Celebrating 25 Years of Innovation Internships

The SBTDC’s Technology Commercialization Graduate Summer Internship Program concluded in July, marking the 25th anniversary of this long-standing initiative.

This summer, 21 graduate students from seven North Carolina university programs partnered with 38 innovation-based small businesses across the state during an intensive 11-week experience. Working alongside their client companies, interns contributed to a wide range of business development and commercialization projects, gaining firsthand experience in the challenges and opportunities of bringing innovative technologies to market.

Throughout the program, members of the SBTDC Technology Commercialization team provided mentorship and guidance, helping interns develop practical consulting skills while supporting successful project outcomes. Special thanks to Ramya Vijapurapu, Andrea Giska, Keith Savino, and Sheeba Dawood for their outstanding support and commitment to this year’s cohort.

We also appreciate the continued collaboration of NC Innovation and NC IDEA, whose financial support helped fund internships for students working with their grant awardee companies. These partnerships continue to strengthen North Carolina’s innovation ecosystem by connecting emerging talent with high-growth entrepreneurial ventures.

The internship program provides meaningful value to participating companies while giving students an immersive introduction to entrepreneurship, innovation commercialization, and business consulting. As we congratulate the 2026 cohort, we also celebrate a significant milestone—more than 300 graduate students have participated in the program since its launch in 2001, creating a lasting legacy of developing talent and supporting North Carolina’s innovation economy.