EAGER: Using the I Corps and Lean Launchpad Methodology to Unlock Innovation Potential in Moderate and Undergraduate Research Focused HBCUs

这个热切的项目致力于在创新领域具有变革潜力的研究。该项目涉及一项研究，评估创新团(i-Corps)模式和精益启动板方法在HBCU培养企业家心态和值得创新的概念的潜力，而HBCU传统上没有密集的研究举措。创新是21世纪经济增长和繁荣的最重要驱动力之一，但根据美国创新人口统计报告，只有8%的少数族裔、12%的女性和不到0.05%的非裔美国人是创新者。为了保持美国作为全球创新领导者的地位，我们必须释放我们所有公民的创新潜力。90%的HBCU不是研究密集型机构，代表着新的和创新的想法的未开发资源。为了让这些学术群体参与创新和创业，该项目将重新设计i-Corps课程以适应HBCU本科生研究，管理为期七周的创业学者计划，培训i-Corps和精益Launchpad方法论的教师，并评估i-Corps新课程在HBCU产生创新和创业精神方面的有效性。这项研究的结果将被用来创建HBCU i-Corp联盟和资源中心，以在项目结束后继续该计划。研究结果将促进我们对i-Corps和Lean Launchpad是否提高学生对STEM、创业的兴趣和参与度的理解，并为在中等研究水平和本科生研究HBCU发展创新和创业能力的最佳实践提供信息。该奖项反映了NSF的法定使命，并通过使用基金会的智力优势和更广泛的影响审查标准进行评估，被认为值得支持。

This EAGER project engages in research that has the potential to be transformative in the field of innovation. The project involves a study that evaluates the potential of the Innovation Corps (I-Corps) model and Lean Launchpad Methodologies to foster an entrepreneurial mindset and innovation-worthy concepts at HBCUs that traditionally have not had research intensive initiatives. Innovation is one of the most important drivers of economic growth and prosperity in the 21st century, yet according to the Report on the Demographics of Innovation in the United States, only eight percent of minorities, twelve percent of women, and less than 0.05 percent of African Americans are innovators. To maintain the Nation’s position as a leader in global innovation, it is imperative that we unlock the innovation potential of all our citizens. Ninety percent of HBCUs are not research-intensive institutions and represent an untapped resource of new and innovative ideas. To engage this academic population in innovation and entrepreneurship, this project will reimagine the I-Corps curriculum to fit undergraduate research HBCUs, manage the seven-week entrepreneurship scholars program, train faculty in I-Corps and Lean Launchpad Methodology, and evaluate the effectiveness of the I-Corps new curriculum in generating innovation and entrepreneurship at HBCUs. Results from this study will be used to create the HBCU I-Corp Alliance and Resource Center to continue the program beyond the project.The outcomes will advance our understanding of whether I-Corps and Lean Launchpad increase student interest and engagement in STEM, entrepreneurship, and inform best practices in developing innovation and entrepreneurial capability at moderate research level and undergraduate research HBCUs.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.