SHS Believe in Ohio (BiO) Guidelines
Information taken from Believe in Ohio Talking Points
What is STEM?
Science Technology Engineering Mathematics
What is a BiO STEM Commercialization Plan?
(SHS science students only option is the STEM Commercialization Plan NOT the STEM Business Plan)
A STEM Commercialization Plan is a written document that describes how a new and/or an existing
STEM concept, prototype, process, idea or technology (or a combination of multiple STEM concepts,
processes, ideas or technologies) may be applied, or further developed to provide a solution to a
marketplace or societal problem, need or opportunity.
A STEM Commercialization Plan essentially provides a written “Science & Technology Proof of
Concept” to support an innovative new product or service concept or idea that is being proposed. As
such, a STEM Commercialization Plan includes both a persuasive science and technology assessment
and plan, coupled with a discussion of the concept’s likely commercial feasibility and viability.
A plan is typically developed by a STEM researcher or practitioner skilled in the various STEM
disciplines who conceives and develops the idea, and ideally obtains intellectual property protection for
his/her concept idea. Typically the type of person or team that develops this type of plan is a “scientist”
as opposed to a “business person”. A student
who develops a STEM Commercialization Plan can expect that his or her plan will be judged by a team
of STEM academics, researchers and/or practitioners who will be first and foremost interested in the
quality of the student’s science and technology assessment and research plan, and secondarily,
although importantly, in the students assessment of the
commercial feasibility of their proposal.
STEM Commercialization Plan categories:
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Advanced Materials
Aerospace & Aviation
Agriculture, Food Technology & Bio-Products
Computer Science & Information Technology
Energy (Alternative Energy and Energy Storage)
Environmental Technology
Medical Devices, Products & Services
Cellular, Molecular, Genomic, Pharmaceutical & Regenerative Medicine
Sensing & Automation Technologies and Manufacturing
Judging of Plans see STEM Commercialization Plan Judging Criteria (page 5 of document)
The official judging of the Plans will be done on the following system. I will establish a RUBRIC with the same
percentages. A detailed RUBRIC (with specific point values) will be provided at a later date
Communication
20%
Commercial Feasibility
20%
STEM Concepts & Principles
20%
Science and Technology Proof of Concept
40%
There will also be a separate score for the presentation of the plan.
Believe in Ohio Roadmap - 12 Mileposts (Steps to Completion)
A large-scale roadmap is available for students to view in the classroom.
Believe in Ohio Roadmap Milepost Details
Part 1 - Quarter 2 Milepost 1 - Problem Statement - Pain Point - Market Opportunity
This is the hardest part of the process. What is an idea or issue that you want to work on?
Start by looking around you at needs that aren’t being fulfilled, problems that remain unsolved, and things that
don’t work. How could technological developments have made possible or could make possible products, services,
and solutions that simply weren’t possible before.
Don’t stop with just the first idea. Are there any similar problems or related issues. Are there any other
issues/problems in your or the world that you think need addressing?
Milepost 2 - What is your proposed solution?
What are your solutions to some of the problems from milepost 1. Is your solution new and/or innovative? Are you
creating a new product or service or enhancing an existing product or service with new features or capabilities that
can be successfully developed into a real world business opportunity and then taken to market?
Milepost 3 - What STEM concepts underlie your proposed solution?
What are the key science and technology concept(s) and advances that you plan to apply to address the problems
and solutions previously identified in mileposts 1 & 2?
Milepost 4 - Who are your target customers and intended users?
Who would buy this product? Who are the target customers? What is the size of the market (market share) that
these customers represent? Is this an idea for millions or just a small group of people? Keep in mind the difference
between the customer and and the end user. If the product is for children then the customer is an adult.
Milepost 5 - Who are your competitors?
What other similar products are there to yours? Specifically how is your product/service different? What can you
learn from your competitors?
Due Date #1 - November 24 (steps 1 through 5 due)
Checkpoint 1 - Is your idea and the corresponding science sound
At this point you should be hooked up with a mentor provide from the Ohio Academy of Sciences to help
you.
Part 2 - Quarter 2
Milepost 6 - What is your customer value proposition & competitive advantage?
Describe what you believe to be the “consumer value proposition” your solution offers? A customer value
proposition is a business or marketing statement that describes why a customer should buy a product or use a
service. It is specifically targeted towards potential customers. What is your competitive advantage? What does
your product offer that similar products do not? Cost? Features? Efficiency? Speed?
Milepost 7 - What revenue streams do you expect?
How much money do you expect to earn? Partial list of potential revenue streams: product sales through
middlemen, wholesalers or direct to customers, fees for a services performed, subscription fees, usage fees. What
are the potential streams and how large would they be?
Milepost 8 - What startup & operating costs do you expect to incur?
What costs need to be incurred for testing prototypes and testing? Will you manufacture a product yourself, or
outsource it to others? What kind and levels of staffing will be needed to bring your plan idea(s) to fruition? What
are the costs your project will incur?
Due Date #2 - December 11 (steps 1 through 8 due)
Checkpoint 2 - Is your idea marketable and would it profitable?
Traffic Light - STOP!! In your opinion does your solution and plan make
commercial sense?
If NOT...then start again at Milepost 1 and repeat until you are satisfied that
your solution makes commercial sense.
If YES!! Write your plan by following through on Mileposts 9-12
Part 3 - Quarter 3
Prepare 2 visuals for the SHS Science Exhibition. The exhibition will be held the evening of
January ???
- You must have a tri-fold as well as one other visual.
The “other” visual could be e a prototype, demonstration, looping video or something else that onlookers can view.
if doing a video you will have to supply your own device on which to show it - be aware that outlets may be scarce.
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- You must be present the evening of the exhibition to present and defend your plan (so far).
Due Date #3 - January ??? (steps 1-8 and ready for exhibition)
Part 4 - Quarter 3 - Finish this!
Milepost 9 - Summarize the STEM concepts & principles underlying your solution
If your idea is based largely on existing or developed science that has not previously been applied in the way you
propose, discuss how that science provides a feasible basis for your product, service or other concept idea. What
additional science research or development may be required to bring your concept to fruition. (500 words or
fewer; based on Milepost 3)
Milepost 10 - Summarize in writing your commercialization assessment of your plan.
Summarize your conclusions as to the commercial feasibility of your Plan. Include a discussion of the following:
● The problem, pain point or market opportunity you are seeking to address.
● Your proposed solution.
● Who your target customer(s) are. Who your intended users are, and how they may be different from your
customers.
● Who your competitors are and on what basis you expect to compete with them.
● What your customer value proposition is and what competitive advantage your solution offers.
● What principal revenue streams you foresee gathering.
● What significant startup and operating costs your expect the development of your venture will require.
● Your overall assessment of the commercial feasibility of your plan.
Milepost 11 - Develop a science & technology proof of concept
This section provides an assessment of the science and technology concepts and principles underlying your
proposed idea and provides a proof of concept for the feasibility of the idea.
Your discussion should include:
● Your review and assessment of the scientific literature related to your idea. What is already known about
this idea?
● A description of your findings with relevant, cited references that you will include in a list of cited references
in the end of your Plan.
● Your statement of a single, clear and compelling testable hypothesis or engineering design.
● An inquiry or design-based discussion rather than simply a summary of knowledge. You may include a
discussion of prototypes and models you may have created (including computer and mathematical
models) with strong data analyses. Discuss additional research, design or analyses that should be done.
● Data tables, graphs, charts, sketches, engineering drawings, or photos of prototypes or models, and cited
references.
Milepost 12 - Prepare an executive summary of your entire plan
The executive summary is a concise summary of your plan (like an abstract). The executive summary must be
written in a manner that a person who is not familiar with the topic can understand your plan’s important
Due Date #4 - March ??? - The final plan!
Basic Plan Preparation Instructions
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Shall not exceed 12-single spaced, typewritten pages, minimum 10 point type.
ALL PLANS MUST BE TYPED
ALL PLANS MUST HAVE 1” MARGINS
Clear and concise writing (technical writing.)
Number all pages except cover sheet
Type all pages flush left
Single or 1. spaced
Fonts may be Times New Roman, Century Schoolbook, Arial, Calibri or Myriad Pro
APA Format for all references
Suggestions / Additional Thoughts on Final Plan Preparation
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Have someone other than your science teacher proofread your Plan.
Good ideas that are not professionally presented may go unnoticed.
Make sure you use APA format correctly such as …….by Smith (2014) or (Smith 2014) DO
NOT USE FOOTNOTES!
List references alphabetically at the end of your paper. DO NOT USE “BIBLIOGRAPHY” it is not
the same as references.