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The National Science Foundation Innovation (I-Corps) program is an immersive, entrepreneurial training program that facilitates the transformation of invention to impact. I-Corps prepares researchers to extend their focus beyond the laboratory to increase the economic and societal impact of NSF-funded and other basic research projects.
I-Corps Hubs bring together institutions of higher education within a distinct geographical region to collaborate and deliver a standardized curriculum. The curriculum explores the commercial potential of deep technologies with members of the scientific community and other interested parties in the Hub’s region.
The Great Plains Region is a consortium of eight partner universities in North Dakota, South Dakota, Nebraska, and Wyoming. The partner universities bring together their researchers’ expertise and the universities’ resources to support the Hub’s activities. Each university has a culture of cultivating entrepreneurship. North Dakota State University is the lead institution and is responsible for the overall operation of the Hub.
Our vision is to connect the pioneering and entrepreneurial spirit of the Great Plains with the national technology ecosystem. This vision will be realized by pairing university innovators with entrepreneurs and businesspeople through the I-Corps training program.
Training: Deliver regional I-Corps training at partner institutions and staff national instructional teams.
Expansion: Identify, recruit and support teams for regional I-Corps training and recommend teams for the national I-Corps program. Grow the Hub by identifying new member institutions.
Evaluation, assessment, and research: Collect and analyze data from participants in the regional program to evaluate and improve the Hub’s performance and conduct entrepreneurial research.