It takes a special person to be an entrepreneur. The successful ones need to have just the right blend of creativity, energy and the courage to take a risk.

That is the kind of student North Dakota State University hopes to attract to an upcoming program on entrepreneurship.

According to Ronald Johnson, dean of business administration, a major company plans to provide grant money to begin a cooperative pilot project between the College of Business Administration and the College of Engineering and Architecture. "It's a three-year program, and it will involve opportunities for students, especially students from those two colleges, to become engaged in specific projects where they may take an idea or product to market," he explained, noting that most program details are being withheld until the grant is formally announced.

Currently, NDSU's engineering students engage in some course work where they can develop new products and new ideas for the marketplace. "But, their real background is on the technical side," Johnson said. "By having a cooperative venture between our business and engineering faculty, students have a setting where they can take a look at the business side of entrepreneurship. You not only need an idea, but you must be able to assess financial viability."

In addition, he expects Master of Business Administration students to be among the first interested students.

Johnson foresees the NDSU Research and Technology Park and its Center for Technology Enterprise playing an important role in the entrepreneurship effort. The center, which is now under construction, will be a technology business incubator that provides venture capital, services, business networking and technical assistance. The center's $5.4 million first phase is expected to be completed in October.

"The Research and Technology Park should provide synergistic opportunities," Johnson said. "It already provides opportunities for students to work with the companies that are there now, and with the incubator, there will be even more opportunities. I clearly envision the park lighting a fire in students in terms of possibilities for innovative, creative activities.

"The value of the park is straightforward," he said. "Only a few hundred yards away, students and faculty have an opportunity to work with small, developing start-up firms. That's an opportunity that does not exist on most campuses; it's not the norm to have access to such a laboratory."

While the entrepreneurship program will focus on turning new ideas into profitable ventures, Johnson believes that a solid background in all business functions is necessary for success.

"When a person is starting an initial small endeavor, they aren't going to have a staff doing the marketing, accounting or finances. They will be doing those things themselves, and they are going to have to feel comfortable with all those arenas," Johnson said. "The college's primary obligation is to ensure a strong education in all areas of business."

Johnson is relatively new to campus, taking over his duties on July 1, 2005. He came to NDSU from the Arthur J. Kania School of Management, University of Scranton, Scranton, Pa., where he was the dean and professor of management. Prior to joining the University of Scranton in 1997, he was associate dean for graduate and international programs and MBA director at Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University.

His other professional work experience includes positions with Texas A&M University, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Northeast Louisiana University and the University of Nebraska-Lincoln. Johnson earned his bachelor's, master's and doctoral degrees at Indiana University.