Strategic Management in the Life and Engineering Sciences - Program Overview

The SMILES program produces the founders, leaders, and advisors of organizations seeking to bring new technologies to market in ways that improve the quality of life for the world's peoples.  It is our aim to solidify UW-Madison's global leadership role in fusing leading-edge science, strategy, and policy making. 

Our courses provide insights in innovation areas of intellectual property law, entrepreneurial growth strategies and business planning, and advanced financial analytics necessary to evaluate uncertain technologies in new-to-market products.

Students who complete the SMILES program will leave with a well-established network of contacts in all the stakeholder groups essential to the success of high-growth science-based ventures -- these include governmental policy makers, the world's top scientists, venture capitalists, legal, and consulting firms, and the leaders of science-based firms themselves.  Because enrollment is limited to a small number of students per year, all have the opportunity to meet regularly with CEOs and other key industry players.