Innovation Corps

The U.S. National Science Foundation’s Innovation Corps (I-Corps™) program is an immersive, entrepreneurial training program that facilitates the transformation of invention to impact.

The University of Kentucky is a partner in the Mid-South Innovation Corps Hub.

I-Corps Hubs provide experiential entrepreneurial training to academic researchers across all fields of science and engineering. Hubs form the operational backbone of the National Innovation Network — a network of universities, NSF-funded researchers, local and regional entrepreneurial communities and other federal agencies — that help researchers translate fundamental research results to the marketplace.

Launch Blue’s Regional I-Corps Program will coincide with our UAccel program.


  • February 14 - April 25, 2025: UAccel Quick Start + I-Corps Spring 2025 Program. Meetings bi-weekly on Fridays at 10am ET.

Important Dates


This program is open to those who have successfully graduated from UAccel Quick Start and want to continue toward startup formation, SBIR applications, or National Innovation Corps applications.

The I-Corps phase continues on the foundations in UAccel Quick Start and provides additional experiential entrepreneurial training. Participants must complete program requirements to graduate.

We encourage all members of a team to actively participate in the program. This includes both an entrepreneurial lead and a technical lead.

  • Technical lead: Typically, a faculty member who is the technology inventor and serves as principal investigator, or a postdoctoral researcher who has deep expertise in the core technology area to be evaluated for market potential.

  • Entrepreneurial lead: Typically, a graduate student or postdoctoral researcher who leads the team and is committed to commercialization.

Eligibility


Applications for the Summer 2025 UAccel Quick Start + I-Corps program will open in spring. Sign up to be notified.


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How to Apply

Virtual Info Session