Brown University has joined a group of seven other regional university partners to form a new U.S. National Science Foundation (NSF)-funded Innovation Corps (I-Corps) Hub aimed at accelerating innovation and translation of research discoveries to the marketplace. The NSF will fund $15 million over five years for the implementation of the New England Region I-Corps Hub, set to launch January 1, 2025 and stretching from Rhode Island to Maine.
Brown is joined by Hub partner institutions Harvard University, Northeastern University, Tufts University, University of Maine, University of Massachusetts Amherst, University of New Hampshire and Hub lead Massachusetts Institute of Technology.
“The goal of the I-Corps program is to deploy experiential education to help researchers reduce the time necessary to translate promising ideas from laboratory benches to widespread implementation that in turn impacts economic growth regionally and nationally,” said Erwin Gianchandani, NSF assistant director for Technology, Innovation and Partnerships. “Each regional NSF I-Corps Hub provides training essential in entrepreneurship and customer discovery, leading to new products, startups, and jobs. In effect, we are investing in the next generation of entrepreneurs for our nation.”
The university-wide Brown University I-Corps activities will be led by Sorensen Family Dean of Engineering Tejal Desai and Professor Angus Kingon, Brown University Professor of Entrepreneurship and Organizational Studies. “This program is extremely timely for Brown, as it fits with a larger strategy for Brown to increase the economic and social impact of its investments in science and technology,” said Desai. “And we are excited about the partnerships, as it will strengthen our collaborations with universities throughout the New England region.”
Established by the NSF in 2011, the I-Corps program provides scientists and engineers from any discipline with hands-on educational experiences to advance their research from lab to impact. There are more than 50,000 STEM researchers at the nearly 100 universities and medical schools in New England. Many of these institutions are located in underserved and rural areas of the region that face resource challenges in supporting deep-tech translational efforts. The eight institutions in the hub will offer I-Corps training while bringing unique strengths and resources to enhance a regional innovation ecosystem that broadens participation in deep-tech innovation.