Technology Commercialization Graduate Certificate
Through a partnership between the Haslam College of Business and the Tickle College of Engineering, the technology commercialization certificate allows you to turn innovation into technology commercialization. Our graduates gain hands-on experience working with real technologies while building the skills to lead innovation in startups, industry, and national labs.
Program overview
The graduate certificate in technology commercialization prepares graduate students and professionals to transform technical discoveries into real-world products, services, and ventures. Through an interdisciplinary partnership between the Haslam College of Business and the Tickle College of Engineering, participants develop expertise in intellectual property, market analysis, commercialization strategy, venture creation, and leadership while gaining hands-on experience working on real technologies.
Why get a Certificate in Technology Commercialization at UT?
The University of Tennessee offers a distinctive combination of engineering, business, and applied commercialization experience. Rather than learning commercialization only through case studies, students work alongside faculty, industry mentors, and commercialization professionals to apply proven frameworks to real technologies emerging from universities, national laboratories, and industry. This blend of academic rigor, interdisciplinary collaboration, and experiential learning prepares graduates to confidently navigate the path from innovation to impact.
What can you do with a Certificate in Technology Commercialization?
The technology commercialization certificate prepares graduates to lead innovation and commercialization efforts across startups, corporations, research institutions, and investment organizations. Participants develop highly sought-after skills in technology evaluation, strategic decision-making, intellectual property, market validation, venture development, and cross-functional leadership. Graduates are well positioned for careers such as technology commercialization manager, product manager, innovation leader, venture founder, licensing professional, corporate development analyst, or technology-focused venture capital analyst.
Featured Courses
Below are some of the courses that students in our program can choose to take. For a list of all courses, visit the graduate catalog.
ENT 550 Introduction to Technology Commercialization
Provides an introduction and overview into the process of commercializing technology. Research at institutions including universities, government laboratories and private corporations often leads to inventions that become intellectual property (IP). The ultimate value of that IP depends on its potential to solve a customer problem at price that exceeds the cost to provide the solution. This is most often accomplished by a new venture, or product development within a corporation. The processes and frameworks taught will provide the participant with tools to evaluate the viability of the idea as a business opportunity and develop a strategy to move the idea from the laboratory to the market.
IE 539 Strategic Management in Technical Organizations
Strategic planning process and strategic management in practice; corporate vision and mission; product, market, organizational, and financial strategies; external factors; commercialization of new technologies; and competition and beyond.
LEEP 526 Leadership and Technology Commercialization Practicum
The Technology Commercialization Practicum offers students a guided, hands-on experience in advancing real technologies from concept to market impact. Serving as the applied component of the technology commercialization certificate, this course integrates leadership development with structured coaching and communication methods.
Working in interdisciplinary teams and under the mentorship of faculty, commercialization professionals, and industry advisors, participants will:
- Apply commercialization frameworks to real technologies emerging from university, government, or industry research labs.
- Develop and refine practical skills in intellectual property assessment, market validation, business model design, licensing strategy, and venture development.
- Strengthen leadership capacity by practicing self-leadership, team leadership, and stakeholder engagement skills essential for commercialization success.
- Translate classroom learning into measurable outputs such as opportunity briefs, commercialization strategies, or investor/industry presentations.
By bridging the analytical tools of business and engineering with the leadership and communication competencies critical to execution, the practicum positions students as active contributors to real-world innovation ecosystems.
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