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DSU joins NSF I-Corps' Northeast Hub

Delaware State Univ.
Pictured are Dr. Renu Tripathi (l), Professor of Optics, and Mauricio Pulido, a graduate student in optics.

Delaware State University is now part of the National Science Foundation’s (NSF) Innovation Corps. 

DSU joins the I-Corps’ new northeast hub - led by Princeton University along with the University of Delaware and Rutgers University. 

Using a $15 million grant from the NSF, the new hub seeks to accelerate the economic impact of federally-funded research. while bolstering diversity in entrepreneurship and cultivating health care, science and energy startups.

 

“ I think quite simply we can think about it as an entrepreneur's dream….an innovator's dream," said Michael Casson,DSU’s faculty lead on the project. "In other words, it’s a network of universities across the northeast that are dedicated to providing platforms for innovation, creativity and commercialization in their respective communities.”

 

DSU is one of the first Historically Black Colleges and Universities to participate in I-Corps. It joins Lehigh, the New Jersey Institute of Technology, Rowan and Temple as northeast hub affiliates.

Casson believes DSU can leverage resources, talent and expertise at these other institutions to bolser innovation and entrepreneurship on its campus.

 

“If you think about what Delaware State University currently has to offer - for instance - we have in the College of Business building - the Bank of America building - we have what’s called The Garage, which is our innovation, ideation and makerspace. This is an interdisciplinary facility that is really charged with - or its mission is to really drive solutions around a myriad of problems that are faced both locally, nationally and globally," said Casson.

Kelli Steele has over 30 years of experience covering news in Delaware, Baltimore, Winchester, Virginia, Phoenix, Arizona and San Diego, California.