and the McNeil Center for Entrepreneurship and Innovation—MVF1 fuels scientific discovery and fosters a culture where the spirit of innovation has the power to transform the world.

Find an Alumni Mentor

Discover how Mines Alumni Entrepreneurship and Innovation Interest Group and other initiatives connect project teams with mentors who possess relevant industry and entrepreneurial experience.

Create a Prototype

Learn how the InnoHub provides advanced software tools, machinery and collaborative spaces for prototyping. The InnoHub Prototyping Fund (ProtoFund) supports student-led teams with up to $500 in initial funding and up to $2,000 in a second round, for prototyping materials and tools.

Get Funding

Discover how Mines provides pre-seed and seed funding to research-intensive, high-impact ventures with strong ties to Mines, as well as non-dilutive seed funding for student teams seeking to develop prototypes, validate business models and prepare for market entry.

Go to Market

Discover how the Beck Venture Center, McNeil Center and Oredigger Network can connect your team with alumni and industry experts and guide you to mentored showcases, pitch competitions and challenges.

Welcome to the Oredigger Way

Collaborative Research Initiatives

Mines works closely with industry, government and academic partners to address critical scientific and engineering challenges, including energy and environmental sustainability, mineral deposit and exploration research and sustainable stewardship of resources and supply chains for clean energy technologies.

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Structured Innovation Programs

Mines supports a suite of signature hands-on design experiences embedded in the curriculum and supported by dedicated spaces in the Innovation Hub, including Innov8x, the Cornerstone and Capstone Design Programs.

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Industry and Academic Partnerships

Mines maintains deep partnerships with industry leaders, academic institutions and government agencies, through collaborations with companies such as Chevron and partnerships with agencies like the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) and the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL).

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Global Initiatives

Mines extends its impact globally through educational and research collaborations, such as the Center for Mining Sustainability (Peru), Satbayev University (Kazakhstan), the Navoi State Mining Institute (Uzbekistan) and the University of Guam and AstroAmerica.

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