Innovators to Entrepreneurs Act of 2018

Floor Speech

BREAK IN TRANSCRIPT

Mr. WEBSTER of Florida. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (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, as amended.

BREAK IN TRANSCRIPT

Mr. WEBSTER of Florida. 5086, the bill now under consideration.

Mr. Speaker, today I ask my colleagues to join me in supporting the Innovators to Entrepreneurs Act, H.R. 5086.

I thank my friend Daniel Lipinski for introducing the legislation with me. He is a champion of the time-proven Innovation Corps program, better known as I-Corps.

This bipartisan piece of legislation is a result of the committee hearings on the I-Corps program. The Innovation Corps program was created by the National Science Foundation in 2011 to teach scientists and engineers how to turn their laboratory innovations into successful commercial products and services.

This program assists scientists and engineers in the development of their academic research and equips them to bring that research into the private market. We have witnessed the wonderful successes of this program in my home State of Florida and across the Nation. H.R. 5086 expands the I-Corps program by creating a new course for commercialization-ready companies.

Following the completion of an I-Corps team course, individuals are eligible for this new course which will help them create, market, and eventually expand their private sector company. Through marketing, hiring, organizing, and attracting investors, these participants' success increases dramatically.

The bill breaks down the barriers experienced by current scientists when attempting to bring their product to market. Additionally, this bill expands the groups allowed to apply for the I-Corps program and offers new options for how to initially pay for the course.

Mr. Speaker, I would appreciate my colleagues' support in passing this commonsense piece of legislation, and I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I want to thank Mr. Lipinski, Chairman Smith, and the entire House Science, Space, and Technology Committee for their support of this legislation. It is a good bill, and it will spur the creation of new businesses and new jobs.

Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support this legislation, and I yield back the balance of my time.

BREAK IN TRANSCRIPT

Source