NSF I-Corps Hub (Track 2): Great Plains Region

这个I-Corps枢纽的更广泛的影响/商业潜力：大平原地区项目是在美国农村的框架内发展一个以大学为基础的发明家和企业家的区域网络，以加速将联邦资助的研究转化为有益于社会的技术解决方案，提高商业化，并创造经济增长。大平原地区提供了一个机会，利用I-Corps的最佳做法，通过在地理上分散的枢纽机构之间实施结构化和正式的系统来启动该地区的创业生态系统，以增加信息和机会的流动。来自Hub成员机构的深度技术研究人员将被招募，根据他们的科学发现探索商业机会，并确定潜在的市场途径。该中心最初将经历一个准备阶段，以获得知识，成功地为中心成员和大平原社区的其他人提供区域I-Corps培训。 此外，还将奠定基础，将团队和项目与完成开发和扩大发现影响所需的人员、组织和资源联系起来。该中心还将优先考虑扩大参与，包括与部落学院和大学合作。 将招募代表性不足的群体和服务不足的少数民族，包括美洲原住民，并为专业发展和社区建设提供丰富的方案。这个I-Corps Hubs项目是基于一个课程的开发，该课程将科学探究和工业发现整合在一个由严谨，相关性和证据驱动的包容性，数据驱动的文化中。该中心项目将为该课程准备和建立文化和基础设施，这些课程通常在城市技术生态系统中实施。I-Corps在大平原的实施将寻求确定使I-Corps在该地区的培训独特的具体因素，这可能会导致有益的和可推广的见解，可以使近20%的美国公民受益生活在农村环境中，其中大部分是农业。随着全球性事件威胁到粮食供应，在大平原地区促进农业和农业技术部门的创新可能变得更加重要。I-Corps培训的预期成果包括在参与的科学家和工程师中培养创业心态，使他们能够利用经济驱动力更好地集中研究方向。最初的八所合作大学共同组成了这个I-Corps Hub，将增加区域联系，分享挑战和成功故事，以及区域发展和经济影响。这个奖项反映了NSF的法定使命，并通过使用基金会的知识价值和更广泛的影响审查标准进行评估，被认为值得支持。

The broader impact/commercial potential of this I-Corps Hubs: Great Plains Region project is the development of a regional network of university-based inventors and entrepreneurs within the framework of rural America to accelerate the translation of federally funded research into technology solutions that benefit society, enhance commercialization, and create economic growth. The Great Plains Region presents an opportunity to utilize I-Corps best practices to jumpstart the region’s entrepreneurial ecosystem by implementing structured and formal systems among the geographically dispersed Hub institutions to increase the flow of information and opportunities. Deep technology researchers from across Hub member institutions will be recruited to explore commercial opportunities based on their scientific discoveries and identify potential pathways to market. The Hub will initially go through a readiness phase to acquire the knowledge to succeed operationally in providing regional I-Corps training to Hub members and others in the Great Plains community. In addition, a foundation will be laid to connect teams and projects to the people, organizations, and resources needed to complete the development and scale the impact of the discoveries. The Hub also will prioritize broadening participation including partnering with Tribal Colleges and Universities. Underrepresented groups and underserved minorities, including Native Americans, will be recruited and offered enriching programming for professional development and community building. This I-Corps Hubs project is based on the development of a curriculum that integrates scientific inquiry and industrial discovery in an inclusive, data-driven culture powered by rigor, relevance, and evidence. This Hub project will prepare and build a culture and infrastructure for this curriculum that has most often been implemented in urban tech ecosystems. Implementation of I-Corps in the Great Plains will seek to identify specific factors that make I-Corps training in the region unique, which may lead to beneficial and generalizable insights that could benefit the almost 20% of US citizens that live in rural settings, most of which are agriculturally based. Fostering innovation in the agricultural and agriculture technology sectors within the Great Plains Region may become even more important as global events threaten the food supply. Anticipated outcomes of I-Corps training include the development of an entrepreneurial mindset in the scientists and engineers who participate, leading them to better focus their research directions using economic drivers. The initial eight partner universities who together form this I-Corps Hub, will increase regional connections and the sharing of challenges and success stories, as well as regional development and economic impact.This award reflects NSF's statutory mission and has been deemed worthy of support through evaluation using the Foundation's intellectual merit and broader impacts review criteria.