--- kind: "section" citation: "42 U.S.C. § 1862s–8" title: "42" title_heading: "The Public Health and Welfare" number: "1862s–8" heading: "Innovation Corps" release: "119-102" date: "2026-07-12" url: "https://uscodex.org/usc/42/1862s-8" units: - "Chapter 16 — National Science Foundation" --- # §1862s–8. Innovation Corps - (a) **Findings—** Congress makes the following findings: - (1) The National Science Foundation Innovation Corps (referred to in this section as the “I-Corps”) was established to foster a national innovation ecosystem by encouraging institutions, scientists, engineers, and entrepreneurs to identify and explore the innovation and commercial potential of National Science Foundation-funded research well beyond the laboratory. - (2) Through I-Corps, the Foundation invests in entrepreneurship and commercialization education, training, and mentoring that can ultimately lead to the practical deployment of technologies, products, processes, and services that improve the Nation’s competitiveness, promote economic growth, and benefit society. - (3) By building networks of entrepreneurs, educators, mentors, institutions, and collaborations, and supporting specialized education and training, I-Corps is at the leading edge of a strong, lasting foundation for an American innovation ecosystem. - (4) By translating federally funded research to a commercial stage more quickly and efficiently, programs like the I-Corps create new jobs and companies, help solve societal problems, and provide taxpayers with a greater return on their investment in research. - (5) The I-Corps program model has a strong record of success that should be replicated at all Federal science [agencies](/usc/42/8262.md?p=1). - (b) **Sense of Congress—** It is the sense of Congress that— - (1) commercialization of federally funded research can improve the Nation’s competitiveness, grow the economy, and benefit society; - (2) I-Corps is a useful tool in promoting the commercialization of federally funded research by training researchers funded by the Foundation in entrepreneurship and commercialization; - (3) I-Corps should continue to build a network of entrepreneurs, educators, mentors, and institutions and support specialized education and training; - (4) researchers other than those funded by the Foundation may also benefit from the education and training described in [paragraph (3)](#b-3); and - (5) I-Corps should continue to promote a strong innovation system by investing in and supporting female entrepreneurs through mentorship, education, and training because they are historically underrepresented in entrepreneurial fields. - (c) **I-Corps program—** - (1) **In general—** In order to promote a strong, lasting foundation for the national innovation ecosystem and increase the positive economic and social impact of federally funded research, the [Director](/usc/42/11851.md?p=5) of the Foundation shall set forth eligibility requirements and carry out a program to award grants for entrepreneurship and commercialization education, training, and mentoring. - (2) **Expansion of I-Corps—** - (A) **In general—** The [Director](/usc/42/11851.md?p=5)— - (i) shall encourage the development and expansion of I-Corps and other training programs that focus on professional development, including education in entrepreneurship and commercialization; and - (ii) may establish an agreement with another Federal science [agency](/usc/42/8262.md?p=1)— - (I) to make researchers, students, and institutions funded by that [agency](/usc/42/8262.md?p=1) eligible to participate in the I-Corps program; or - (II) to assist that [agency](/usc/42/8262.md?p=1) with the design and implementation of its own program that is similar to the I-Corps program. - (B) **Partnership funding—** In negotiating an agreement with another Federal science [agency](/usc/42/8262.md?p=1) under [subparagraph (A)(ii)](#c-2-A-ii), the [Director](/usc/42/11851.md?p=5) shall require that Federal science [agency](/usc/42/8262.md?p=1) to provide funding for— - (i) the training for researchers, students, and institutions selected for the I-Corps program; and - (ii) the locations that Federal science [agency](/usc/42/8262.md?p=1) designates as regional and national infrastructure for science and engineering entrepreneurship. - (3) **Follow-on grants—** - (A) **In general—** Subject to [subparagraph (B)](#c-3-B), the [Director](/usc/42/11851.md?p=5), in consultation with the [Director](/usc/42/11851.md?p=5) of the Small Business Innovation Research Program, shall make funds available for competitive grants, including to I-Corps participants, to help support— - (i) prototype or proof-of-concept development; and - (ii) such activities as the [Director](/usc/42/11851.md?p=5) considers necessary to build local, regional, and national infrastructure for science and engineering entrepreneurship. - (B) **Limitation—** Grants under [subparagraph (A)](#c-3-A) shall be limited to participants with innovations that because of the early stage of development are not eligible to participate in a Small Business Innovation Research Program or a Small Business Technology Transfer Program. - (4) **State and local partnerships—** The [Director](/usc/42/11851.md?p=5) may engage in partnerships with [State](/usc/42/2021b.md?p=14) and local governments, economic development organizations, and [nonprofit](/usc/42/300s–3.md?p=3) organizations to provide access to the I-Corps program to support entrepreneurship education and training for researchers, students, and institutions under this subsection. - (5) **Reports—** The [Director](/usc/42/11851.md?p=5) shall submit to the appropriate committees of Congress a biennial report on I-Corps program efficacy, including metrics on the effectiveness of the program. Each Federal science [agency](/usc/42/8262.md?p=1) participating in the I-Corps program or that implements a similar program under [paragraph (2)(A)](#c-2-A) shall contribute to the report. - (6) **Definitions—** In this subsection, the terms “Small Business Innovation Research Program” and “Small Business Technology Transfer Program” have the meanings given those terms in [section 638 of title 15](/usc/15/638.md). ## Source credit (Pub. L. 114–329, title VI, § 601, Jan. 6, 2017, 130 Stat. 3033.) ## Notes ### Editorial Notes ### Codification Section was enacted as part of the American Innovation and Competitiveness Act, and not as part of the National Science Foundation Act of 1950 which comprises this chapter. ### Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries ### Definitions For definitions of terms used in this section, see section 2 of Pub. L. 114–329, set out as a note under section 1862s of this title.