National Collegiate Inventors & Innovators Alliance

I-CORPS: CONTINUATION AND EXPANSION OF TRAINING AND EVALUATION SUPPORT -THE I-CORPS PROGRAM AIMS TO INCREASE THE ECONOMIC AND SOCIETAL IMPACT OF NSF RESEARCH FUNDING AND OTHER RESEARCH FUNDING BY FACILITATING TRANSLATION OF TECHNOLOGIES FROM THE LABORATORY AND ENABLING COMMERCIALIZATION. IN ADDITION, THE I-CORPS PROGRAM IS DESIGNED TO BEGIN TO EQUIP SCIENTISTS AND ENGINEERS WITH SKILLS AND EXPERIENCE IN DEVELOPING ECONOMICALLY SCALABLE BUSINESS MODELS FOR TECHNOLOGY COMMERCIALIZATION. PROGRAM PARTICIPANTS FOCUS ON LEARNING AND USING A STRUCTURED PROCESS THAT ENABLES THEM TO GATHER INPUT FROM USERS AND POTENTIAL CUSTOMERS TO EVALUATE AND DEFINE A TRANSLATIONAL PATH FROM FUNDAMENTAL RESEARCH INTO APPLICATIONS THAT HAVE COMMERCIAL POTENTIAL AND SOCIETAL BENEFIT. APPROXIMATELY 50% OF I-CORPS TEAMS GO ON TO FORM COMPANIES OPERATING IN A BROAD RANGE OF SECTORS INCLUDING HEALTH, ENERGY, MATERIALS, AGRICULTURE, AND INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY. THIS STRUCTURED, REPEATABLE PROGRAM ENGAGES A NATIONAL COMMUNITY OF INSTITUTIONS AND FACULTY TO DELIVER TRAINING THAT RESULTS IN ECONOMIC OUTCOMES. THROUGH THE PROPOSED WORK, VENTUREWELL WILL SUPPORT THE TRAINING OF MORE THAN 2700 ADDITIONAL INDIVIDUAL I-CORPS PARTICIPANTS. THE PROPOSED EFFORT ALSO WILL GENERATE ADDITIONAL I-CORPS INSTRUCTORS TO INCREASE THE DIVERSITY OF THE FACULTY POOL, ENHANCE THE PROGRAM PEDAGOGY, AND ADVANCE THE SYSTEMATIC DATA COLLECTION AND TRACKING OF TEAMS IMMEDIATELY PARTICIPATING IN THE PROGRAM. NSF ESTABLISHED THE I-CORPS ENTREPRENEURIAL TRAINING PROGRAM IN 2011 TO TRAIN NSF-FUNDED AND OTHER RESEARCHERS HOW TO EVALUATE THE COMMERCIAL POTENTIAL OF THEIR SCIENTIFIC RESEARCH IN SCIENCE AND ENGINEERING. VENTUREWELL'S EVALUATION OF PROGRAM OUTCOMES AND TRACKING OF PROGRAM IMPACT IN A SYSTEMATIC, TIMELY WAY HAS BEEN CRITICAL TO THE OPERATION OF A CONSISTENT, EFFECTIVE, HIGH-FIDELITY PROGRAM AT SCALE, AND TO THE MEASUREMENT OF LONG-TERM PROGRAM RESULTS. THE CORE INTELLECTUAL MERIT OF THIS WORK IS THE INSIGHT PROVIDED INTO THE PROGRAM'S IMPACT?BOTH ECONOMIC OUTCOMES AND PARTICIPANTS' CAREER AND RESEARCH OUTCOMES?OVER TIME. TO GAIN THIS INSIGHT, VENTUREWELL EVALUATES THE INSTRUCTIONAL DELIVERY OF EACH COHORT, ADMINISTERS A LONGITUDINAL OUTCOMES SURVEY, AND TRACKS VENTURE OUTCOMES INDEPENDENTLY TO VERIFY PROGRAM IMPACT DATA. THE PROCESSES AND DATA SYSTEMS THAT EFFICIENTLY TRACK OUTCOMES AND PROVIDE INSIGHTS INTO THE DEVELOPMENT OF TECHNOLOGY-BASED VENTURES ARE A PRODUCT OF THIS WORK AS WELL. THROUGH THE WORK PROPOSED STARTING IN FY 2024 AND ENDING IN FY 2026, VENTUREWELL WILL SUPPORT THE VIRTUAL TRAINING OF THE NATIONAL I-CORPS PROGRAM AND THE BEAT-THE-ODDS BOOT CAMP WHILE FACILITATING THE CURATION AND DISSEMINATION OF THE PEDAGOGICAL LEARNINGS TO ENABLE FURTHER DEVELOPMENT OF THE NATIONAL I-CORPS INSTRUCTORS. VENTUREWELL WILL CONTINUE TO FACILITATE WORK WITHIN THE NATIONAL INNOVATION NETWORK (NIN) TO DISSEMINATE EFFECTIVE COURSE PRACTICES, OUTCOMES, AND IMPACT ENABLING THE NIN TO EFFECTIVELY ADOPT AND INSTITUTIONALIZE THESE APPROACHES. THIS SUPPORT WILL FURTHER NSF'S GOAL OF ADVANCING I-CORPS AS A FOUNDATIONAL ENTREPRENEUR TRAINING PROGRAM TO REACH INNOVATORS ACROSS THE COUNTRY. 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.- SUBAWARDS ARE NOT PLANNED FOR THIS AWARD.

SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY INNOVATIONS FOCUSED ON OCEAN-BASED CLIMATE RESILIENCE ARE ESSENTIAL TO EQUIPPING COMMUNITIES TO PREPARE FOR, ABSORB THE IMPACTS OF, RECOVER FROM, AND ADAPT TO EXTREME WEATHER EVENTS AND LONGER-TERM CLIMATE IMPACTSAND THAT IS ESPECIALLY TRUE FOR UNDER-RESOURCED COMMUNITIES, WHICH ARE ESPECIALLY VULNERABLE TO AND FACE UNIQUE CHALLENGES IN DEALING WITH THE EFFECTS OF CLIMATE CHANGE. THE PROPOSED NOAA INNOVATES: OCEAN-BASED CLIMATE RESILIENCE ACCELERATOR, POWERED BY VENTUREWELL, WILL SUPPORT EARLY-STAGE INNOVATORS AND VENTURES DEVELOPING OCEAN-BASED CLIMATE RESILIENCE SOLUTIONS THROUGH ENTREPRENEURIAL TRAINING, EXTENSIVE MENTORSHIP, TECHNOLOGY AND DEVELOPMENT COMMERCIALIZATION AWARDS, ACCESS TO TESTING AND DEMONSTRATION FACILITIES, AND PATHWAYS TO COMMERCIALIZATION. ORGANIZATION: VENTUREWELL IS ONE OF THE LEADING ENTREPRENEURIAL SUPPORT ORGANIZATIONS IN THE COUNTRY, WITH NEARLY 30 YEARS EXPERIENCE, NATIONAL AND GLOBAL REACH, AND DEEP EXPERTISE IN THE COMMERCIALIZATION PATHWAYS THAT ENABLE SCIENTISTS, RESEARCHERS, STUDENTS, AND ENTREPRENEURS TO TURN THEIR IDEAS AND DISCOVERIES INTO REAL-WORLD, SCALABLE SOLUTIONS THAT BENEFIT PEOPLE AND THE PLANET. WE ARE DEEPLY COMMITTED TO ADDRESSING SYSTEMIC BARRIERS AND INFUSING DIVERSITY, EQUITY, INCLUSION, JUSTICE, AND ACCESSIBILITY (DEIJA) THROUGHOUT OUR PROGRAMS, ORGANIZATIONAL CULTURE, AND OPERATIONS. WE HAVE DESIGNED AND DELIVERED PROGRAMS IN PARTNERSHIP WITH NINE FEDERAL AGENCIES, ENGAGED 360+ UNIVERSITIES, AND BUILT A NETWORK OF 400+ COACHES, INDUSTRY EXPERTS, AND ACTIVE INVESTORS. WE HAVE SUPPORTED OVER 5,800 TEAMS, LEADING TO THE LAUNCH OF OVER 4,300 VENTURES THAT HAVE COLLECTIVELY RAISED MORE THAN $5.7 BILLION IN ADDITIONAL FUNDING.

CONNECTING AND COORDINATING A NATIONAL INNOVATION NETWORK

EVALUATION AND ASSESSMENT PROGRAM FOR THE INDUSTRY UNIVERSITY COOPERATIVE RESEARCH CENTER (IUCRC) PROGRAM

I-CORPS: VIRTUAL TRAINING, EVALUATION, AND TRACKING OF PROGRAM IMPACT

I-CORPS: ONGOING TRAINING, EVALUATION, AND TRACKING OF PROGRAM IMPACT

TO CONDUCT THE GLOBAL INNOVATION THROUGH SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY (GIST) AND BHUTAN PROGRAM.

I-CORPS: TRAINING AND EVALUATION

GIST COMPONENT ONE: IN-COUNTRY TRAINING ACTIVITIES

THE OES LED GLOBAL INNOVATION THROUGH SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY GIST CATALYZES SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY S AND T ACTIVITIES THAT SUPPORT THE ADMINISTRATIONS ECONOMIC AND NATIONAL SECURITY GOALS INCLUDING BY CONNECTING AMERICANS WITH PREMIER FOREIGN ENTREPRENEU

EVALUATION MANAGEMENT AND SUPPORT FOR THE IUCRC PROGRAM -NSF?S INDUSTRY-UNIVERSITY COOPERATIVE RESEARCH CENTER (IUCRC) PROGRAM ACCELERATES THE IMPACT OF BASIC RESEARCH THROUGH THE CREATION AND SUPPORT OF CENTERS THAT ENABLE COLLABORATIVE RESEARCH RELATIONSHIPS AMONG INDUSTRY INNOVATORS, WORLD-CLASS ACADEMIC TEAMS, AND GOVERNMENT LEADERS. IUCRCS ARE DESIGNED TO ENABLE CORPORATE MEMBERS AND GOVERNMENT AGENCIES TO CONNECT DIRECTLY AND EFFICIENTLY WITH UNIVERSITY RESEARCHERS TO CONDUCT HIGH-IMPACT RESEARCH THAT ADDRESSES SHARED INDUSTRY NEEDS; TO ENHANCE U.S. LEADERSHIP IN DRIVING INNOVATIVE TECHNOLOGY DEVELOPMENT; AND TO IDENTIFY, MENTOR, AND DEVELOP DIVERSE, SKILLED SCIENTIFIC AND ENGINEERING WORKFORCE TALENT. THROUGH THIS MODEL, NSF BRINGS TOGETHER OVER 75 CENTERS INVOLVING OVER 120 UNIVERSITIES AND OVER 750 COMPANIES, CONSTITUTING 1,100+ IUCRC MEMBERSHIPS. THIS PIONEERING MODEL FOR IDENTIFYING AND MANAGING HIGH-VALUE, USE-INSPIRED PRECOMPETITIVE RESEARCH, HAS SUCCESSFULLY GENERATED OVER $45 MILLION OF INDUSTRY FUNDING IN FY23 AND THIS REPRESENTS A TYPICAL YEAR IN THE PROGRAM. THE EVALUATION MANAGEMENT AND SUPPORT FOR THE IUCRC PROGRAM IS FOCUSED ON ENSURING FIDELITY TO IUCRC?S PROGRAMMATIC APPROACHES, ADHERENCE TO HIGH STANDARDS OF QUALITY, AND LEVERAGING EFFICIENCIES AS CENTERS FORM AND EVOLVE. IT PROVIDES SUPPORT STRUCTURES AND EVALUATION TO ENHANCE THE IUCRC PROGRAM AND ITS ABILITY TO DELIVER VALUABLE NEW KNOWLEDGE TO CATALYZE INNOVATIONS. THROUGH MANAGEMENT OF THE CENTER EVALUATORS AND THE ASSOCIATED DATA COLLECTION AND EVALUATION PROCESS FOR CENTERS, THIS PROGRAM PROMOTES THE PROGRESS OF SCIENCE BY STRENGTHENING IUCRC PERFORMANCE THROUGH RIGOROUS AND STRUCTURED MONITORING AND EVALUATION; COACHING AND COMMUNITY SUPPORT; AND DATA COLLECTION, ANALYSIS AND REPORTING. EFFECTIVE AND ROBUST PROGRAM MONITORING, EVALUATION, AND COACHING SUPPORTS THE DEVELOPMENT OF STRONG, SUSTAINABLE CENTERS THAT CAN ACHIEVE THE AIMS OF THE NSF'S IUCRC PROGRAM THEREBY ENSURING THAT PUBLIC FUNDS ARE EFFECTIVELY USED TO MAINTAIN A HIGH-CALIBER NATIONAL IUCRC CENTER NETWORK FOR LONG-TERM COMMERCIAL AND SOCIETAL IMPACT. THE EVALUATION MANAGEMENT AND SUPPORT FOR THE INDUSTRY-UNIVERSITY COOPERATIVE RESEARCH CENTERS (IUCRC) PROGRAM AIMS TO MAKE THE IUCRC PROGRAM MORE EFFECTIVE, EQUITABLE, AND SCALABLE. TO DO THIS, VENTUREWELL WILL CONTINUE TO WORK AS A SUPPORT AND PARTNER TO NSF IN SERVICE OF TWO MAIN LONG-TERM OBJECTIVES: (1) TO ENSURE THAT NSF HAS THE NECESSARY INFORMATION TO MAKE INFORMED DECISIONS THAT WILL IMPROVE SUPPORT FOR THE CENTER GRANTEES AND THE OPERATIONS AND OUTCOMES OF THE IUCRC PROGRAM, AND (2) TO ENSURE THAT ALL CENTERS ARE POISED FOR SUCCESSFUL LAUNCH, GROWTH, AND OPERATIONAL SUSTAINABILITY. VENTUREWELL WILL CONTINUE TO RECRUIT AND MANAGE THE IUCRC EVALUATORS, PROVIDING TRAINING, SUPPORT AND MANAGEMENT OF THEIR WORK. IT WILL ALSO PROVIDE ROBUST SYSTEMS AND SUPPORT FOR THE EVALUATION PROCESS, INCLUDING MONITORING AND REVIEWING DATA SUBMISSIONS, AND MAINTAINING AND ENHANCING DATA SYSTEMS TO MEET NSF INFORMATION NEEDS INCLUDING COLLECTING, ANALYZING, AND REPORTING ON KEY CENTER METRICS WHILE ENSURING STRONG DATA MANAGEMENT AND SECURITY PROTOCOLS ARE FOLLOWED. TO SUPPORT THE COMMUNITY OF CENTERS, INTENSIVE TRAINING FOR IUCRC PLANNING GRANTEES FOCUSED ON MARKET ALIGNMENT AND STAKEHOLDER ENGAGEMENT WILL BE PROVIDED, SETTING THEM UP FOR SUCCESS AND SUSTAINABILITY FROM THE START. CRITICAL, TIMELY, AND REGULAR EVALUATION WILL INFORM THE MANAGEMENT OF IUCRC CENTERS, REFLECTING THE DATA BACK TO EACH CENTER FOR THEIR OWN CONTINUOUS IMPROVEMENT AND SHARING IT WITH NSF FOR PROGRAMMATIC OVERSIGHT AND INFORMED DECISION-MAKING. THE BROADER IMPACT OF THIS PROGRAM WILL BE THE ENHANCEMENT OF THE IUCRC PROGRAM AND ITS ABILITY TO DELIVER INNOVATIONS TO ADDRESS COMMERCIAL AND SOCIETAL NEEDS THROUGH EFFECTIVE INDUSTRY-UNIVERSITY COLLABORATIONS. 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.- SUBAWARDS ARE NOT PLANNED FOR THIS AWARD.

USAID XCELERATOR TRAINING PROGRAM

I-CORPS: CURRICULUM AND EVALUATION MANAGEMENT

THE PROPOSED PROGRAMMING AIMS TO SUPPORT FEMALE S AND T INNOVATORS AND ENTREPRENEURS AS WELL AS S AND T FOCUSED ENTREPRENEURS WHOSE BUSINESS PRINCIPLES OR BUSINESS PRACTICES DIRECTLY SUPPORT WOMEN AND LEADERSHIP IN APEC ECONOMIES.

IMPLEMENTING AND EVALUATING I-CORPS TRAINING

GIST STARTUP SUPPORT ACTIVITIES IN CENTRAL ASIA AND EASTERN EUROPE.

BUILD ENTREPRENEURIAL ECOSYSTEMS WHILE DEVELOPING AND ENGAGING THE GIST COMMUNITY THROUGH VIRTUAL INTERACTIVE PROGRAMS

GIST BOOTCAMPS AND TECHCONNECTS

THIS PROJECT AIMS TO STRENGTHEN THE ENTREPRENEURIAL ECOSYSTEM IN THE SOUTH CAUCASUS, SPECIFICALLY IN GEORGIA, ARMENIA, AND AZERBAIJAN, WHILE ALSO FORMING STRONGER BUSINESS CONNECTIONS BETWEEN ENTREPRENEURS, U.S. INVESTORS, AND PARTNER.

ENTREPRENEURSHIP EDUCATION & ITS IMPACT ON ENGINEERING STUDENT OUTCOMES: THE ROLE OF PROGRAM CHARACTERISTICS AND FACULTY BELIEFS

CATALYZING INNOVATION IN PHASE I CENTERS FOR CHEMICAL INNOVATION (CCIS): BUILDING SUCCESSFUL PATHWAYS FOR RESEARCH TO INNOVATION (R2I) TRANSLATION

VENTUREWELL

GIST-NET SUPPORT SERVICES

IMPLEMENTING AND EVALUATING I-CORPS TRAINING CURRICULUM: DEVELOPING SCIENTIFIC AND ENGINEERING DISCOVERIES INTO TECHNOLOGIES, PRODUCTS AND PROCESSES

SCALING I-CORPS TRAINING CURRICULUM: DEVELOPING SCIENTIFIC AND ENGINEERING DISCOVERIES INTO USEFUL TECHNOLOGIES, PRODUCTS AND PROCESSES

ENGINEERING FOR ONE PLANET: SCALING FOR IMPACT WORKSHOP

U.S.-MOROCCO GREEN GROWTH CLIMATE CHALLENGE

SUPPORTING ENERGY SECTOR TRANSFORMATION IN MOROCCO

VISIONARY INTERDISCIPLINARY TEAMS ADVANCING LEARNING (VITAL) PRIZE COMPETITION STAGE 2 TRAINING -THIS PROJECT WILL DESIGN AND IMPLEMENT AN EIGHT-WEEK ENTREPRENEURIAL PROGRAM FOR APPROXIMATELY 100 PARTICIPATING TEAMS (EACH CONSISTING OF THREE RESEARCHERS WITHIN THE EDUCATIONAL AND LEARNING TECHNOLOGY FIELD) FOCUSED ON FINDING PROBLEM-SOLUTION FIT AND DEVELOPING A MINIMUM VIABLE PRODUCT (MVP). THE TRAINING AND CURRICULUM PROPOSED WILL BE BASED ON TEACHINGS FROM THE NSF INNOVATION CORPS (I-CORPS?) PROGRAM AND THE LEAN STARTUP PEDAGOGY THAT FOCUSES ON THE IDENTIFICATION OF A BUSINESS MODEL. THE CURRICULUM WILL TEACH VALUE PROPOSITIONS, STAKEHOLDER IDENTIFICATION, METHODS TO BUILD CUSTOMER RELATIONSHIPS, AND DISTRIBUTION PROCESSES. THESE EDUCATIONAL SESSIONS WILL BE INTERSPERSED WITH CUSTOMER DISCOVERY ACTIVITIES AS WELL AS INTERVIEWS WITH INDUSTRY EXPERTS TO EXPAND THE TEAMS? AWARENESS OF THE EDUCATIONAL/COMMERCIAL ECOSYSTEM. THIS EXPERIENCE HAS THE POTENTIAL TO PROVIDE ALL TEAMS WITH THE RESOURCES AND FOUNDATIONAL TOOLS NECESSARY TO MOVE THEIR PROPOSED INNOVATIONS IN LEARNING AND TECHNOLOGY OUT OF THE LAB AND INTO THE MARKET. 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.

EAGER: STUDY OF LONGITUDINAL RESULTS AND THE I CORPS L ECOSYSTEM

EAGER: FACILITATING INTERNATIONAL COLLABORATION TO ADVANCE ENGINEERING RESEARCH

I-CORPS EAGER: PILOTING AND EVALUATING A NEW LIFE SCIENCES CURRICULUM FOR I-CORPS TRAINING

IMPLEMENTING AND EVALUATING I-CORPS TRAINING CURRICULUM

COLLABORATIVE RESEARCH: ASSESSING TECHNICAL ENTREPRENEURSHIP LEARNING IN ENGINEERING EDUCATION

VENTUREWELL WILL LEVERAGE ITS EXTENSIVE LAB-TO-MARKET EXPERIENCE TO DESIGN A CUSTOMIZED, HIGHLY SUPPORTIVE, MULTI-STAGE ACCELERATOR PROGRAM THAT HELPS OCEAN-BASED CLIMATE RESILIENCE STARTUPS OVERCOME COMMERCIALIZATION CHALLENGES THROUGH COMPREHENSIVE TRAINING, MENTORSHIP, ACCESS TO EXPERTISE AND RESOURCES, AND CONNECTIONS TO INDUSTRY AND CUSTOMERS. VENTUREWELL EQUIPS SCIENTISTS AND ENGINEERS WITH THE TOOLS THEY NEED TO DEVELOP AND VALIDATE A COMPLETE BUSINESS MODEL, NOT JUST A PRODUCTLAYING A STRONG FOUNDATION FOR LONG-TERM ADAPTABILITY AND GROWTH. SPECIFICALLY, WE WILL (1) CONDUCT DISCOVERY INTERVIEWS WITH ENTREPRENEURS AND ECOSYSTEM STAKEHOLDERS; (2) CONDUCT A LANDSCAPE ANALYSIS OF CLIMATE RESILIENCE ENTREPRENEURS (BOTH PROSPECTIVE AND ACTIVE), SUPPORT NETWORKS, AND IDENTIFIABLE GAPS; (3) ADAPT VENTUREWELLS ACCELERATOR CURRICULUM TO THE UNIQUE CONTEXTS AND COMMERCIALIZATION PATHWAYS OF OCEAN RESILIENCE ENTREPRENEURS; (4) BUILD A ROBUST NETWORK OF PARTNERS TO SOURCE AND SUPPORT PARTICIPANTS; AND (5) PILOT THIS TAILORED PROGRAM WITH A COHORT OF ENTREPRENEURS.

UNIVERSITY INNOVATION PROGRAMS SUMMIT

VENTUREWELL SUPPORT FOR CYCLE 16 EGYPT S&T - THE MAIN OBJECTIVES OF THIS AGREEMENT ARE: 1) PROVIDE ADVANCED COMMERCIALIZATION SUPPORT FOR PREVIOUS AG FOCUSED TEAMS (ESTIMATE OF 6) FROM THE PREVIOUS INNOVATE EGYPT PROGRAM. 2) FACILITATE AN EGYPTIAN ANGEL INVESTOR TRAINING IN INVESTING IN AG-TECH FIRMS AND ANGEL FORUM. 3) SUPPORT THE INNOVATE EGYPT 2.0 TEAMS IN PRE-COMMERCIALIZATION DISCOVERY.

TO DEPLOY A 4-DAY REGIONAL GIST BOOT CAMP IN CONJUNCTION WITH THE US DEPARTMENT OF STATE/OES AND US EMBASSY DAKAR THE WEEK OF APRIL 18TH, 2016.

TO DEPLOY A 4-DAY REGIONAL GIST BOOT CAMP IN SOUTH AFRICA IN CONJUNCTION WITH THE US DEPT. OF STATE IN APRIL 2016. THIS REPLACES S-SF750-15-GR-018.

VENTUREWELL PROPOSES SUPPORTING TWO ANNUAL NATIONAL COHORTS OF OUR ASCEND PROGRAM, A 10-WEEK HYBRID INVESTMENT READINESS TRAINING THAT SUPPORTS PRE-SEED STARTUPS TO MOVE QUICKLY AND DELIBERATELY AS THEY LAUNCH, ESTABLISH STRATEGIC PARTNERSHIPS, AND PREPARE TO RAISE CAPITAL. THIS PROGRAM WILL BE SPECIFICALLY DELIVERED TO MEET THE NEEDS OF MARINE ENERGY & HYDROPOWER STARTUPS. FOLLOWING THE ASCEND TRAINING PROGRAM, VENTUREWELL WILL PROVIDE FOLLOW-ON COACHING AND ACCESS TO NON-DILUTIVE FUNDS TO SUPPORT TECHNOLOGY VALIDATION, MARKET DISCOVERY, AND BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT, IN COLLABORATION WITH RESOURCE PARTNERS VETTED BY VENTUREWELL. RESOURCE PARTNERS WILL INCLUDE TESTING FACILITIES, SECTOR-SPECIFIC BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT CONSULTANTS, AND A ROSTER OF MARINE ENERGY AND WATER POWER TECHNICAL EXPERTS. IN ORDER TO DO THIS WELL, IN BUDGET PERIOD 1 VENTUREWELL WILL CONDUCT A GAP ASSESSMENT AND ENSURE THAT THE PROGRAM DESIGN MEETS THE SPECIFIC NEEDS OF WATER POWER STARTUPS AND ECOSYSTEM STAKEHOLDERS, WHILE CONTINUING TO GROW AND DESIGN A NETWORK THAT IS FIT FOR THAT PURPOSE.

INCLUDES INITIATIVE (CONFERENCE): REIMAGINING STEM INNOVATION AND ENTREPRENEURSHIP BY CENTERING DIVERSITY, EQUITY, AND INCLUSION -THIS CONFERENCE AWARD, FUNDED BY NSF?S EDDIE BERNICE JOHNSON INCLUDES INITIATIVE, IS CREATING AN ACTIONABLE VISION FOR BROADENING PARTICIPATION IN SCIENCE, TECHNOLOGY, ENGINEERING, AND MATHEMATICS (STEM) INNOVATION & ENTREPRENEURSHIP (I&E). USING ITERATIVE DESIGN AND IDEATION DURING A CONFERENCE WORKSHOP, FOLLOWED BY WORKING GROUPS THAT CENTER THE PERSPECTIVES AND EXPERIENCES OF INDIVIDUALS HISTORICALLY EXCLUDED FROM STEM, PARTICIPANTS FROM DIFFERENT BACKGROUNDS AND IDENTITIES WILL CREATE A CORE VISION AND ROADMAP FOR A REIMAGINED, INCLUSIVE I&E ECOSYSTEM. THIS PROJECT IS EXPECTED TO MEANINGFULLY ADVANCE THE FIELD BY REDEFINING APPROACHES TO STEM I&E, OPENING MULTIPLE NEW PATHWAYS TO ADVANCE INCLUSIVE INNOVATION, AND GENERATING NEW DEFINITIONS OF ENTREPRENEURSHIP, DISRUPTION, AND SUCCESS. THE CONFERENCE IS ALSO EXPECTED TO CREATE ECONOMIC OPPORTUNITIES AND BENEFITS TO THOSE ACROSS THE I&E ECOSYSTEM WHO HAVE BEEN DENIED THESE OPPORTUNITIES. THE CONFERENCE WILL BRING TOGETHER A DIVERSE CORE NETWORK OF PARTICIPATING STEM I&E EXPERTS AND EXPANDED PARTNERSHIPS THAT WILL HELP TO CARRY THE RE-ENVISIONING AND SYSTEMIC CHANGE WORK FORWARD. THERE IS AN URGENT AND CRITICAL NEED FOR STEM I&E TO ENGAGE DIVERSE POPULATIONS AND CREATE OPPORTUNITY FOR THE ENERGY, CREATIVITY, AND CONTRIBUTIONS OF ALL AMERICANS. THIS CONFERENCE AWARD CENTERS THE LIVED EXPERIENCES OF MARGINALIZED POPULATIONS, HELPS THE FIELD LEARN WHERE GAPS AND BARRIERS ARE MOST PERSISTENT AND HOW THEY ARE EXPERIENCED BY PEOPLE FROM UNDERREPRESENTED POPULATIONS, AND CREATES OPPORTUNITIES TO THINK DIFFERENTLY ABOUT SYSTEMIC CONSTRAINTS THROUGH RESEARCH. QUESTIONS THAT WILL BE EXPLORED INCLUDE: WHAT VALUES NEED TO BE ENACTED WITHIN/OUTSIDE OF THE ECOSYSTEM? WHAT STRUCTURAL CHANGES ARE NEEDED? WHAT RESOURCES ARE NEEDED TO ENACT THE VISION? SMALL WORKING GROUPS WILL CONVENE IN THE MONTHS FOLLOWING THE CONFERENCE WORKSHOP TO IDENTIFY AND FURTHER DEVELOP FIVE ACTIONABLE RECOMMENDATIONS FOR MOVING THE VISION FORWARD. ANTICIPATED OUTCOMES ARE AN INITIAL FRAMEWORK THAT IDENTIFIES ATTRIBUTES OF AN INCLUSIVE STEM I&E SECTOR, DEVELOPMENT OF A SERIES OF CO-CREATED STRATEGIC RECOMMENDATIONS, PUBLISHED ACTION AGENDAS DESCRIBING A RATIONALE AND IMPLEMENTATION STEPS FOR EACH RECOMMENDATION, AND A WORKPLAN FOR FURTHER EXPLORATION AND IMPLEMENTATION OF ADDITIONAL STRATEGIES. 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.- SUBAWARDS ARE NOT PLANNED FOR THIS AWARD.

OPPORTUNITY AT THE BOTTOM OF THE PYRAMID: A FACULTY DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM TO PREPARE THE GLOBAL ENGINEER

EXPANDING OPPORTUNITIES FOR FACULTY DEVELOPMENT IN EDUCATIONAL INNOVATION

WORKSHOP: BUILDING A FRAMEWORK TO UNDERSTAND THE IMPACT OF ENTREPRENEURSHIP SUPPORT PROGRAMS ON THE FORMATION OF ENGINEERS -FOR SEVERAL DECADES, THE DEVELOPMENT OF THE PROFESSIONAL SKILL SET, COMPRISING PROFICIENCY IN COMMUNICATION, BUSINESS, CREATIVITY, LEADERSHIP, AND OTHER ATTRIBUTES, HAS BEEN EMPHASIZED TO BE NEARLY OR EQUALLY AS IMPORTANT AS THE ACQUISITION OF TECHNICAL SKILLS BY ENGINEERING STUDENTS. WHILE NO ONE DOUBTS THE IMPORTANCE OF STUDENTS? NEED TO ACQUIRE TECHNICAL ENGINEERING KNOWLEDGE, PROFESSIONAL SKILLS INCLUDING COMMUNICATION, TEAMWORK, ETHICAL UNDERSTANDING, AND CONSIDERATIONS OF ECONOMIC AND SOCIETAL FACTORS ARE CRITICALLY IMPORTANT FOR THE PROFESSIONAL FORMATION OF ENGINEERS. ENTREPRENEURIAL SUPPORT PROGRAMS [ESPS] ARE ONE MECHANISM BY WHICH STUDENTS CAN GAIN THESE PROFESSIONAL SKILLS, BOTH FOR STUDENTS WHO ASPIRE TO BE ENTREPRENEURS AS WELL AS THOSE WHO PLAN TO WORK IN INDUSTRY SETTINGS. IN FACT, MANY ESPS ACROSS THE COUNTRY FOCUS ON THE ACQUISITION OF SKILLS OR ATTRIBUTES COMPRISING THE PROFESSIONAL SKILL SET THAT ENGINEERING STUDENTS CAN USE IN VARIED CAREER SETTINGS, WHETHER THAT INCLUDES VENTURE CREATION, INTRAPRENEURSHIP, OR IN A LEADERSHIP ROLE IN INDUSTRY OR EVEN ACADEMIA. OVER THE PAST SEVERAL DECADES, THE NUMBER OF ENTREPRENEURSHIP-FOCUSED COURSES, PROGRAMS, AND COCURRICULAR AND OTHER TRAINING OPPORTUNITIES EMBEDDED INTO SCIENCE, TECHNOLOGY, ENGINEERING, AND MATH (STEM) PROGRAMS ACROSS THE COUNTRY HAS INCREASED DRAMATICALLY. HOWEVER, THE IMPACT OF ESPS ON STUDENTS? PROFESSIONAL FORMATION AND THE ACQUISITION OF DIFFERENT ATTRIBUTES?SUCH AS CREATIVITY, RISK TAKING, EMPATHY, AND CURIOSITY IS LARGELY UNKNOWN. THOUGH THE SOCIAL SCIENCES HAVE A STRONG AND ROBUST HISTORY OF STUDYING MANY OF THE ATTRIBUTES TYPICALLY ASSOCIATED WITH ENTREPRENEURSHIP, THERE IS LITTLE CONNECTION BETWEEN THIS FOUNDATIONAL RESEARCH AND THE WORK OF ESPS. THIS PROPOSAL SEEKS TO BUILD A FRAMEWORK THAT SERVES AS A LIAISON BETWEEN SOCIAL SCIENCE RESEARCH AND PRACTITIONERS, WHO TYPICALLY DO NOT HAVE THE BANDWIDTH OR BACKGROUND TO ENGAGE IN THIS RESEARCH. THE GOAL OF THIS PROPOSED PROJECT IS TO BRIDGE THE GAP BETWEEN SOCIAL SCIENTISTS AND ENGINEERING ENTREPRENEURSHIP PRACTITIONERS BY CREATING A RESEARCH-BASED FRAMEWORK TO GUIDE THE DEVELOPMENT, INSTRUCTION, AND ASSESSMENT OF ESPS. THIS PROJECT WILL INITIATE THIS PROCESS WITH A DELPHI STUDY AND A SET OF THREE VIRTUAL WORKSHOPS WITH INTERDISCIPLINARY EXPERTS. THE OUTCOME WILL BE AN INITIAL FRAMEWORK THAT IDENTIFIES A CLEAR SET OF ANTECEDENTS, CHARACTERISTICS OF THE ESP CONTEXT, AND ENTREPRENEURSHIP-RELATED OUTCOMES, INCLUDING CAREER PATHWAYS, KNOWLEDGE OF ENTREPRENEURSHIP, AND ATTRIBUTES THAT ESPS AIM TO INFLUENCE, ALONG WITH A SET OF WHITE PAPERS THAT DESCRIBE A) EXISTING MEASUREMENT APPROACHES AND TOOLS WITH RELIABILITY AND VALIDITY EVIDENCE, AND B) EVIDENCE-BASED INSTRUCTIONAL STRATEGIES THAT WILL IMPACT THESE ENTREPRENEURSHIP-RELATED STUDENT ATTRIBUTES. 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.

CONFERENCE: LOGISTIC AND PARTICIPANT SUPPORT FOR THE NATIONAL SCIENCE FOUNDATION AND SCIENCE FOUNDATION IRELAND'S TRANS-ATLANTIC CHALLENGES WORKSHOP -THE EARTH?S GRAND CHALLENGES REQUIRE NEW WAYS OF THINKING TO ADVANCE TECHNOLOGY FOR THE BENEFIT OF OUR GLOBAL COMMUNITY. ONE WAY IS TO CREATE DIVERSE RESEARCH TEAMS THAT CAN WORK TOGETHER ON COMPELLING PROBLEMS. THIS WORKSHOP WILL BRING TOGETHER THOUGHT LEADERS FROM THE UNITED STATES (U.S.) AND IRELAND. ALTHOUGH IRELAND IS A SMALL COUNTRY, IT PUNCHES ABOVE ITS WEIGHT AS A LEADER IN INNOVATION AND RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT, INCLUDING IN AGRI-FOOD, LIFE SCIENCES, INFORMATION AND COMMUNICATION TECHNOLOGY, AND ADVANCED MANUFACTURING, AMONG OTHER AREAS. THERE ARE ALSO STRONG INDUSTRY CONNECTIONS BETWEEN THE U.S. AND IRELAND. THE WORKSHOP WILL ALLOW PARTICIPANTS TO EXAMINE, EXPLORE, AND DISCUSS WHAT EMERGING RESEARCH AREAS WOULD MOST BENEFIT BOTH THE U.S. AND IRELAND. THE U.S. RESEARCH COMMUNITY STANDS TO BENEFIT FROM STRENGTHENED COLLABORATION PATHWAYS WITH THE IRISH RESEARCH AND INNOVATION COMMUNITY, AND THIS WORKSHOP WILL HELP ENABLE THIS GOAL. THE INTEGRATION OF KNOWLEDGE, METHODS AND EXPERTISE FROM ACROSS SCIENCE AND ENGINEERING IS NOT YET EASILY ACCOMPLISHED OR COMMONPLACE. PROGRESS IS IMPEDED BY SERIAL, UNIDIRECTIONAL RESEARCH APPROACHES, WHICH ARE TYPICALLY CONDUCTED WITHIN RIGID LOCALIZED ORGANIZATIONAL STRUCTURES (PEOPLE, RESOURCES, TOOLS, ETC.). TO ADDRESS SUCH PROBLEMS ON A GLOBAL SCALE, THE NATIONAL SCIENCE FOUNDATION (NSF) AND THE SCIENCE FOUNDATION IRELAND (SFI) ARE PROPOSING A CONFERENCE TO BRING TOGETHER RESEARCHERS. THE THREE-DAY WORKSHOP WOULD BE HOSTED BY SFI AT THEIR HEADQUARTERS IN DUBLIN, IRELAND IN OCTOBER OF 2024. THE OBJECTIVES OF THE WORKSHOP ARE TO: (1) IDENTIFY GLOBAL CHALLENGES THAT LARGE-SCALE COLLABORATIVE RESEARCH CAN HELP SOLVE; AND, (2) IDENTIFY POTENTIAL MECHANISMS/MODELS THAT WOULD FOSTER TRANS-ATLANTIC INTERDISCIPLINARY COLLABORATION, LEVERAGING THE STRENGTHS OF THE U.S. AND IRISH RESEARCH COMMUNITIES AND INDUSTRY PARTNERS. IN SUPPORT OF NSF AND SFI AIMS, VENTUREWELL PROPOSES TO PROVIDE LOGISTICAL AND PARTICIPANT SUPPORT TO UP TO 20 RESEARCHERS FROM THE U.S. ATTENDING THE CONFERENCE AS SELECTED BY NSF. THE INSIGHTS GENERATED FROM THIS COLLABORATIVE PLATFORM, WHICH BRINGS TOGETHER ACADEMICS AND RESEARCHERS, WILL BE INSTRUMENTAL IN SHAPING NEW APPROACHES AND STRUCTURES FOR ADDRESSING SIGNIFICANT PROBLEMS, REQUIRING CONVERGENT RESEARCH TEAMS. PARTICIPANT INTERACTIONS ARE EXPECTED TO LAY THE FOUNDATION FOR CROSS-DISCIPLINARY CENTERS FOCUSED ON ADVANCING FUNDAMENTAL KNOWLEDGE AND SYSTEMS TECHNOLOGY WHILE EXPOSING THOSE ENGAGED IN THE CENTERS TO THE INTEGRATIVE ASPECTS OF TECHNOLOGY RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT AND INDUSTRIAL PRACTICE. THE WORKSHOP WILL FOSTER OPPORTUNITIES FOR NETWORKING AMONG A DIVERSE SET OF PARTICIPANTS AND SPARK NEW INTERNATIONAL RESEARCH COLLABORATIONS. IT WILL FURTHER BRING TECHNOLOGY-BASED INDUSTRY AND UNIVERSITY EXPERTS TOGETHER TO SHARE KNOWLEDGE AND IDEAS THAT CAN HELP STRENGTHEN THE COMPETITIVE POSITION OF AMERICAN INDUSTRY IN THE GLOBAL MARKETPLACE. LOGISTICAL AND PARTICIPANT SUPPORT, AS WELL AS CLEAR DOCUMENTATION OF THE WORKSHOP, ARE ESSENTIAL TO ACHIEVING THESE IMPACTS. 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.- SUBAWARDS ARE NOT PLANNED FOR THIS AWARD.

ENGINEERING RESEARCH CENTERS STAKEHOLDER WORKSHOPS -THE NATIONAL SCIENCE FOUNDATION (NSF) ESTABLISHED THE ENGINEERING RESEARCH CENTERS (ERC) PROGRAM TO ADVANCE COLLABORATIVE, INTERDISCIPLINARY, AND INNOVATIVE ENGINEERING RESEARCH AND EDUCATION. THE ERC PROGRAM BRINGS TOGETHER ACADEMIA, INDUSTRY, AND GOVERNMENT IN A PARTNERSHIP TO JOINTLY CONDUCT RESEARCH THAT WILL LEAD TO TRANSFORMATIVE ENGINEERING SYSTEMS THAT ADDRESS AND CREATE SOLUTIONS TO 21ST-CENTURYSOCIETAL NEEDS. INCREASINGLY, NSF AIMS TO SUPPORT ERCS IN CONSIDERING NOT ONLY THE NEEDS AND PERSPECTIVES OF POTENTIAL USERS AND POTENTIAL BUYERS?AS IS STANDARD IN THE TRANSLATION AND COMMERCIALIZATION PROCESS?BUT THE PERSPECTIVES OF OTHER STAKEHOLDERS POTENTIALLY AFFECTED BY NEW INNOVATIONS AS WELL. CONTINUOUS FRAMING OF THE VALUE OF THE RESEARCH TO A COMPREHENSIVE STAKEHOLDER COMMUNITY FROM ITS INITIATION AND THROUGHOUT THE INNOVATION PROCESS WILL HELP RESEARCHERS MORE RICHLY IMAGINE ITS CONSEQUENCES. IN SUPPORT OF THIS AIM, VENTUREWELL PROPOSES TO ORGANIZE AND FACILITATE TWO HALF-DAY WORKSHOPS WITH ERC LEADERS, A VIRTUAL EVENT IN THE SPRING/SUMMER OF 2022 FOLLOWED BY AN IN-PERSON GATHERING IN SEPTEMBER 2022. THE PURPOSE OF THESE WORKSHOPS IS TO EXPLORE WHETHER A STAKEHOLDER WORKING GROUP IS NEEDED AND IF SO, TO DEFINE A CHARTER FOR THE WORKING GROUP. 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.

INTENSIVE RESEARCH TO INNOVATION (R2I) WORKSHOP FOR CHEMICAL INNOVATION CENTERS (CCI); SPRING 2009; CAMBRIDGE, MA

PRACTICE OF INNOVATION: A VALUE-CREATION WORKSHOP TO SIGNIFICANTLY IMPROVE THE RESULTS FROM NSF'S R&D AND COMMERCIALIZATION INITIATIVES

MRSEC LENS OF THE MARKET

PREPARING NEW INSTRUCTORS TO DELIVER THE I-CORPS CURRICULUM TO SCIENTISTS AND ENGINEERS: A PILOT TRAINING PROGRAM