Entrepreneurship Program Spurs Innovation with BSU-GW University Partnership

Bowie State Receives $50K National Science Foundation Award

MEDIA CONTACT: Damita Chambers, dchambers@bowiestate.edu, 301-832-2628 mobile

(BOWIE, Md.) – In an effort to expand entrepreneurship throughout the region, teams of Bowie State University faculty and students will get coaching to turn their technology ideas into viable businesses, thanks to a $50,000 National Science Foundation grant and support from George Washington University.

The NSF Innovation-Corps (I-Corps) is a regional program designed to foster, grow, and nurture an innovation ecosystem that prepares scientists and engineers to take their university research into the marketplace. The program is jointly run by George Washington University, University of Maryland College Park, Virginia Tech University and Johns Hopkins University.

The Bowie State University I-Corps program will train up to 10 research-based teams of faculty and students in the Lean Startup methodology, accelerating the development of market-ready innovations. Using George Washington University’s AccelerateGW program as a model, Bowie State’s I-Corps program will continue to lay the foundation to build an entrepreneurial environment within the university community.

“The primary focus of this award is to provide the I-Corps training methodology to Bowie State faculty to support the acceleration and expansion of the BSU Entrepreneurship Academy,” said Johnetta Hardy, executive director of the BSU Entrepreneurship Academy and lead coordinator of Bowie State’s I-Corps program. “In addition, the grant will help increase participation and promote inclusion of underrepresented populations at historically black colleges and universities (HBCUs) in the National Innovation Network.”

Information about how to participate in Bowie State’s I-Corps program is available at bowiestate.edu/entrepreneur. 

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About Bowie State University
Bowie State University (BSU) is an important higher education access portal for qualified persons from diverse academic and socioeconomic backgrounds, seeking a high-quality and affordable public comprehensive university. The university places special emphasis on the science, technology, cybersecurity, teacher education, business, and nursing disciplines within the context of a liberal arts education. For more information about BSU, visit bowiestate.edu.