I 
115TH CONGRESS 
2D SESSION 
H. R. 5086 
To require the Director of the National Science Foundation to develop an 
I-Corps course to support commercialization-ready innovation companies, 
and for other purposes. 
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
FEBRUARY 26, 2018 
Mr. LIPINSKI (for himself and Mr. WEBSTER of Florida) introduced the fol-
lowing bill; which was referred to the Committee on Science, Space, and 
Technology, and in addition to the Committee on Small Business, for a 
period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for 
consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the com-
mittee concerned 
A BILL 
To require the Director of the National Science Foundation 
to develop an I-Corps course to support commercializa-
tion-ready innovation companies, and for other purposes. 
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa-
tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, 
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. 
This Act may be cited as the ‘‘Innovators to Entre-
preneurs Act of 2018’’. 
SEC. 2. FINDINGS. 
Congress finds the following: 
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(1) The National Science Foundation Innova-
tion Corps Program (hereinafter referred to as ‘‘I- 
Corps’’), created administratively by the Foundation 
in 2011 and statutorily authorized in the American 
Innovation and Competitiveness Act, has succeeded 
in increasing the commercialization of Government- 
funded research. 
(2) I-Corps provides valuable entrepreneurial 
education to graduate students, postdoctoral fellows, 
and other researchers, providing formal training for 
scientists and engineers to pursue careers in busi-
ness, an increasingly common path for advanced de-
gree holders. 
(3) The I-Corps Teams program is successful in 
part due to its focus on providing the specific types 
of education and mentoring entrepreneurs need 
based on the early stage of their companies, however 
the program does not provide similar support to 
them at later stages. 
(4) The success of I-Corps in the very early 
stages of the innovation continuum should be ex-
panded upon by offering additional entrepreneurship 
training to small businesses as they advance toward 
commercialization. 
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(5) The excellent training made available to 
grantees of participating agencies through the I- 
Corps Program should be made available to all Fed-
eral grantees as well as other businesses willing to 
pay the cost of attending such training. 
(6) The success of the I-Corps Program at pro-
moting entrepreneurship within research institutions 
and encouraging research commercialization has 
been due in part to the National Science Founda-
tion’s efforts to date on building a national network 
of science entrepreneurs, including convening stake-
holders, promoting national I-Corps courses, cata-
loguing best practices and encourage sharing be-
tween sites and institutions, and developing a men-
tor network. 
(7) As the I-Corps Program continues to grow 
and expand, the National Science Foundation should 
maintain its focus on networking and information 
sharing to ensure that innovators across the country 
can learn from their peers and remain competitive. 
SEC. 3. EXPANDED PARTICIPATION IN I-CORPS. 
Section 601(c)(2) of the American Innovation and 
Competitiveness Act (42 U.S.C. 1862s–8(c)(2)) is amend-
ed by adding at the end the following: 
‘‘(C) ADDITIONAL PARTICIPANTS.— 
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‘‘(i) ELIGIBILITY.—The Director, in 
consultation with relevant stakeholders, as 
determined by the Director, which may in-
clude Federal agencies, I-Corps regional 
nodes, universities, and public and private 
entities engaged in technology transfer or 
commercialization of technologies, shall 
provide an option for participation in an I- 
Corps Teams course by— 
‘‘(I) Small Business Innovation 
Research Program grantees; and 
‘‘(II) other entities, as deter-
mined appropriate by the Director. 
‘‘(ii) COST OF PARTICIPATION.—The 
cost of participation by a Small Business 
Innovation Research Program grantee in 
such course may be provided— 
‘‘(I) 
through 
I-Corps 
Teams 
grants; 
‘‘(II) through funds awarded to 
grantees under the Small Business In-
novation Research Program or the 
Small Business Technology Transfer 
Program; 
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‘‘(III) by the grantor Federal 
agency of the grantee using funds set 
aside for the Small Business Innova-
tion Research Program under section 
9(f)(1) of the Small Business Act (15 
U.S.C. 638(f)(1)); 
‘‘(IV) by the grantor Federal 
agency of the grantee using funds set 
aside for the Small Business Tech-
nology Transfer Program under sec-
tion 9(n)(1) of the Small Business 
Act (15 U.S.C. 638(n)(1)); or 
‘‘(V) 
by 
the 
participating 
teams.’’. 
SEC. 4. I-CORPS COURSE FOR COMMERCIALIZATION-READY 
PARTICIPANTS. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—In carrying out the I-Corps pro-
gram described in section 601(c) of the American Innova-
tion and Competitiveness Act (42 U.S.C. 1862s–8(c)), the 
Director shall develop an I-Corps course offered by I- 
Corps regional nodes to support commercialization-ready 
participants. Such course shall include skills such as at-
tracting investors, scaling up a company, and building a 
brand. 
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(b) 
ENGAGEMENT
WITH
RELEVANT
STAKE-
HOLDERS.—In developing the course under subsection (a), 
the Director may consult with the heads of such Federal 
agencies, universities, and public and private entities as 
the Director determines to be appropriate. 
(c) ELIGIBLE PARTICIPANTS.—The course developed 
under subsection (a) shall— 
(1) support participants that have completed an 
I-Corps Teams course; 
(2) support participants that have made the de-
cision to take an innovation to market. 
SEC. 5. REPORT. 
Not later than 2 years after the date of enactment 
of this Act, the Comptroller General of the United States 
shall submit to Congress a report containing an evaluation 
of the I-Corps program described in section 601(c) of the 
American Innovation and Competitiveness Act (42 U.S.C. 
1862s–8(c)). Such evaluation shall include an assessment 
of the effects of I-Corps on— 
(1) the commercialization of Federally funded 
research and development; 
(2) the higher education system; and 
(3) regional economies and the national econ-
omy. 
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SEC. 6. FUNDING. 
From funds otherwise provided to the National 
Science Foundation, a total of $5,000,000 shall be made 
available for fiscal years 2019 and 2020 to carry out the 
activities described in section 4 and the amendment made 
by section 3. 
Æ 
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