(a) Findings
Congress makes the following findings:
(1) The National Science Foundation Innovation Corps (referred to in this section as the "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 National Science Foundation-funded research well beyond the laboratory.
(2) Through I-Corps, the Foundation invests in entrepreneurship and commercialization education, training, and mentoring that can ultimately lead to the practical deployment of technologies, products, processes, and services that improve the Nation's competitiveness, promote economic growth, and benefit society.
(3) 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.
(4) By translating federally funded research to a commercial stage more quickly and efficiently, programs like the I-Corps create new jobs and companies, help solve societal problems, and provide taxpayers with a greater return on their investment in research.
(5) The I-Corps program model has a strong record of success that should be replicated at all Federal science agencies.
(b) Sense of Congress
It is the sense of Congress that—
(1) commercialization of federally funded research can improve the Nation's competitiveness, grow the economy, and benefit society;
(2) I-Corps is a useful tool in promoting the commercialization of federally funded research by training researchers funded by the Foundation in entrepreneurship and commercialization;
(3) I-Corps should continue to build a network of entrepreneurs, educators, mentors, and institutions and support specialized education and training;
(4) researchers other than those funded by the Foundation may also benefit from the education and training described in paragraph (3); and
(5) I-Corps should continue to promote a strong innovation system by investing in and supporting female entrepreneurs through mentorship, education, and training because they are historically underrepresented in entrepreneurial fields.
(c) I-Corps program
(1) In general
In order to promote a strong, lasting foundation for the national innovation ecosystem and increase the positive economic and social impact of federally funded research, the Director of the Foundation shall set forth eligibility requirements and carry out a program to award grants for entrepreneurship and commercialization education, training, and mentoring.
(2) Expansion of I-Corps
(A) In general
The Director—
(i) shall encourage the development and expansion of I-Corps and other training programs that focus on professional development, including education in entrepreneurship and commercialization; and
(ii) may establish an agreement with another Federal science agency—
(I) to make researchers, students, and institutions funded by that agency eligible to participate in the I-Corps program; or
(II) to assist that agency with the design and implementation of its own program that is similar to the I-Corps program.
(B) Partnership funding
In negotiating an agreement with another Federal science agency under subparagraph (A)(ii), the Director shall require that Federal science agency to provide funding for—
(i) the training for researchers, students, and institutions selected for the I-Corps program; and
(ii) the locations that Federal science agency designates as regional and national infrastructure for science and engineering entrepreneurship.
(3) Follow-on grants
(A) In general
Subject to subparagraph (B), the Director, in consultation with the Director of the Small Business Innovation Research Program, shall make funds available for competitive grants, including to I-Corps participants, to help support—
(i) prototype or proof-of-concept development; and
(ii) such activities as the Director considers necessary to build local, regional, and national infrastructure for science and engineering entrepreneurship.
(B) Limitation
Grants under subparagraph (A) shall be limited to participants with innovations that because of the early stage of development are not eligible to participate in a Small Business Innovation Research Program or a Small Business Technology Transfer Program.
(4) State and local partnerships
The Director may engage in partnerships with State and local governments, economic development organizations, and nonprofit organizations to provide access to the I-Corps program to support entrepreneurship education and training for researchers, students, and institutions under this subsection.
(5) Reports
The Director shall submit to the appropriate committees of Congress a biennial report on I-Corps program efficacy, including metrics on the effectiveness of the program. Each Federal science agency participating in the I-Corps program or that implements a similar program under paragraph (2)(A) shall contribute to the report.
(6) Definitions
In this subsection, the terms "Small Business Innovation Research Program" and "Small Business Technology Transfer Program" have the meanings given those terms in section
638 of title 15.