WASHINGTON – U.S. Senators Chris Coons (D-Del.) and Deb Fischer (R-Neb.) today introduced the American Innovators and Entrepreneurs Act to expand and improve the National Science Foundation’s (NSF) highly successful Innovation Corps (I-Corps) program that trains scientists and engineers with the skills needed to start new businesses and create new jobs.
I-Corps connects scientists and engineers with the technological, entrepreneurial, and business communities necessary to move discoveries from the laboratory to the market. This bill builds on NSF’s recent success with I-Corps to help create regional networks for innovation by providing researchers, students, and universities with the training and resources they need to develop products and services that benefit the economy and society.
"The U.S. has the best scientists and engineers in the world, but they often lack the business skills necessary to turn their great ideas into new products and start-up businesses,” said Senator Coons. “I’m proud to introduce this commonsense bipartisan bill that helps our innovative and entrepreneurial scientists and engineers bridge the difficult divide between laboratory and market.”
“Nebraska is filled with scientists and engineers who have big ideas that could change the world,” said Senator Fischer. “I’m proud to join Senator Coons to introduce bipartisan legislation that would help American innovators build businesses and market their products in the U.S. and internationally. Working together, we are offering a solution that will grow jobs and strengthen our economy.”
“Spurring the commercialization of new technologies developed in America’s universities and national laboratories is one of the most important steps the United States can take to stimulate innovation,” said Information Technology and Innovation Foundation President, Dr. Robert Atkinson. “By increasing funding for, and access to, the highly effective NSF I-Corps program, the American Innovators and Entrepreneurs Act would give a critical boost to the U.S. innovation economy. ITIF proudly supports this important bipartisan legislation from Sens. Coons and Fischer and encourages Congress to act quickly to pass it."
“The Science Center is proud to support the American Innovators and Entrepreneurs Act,” said University City Science Center President and CEO, Dr. Stephen Tang. “This bipartisan bill, from Sens. Coons and Fischer will expand and improve NSF’s highly successful I-Corps program that provides valuable entrepreneurial training to our nation’s scientists and engineers. We welcome Sens. Coons’ and Fischer’s efforts to support regional innovation networks and the work of organizations like the Science Center through the I-Corps program. The Science Center has been a long-time supporter of innovative scientists and engineers in the greater Philadelphia/Wilmington region, and we urge Congress to support this important legislation.”
"This bipartisan bill from Senators Coons and Fischer recognizes a critical innovation gap and provides an effective solution based on a proven model, NSF's I-Corps program,” said Delaware Biotechnology Institute Director Dr. Kelvin H. Lee. “The Delaware Biotechnology Institute supports this legislation advancing U.S. competitiveness and hopes the Senate acts quickly to pass it."
Created by Congress in 1950 to promote the progress of science, and responsible for approximately one-quarter of all federal support for R&D at America’s colleges and universities, the NSF has worked successfully since 2011 to develop I-Corps as an innovative solution to increasing commercialization of federal investments in research and development.
The American Innovators and Entrepreneurs Act would:
The bill has been endorsed by the Information Technology and Innovation Foundation; University of Delaware; University City Science Center; Delaware Biotechnology Institute; The Delaware Small Business Development Center; and The University of Delaware Office of Economic Innovation and Partnerships.
