Sec. 307. Innovation Corps
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/bill/114/hr/1898/ih/section-307·A research copy — for the controlling text, always check the official state or federal source. Not legal advice.
It is the sense of Congress that— the National Science Foundation’s Innovation Corps (I–Corps) was established to foster a national innovation ecosystem by encouraging institutions, scientists, engineers, and entrepreneurs to identify and explore the innovation and commercial potential of Foundation-funded research well beyond the laboratory; the Foundation’s I–Corps includes investments in entrepreneurship and commercialization education, training, and mentoring, ultimately leading to the practical deployment of technologies, products, processes, and services that improve the Nation’s competitiveness, promote economic growth, and benefit society; and by building networks of entrepreneurs, educators, mentors, institutions, and collaborations, and supporting specialized education and training, I–Corps is at the leading edge of a strong, lasting foundation for an American innovation ecosystem.
The Director shall carry out a program to award grants for entrepreneurship and commercialization education to Foundation-funded researchers to increase the economic and social impact of federally funded research. The purpose of the program shall be to increase the capacity of STEM researchers and students to successfully engage in entrepreneurial activities and to help transition the results of federally funded research into the marketplace by— identifying STEM research that can lead to the practical deployment of technologies, products, processes, and services that improve the Nation’s economic competitiveness; bringing STEM researchers and students together with entrepreneurs, venture capitalists, and other industry representatives experienced in commercialization of new technologies; supporting entrepreneurship and commercialization education and training for faculty, students, postdoctoral fellows, and other STEM researchers; and promoting the development of regional and national networks of entrepreneurs, venture capitalists, and other industry representatives who can serve as mentors to researchers and students at Foundation-funded institutions across the country.
Grants awarded under this subsection may be used to help support— prototype and proof-of-concept development for the funded project; and additional activities needed to build a national infrastructure for STEM entrepreneurship. The Director may establish agreements with other Federal agencies that fund scientific research to make researchers funded by those agencies eligible to participate in the Foundation’s Innovation Corps program.