Have you ever wondered what I-Corps is? Your questions may include: ‘What is it?’ ‘Who is it for?’. These are all important questions! In this article, we will set out to answer some of your pressing questions about the Innovation Corps (I-Corps) program.
All About I-Corps
Many university researchers have made incredible discoveries, but there is less clarity about how those discoveries translate into real-world use, adoption, or impact. The NSF I-Corps Hub: Great Lakes Region exists to help University researchers take structured, evidence-driven steps toward understanding who might benefit from their work and why. Funded by the US National Science Foundation, we have 2 main goals:
- Re-imagine the university innovation process from research ideation to invention to spinout, in order to enhance regional and national competitiveness by better leveraging our leadership in science.
- Develop the technical leaders of tomorrow by providing them with the skills, network, and entrepreneurial mindset needed to pursue their future path of purpose.
The Great Lakes I-Corps Hub is a collaboration between 16 Universities. Working together, the Hub offers free innovation training programs throughout the Midwest. The Hub partners include:
- University of Michigan
- University of Akron
- University of Chicago
- University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign
- University of Iowa
- Iowa State University
- Michigan Technological University
- University of Minnesota
- Missouri University of Science and Technology
- University of Nebraska-Lincoln
- The Ohio State University
- Purdue University
- The University of Toledo
- University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee
- University of Wisconsin-Madison
Each of these partners offers Regional I-Corps programs, and innovators can enroll in whichever program works best for their situation and schedule!
The 16 Universities in the Great Lakes I-Corps Hub provide innovation education.
Our Programs
Regional I-Corps
Our Regional I-Corps programs are a great introduction to the I-Corps methodology, and are the perfect first step on your innovation journey. Regional I-Corps is a free, remote, cohort-based program for graduate students, post-docs, and faculty members who are conducting innovative research and are looking to commercialize or explore the potential impact of their project. Benefits of the program include mentorship, gaining valuable market insight, and basic business education. Plus, a digital certificate upon program completion! The remote class sessions are held weekly with a curriculum built around hands-on experimentation, with a focus on customer discovery.
The regional program provides a solid foundation for teams to continue growing and increases the odds of securing future federal grant funding, including SBIR/STTR, TTP, and more. Every Great Lakes I-Corps Hub partner university offers Regional I-Corps programs throughout the year, so keep an eye out for application deadlines and program dates.
Learn more about our Regional I-Corps Program
Post Regional I-Corps Programs
I-Corps Boost
I-Corps Boost is perfect for those who have completed a Regional I-Corps program and want to take a deeper dive into their project. I-Corps Boost can guide you through essential milestones, wherever you are on your innovation journey. This virtual program is well-suited for those seeking licensing or industry partnerships, or those planning to launch their own startup.
I-Corps Boost offers several benefits:
- Accelerate your project from early customer discovery to actionable next steps.
- Receive hands-on mentorship and guidance.
- Develop a compelling executive summary and pitch presentation and enhance your team’s readiness for investors, partnerships, and grant applications.
Learn more about eligibility and course requirements of I-Corps Boost on our website.
NSF National I-Corps™ Teams program
After completion of the regional program, participants are eligible to apply for the National Science Foundation’s National I-Corps™ Teams program, which offers a $50,000 grant and further opportunities for entrepreneurial exploration. It is a 7-week program conducted through weekly, remote web sessions and online office hours. By the end of the program, teams will have completed 100 customer interviews. This program is another great opportunity to improve your odds of receiving federal grants such as SBIR/STTR. The Great Lakes I-Corps Hub staff can be contacted after completing the regional program to discuss applying to the National I-Corps™ Team program.
Learn more about the National I-Corps™ program on our website.
Get Involved with I-Corps
Now that you know what I-Corps is, you may be wondering how to get involved in the program!
Check out our website for upcoming programs.
Sign up for our Monthly Newsletter to receive the I-Corps news and opportunities.
We hope to see you in one of our I-Corps programs!
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By Melena Barth and Christopher Eakin
NSF I-Corps Hub: Great Lakes Region, 2026
This work is supported by the NSF I-Corps Hub: Great Lakes Region, NSF Award #2048612
