§1862p–2 Partnerships for Innovation

Summary

The Director must run a competitive grant program that gives money to colleges and universities to start or grow partnerships that help turn research into useful products, services, or practices. To get funding, a school must propose a partnership that includes at least one private company. Other colleges, public institutions, nonprofits, and businesses can join. Priority is given to partnerships that include a minority-serving school, a mainly undergraduate college, or a 2-year college. Funded projects must aim to move promising research toward practical use, involve faculty and students from many fields (including business and non-STEM), teach innovation and entrepreneurship, build a campus culture that supports economic or social impact, widen participation across different types of schools, and form lasting local and state partnerships. The Director will also consider whether the institution shows real support, plans to expand the work campus-wide if needed, and will keep new tools or programs going after the grant. Grant money cannot be used to build or renovate buildings.