Nichols honored nationally for fostering technology innovation

UT Austin College of Engineering -- April 6, 2005 News Release

Steven Nichols, a mechanical engineering professor and an associate vice president for research for The University of Texas at Austin, recently received the Olympus Innovation Award from the National Collegiate Inventors and Innovators Alliance (NCIIA).

Nichols, who directs the Clint W. Murchison Chair of Free Enterprise, received the inaugural award March 18 for his visionary development and implementation of an integrated technology entrepreneur program at the university, and work to create similar programs at 17 other universities globally. He was honored at the NCIIA’s San Diego meeting involving Olympus America Inc., which co-sponsored the award.

The NCIIA noted that Nichols’ innovative and interdisciplinary education, research and service programs have expanded student opportunities for entrepreneurship, while increasing the number of start-up companies based on university developed technology.