NSF I-Corps Hub (Track 1): Interior Northeast Region

NSF I-Corps 中心（轨道 1）：东北内陆地区

• 批准号: 2229430
• 负责人: Lynden Archer
• 金额: $ 1500万
• 依托单位: Cornell University
• 依托单位国家: 美国
• 项目类别: Cooperative Agreement
• 财政年份: 2023
• 资助国家: 美国
• 起止时间: 2023-01-01 至 2027-12-31
• 项目状态: 未结题
• 来源: https://www.nsf.gov/awardsearch/showAward?AWD_ID=2229430&HistoricalAwards=false
• 关键词: NSF; Corps; Hub; Track; Interior

The broader impact/commercial potential of this NSF I-Corps Hub project is the development of a regional network that offers a repeatable, inclusive model of education and workforce training designed for and by innovators in rural areas and small cities. The Interior Northeast Region is representative of large portions of the US that are rural, economically underserved, and struggling to reduce out-migration and restore economic vitality after the decline of manufacturing and extractive industries. The region also is rich in natural resources, open space, and strong research universities. The Interior Northeast Region I-Corps Hub seeks to deploy inclusive teaching and program development practices to support innovators outside major metro areas in a way that broadens participation and represents a rising tide of opportunity from innovation across all regions, rather than one that is concentrated in a few large cities. A particular emphasis is placed on I-Corps programs for the deaf and hard of hearing. The I-Corps Interior Northeast Hub institutions will create a “Hub of Hubs” infrastructure to connect regional research laboratories and institutions with a smaller science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) research footprint to I-Corps. The Hub proposes to recruit diverse instructors, mentors, and staff so underrepresented minorities find opportunities at all levels of I-Corps. Learnings from the deployment of programs to the deaf and hard of hearing, recruitment of diverse instructors and teams, and support for the growth of rural innovation communities will be disseminated throughout the National Innovation Network. This I-Corps Hub project provides inclusive I-Corps training, mentoring and support to STEM researchers across the Interior Northeast Region, to accelerate the translation of basic research discoveries to products and services that benefit society and to reduce the risk of pursing commercialization without insights into industry needs and challenges. In addition, the Hub proposes to provide a program infrastructure that allows innovators outside major metro areas to receive the benefits of learning the I-Corps method of customer discovery and applying it to opportunities while remaining connected to their home institutions. Participants will glean the benefits of being part of a diverse cohort of innovators in a vibrant rural region. To achieve these goals, the Hub proposes to focus on: 1) maximizing the reach and reputation of I-Corps with deep tech researchers by engaging esteemed STEM faculty who value I-Corps as program ambassadors, thought leaders and Hub advisors; 2) providing numerous learning opportunities that support geographically-dispersed participants and are led by experienced instructors who utilize inclusive teaching practices; and 3) supporting the professional development of STEM researchers who are underrepresented minorities (URMs) including women, veterans, people of color, and people with disabilities.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.

该 NSF I-Corps Hub 项目的更广泛影响/商业潜力是开发一个区域网络，该网络提供由农村地区和小城市的创新者设计的可重复的、包容性的教育和劳动力培训模式。该地区代表了美国大部分农村地区，经济服务不足，在制造业和采掘业衰落后努力减少人口外流并恢复经济活力，该地区还拥有丰富的自然资源、开放空间和强大的研究型大学。 .东北内陆地区Region I-Corps Hub 寻求部署包容性教学和项目开发实践，以扩大参与范围并代表所有地区不断涌现的创新机会浪潮的方式支持主要都市区以外的创新者，而不是集中在几个大的地区I-Corps 内部东北中心机构将特别重视针对聋哑人和听力障碍人士的 I-Corps 项目，将创建一个“枢纽中心”基础设施，将区域研究实验室和机构与较小的科学技术联系起来。 、工程和数学该中心建议招募多元化的讲师、导师和工作人员，以便代表性不足的少数群体在 I-Corps 的各个级别中找到机会，从向聋哑人和听力障碍者部署项目、招募人员等方面学习。该 I-Corps 中心项目将在整个国家创新网络中传播多样化的讲师和团队，以及对农村创新社区发展的支持，为东北内陆地区的 STEM 研究人员提供包容性的 I-Corps 培训、指导和支持。加速将基础研究发现转化为造福社会的产品和服务，并降低在不深入了解行业需求和挑战的情况下追求商业化的风险。此外，该中心还建议提供一个项目基础设施，让主要都市区以外的创新者能够接受。学习 I-Corps 客户发现方法并将其应用到机会中，同时与所在机构保持联系，参与者将获得成为充满活力的农村地区的多元化创新者群体的好处，以实现这些目标。该中心建议重点关注1) 通过聘请重视 I-Corps 的受人尊敬的 STEM 教师作为项目大使、思想领袖和中心顾问，最大限度地提高 I-Corps 在深度技术研究人员中的影响力和声誉；2) 提供大量学习机会，支持分布在不同地区的参与者和由经验丰富的讲师领导，采用包容性教学实践；3) 支持少数族裔 (URM) 的 STEM 研究人员的专业发展，包括女性、退伍军人、有色人种和残疾人。该奖项反映了通过使用基金会的智力价值和更广泛的影响审查标准进行评估，NSF 的法定使命被认为值得支持。