Agricultural Innovation Corps

(a) In general The Secretary shall establish an Agricultural Innovation Corps (referred to in this section as the Ag I–Corps) to promote technology transfer and increase the economic impact of federally-funded research through— (1) supporting agricultural researchers, students, and institutions of higher education (as defined in section 101 of the Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1001)), in exploring the commercial potential of technologies developed in laboratories through a standardized entrepreneurial training program; and (2) bringing together Agriculture Research Service researchers and institutions of higher education within a distinct geographical region to collaborate and deliver a standardized entrepreneurial training curriculum. (b) Eligibility Agricultural researchers, students, and institutions of higher education receiving funds from the Department shall be eligible to participate in Ag I–Corps. (c) Follow-on grants (1) In general The Secretary may make funds available from the Small Business Innovation Research Program for competitive grants to Ag I–Corps participants to help support— (A) prototype or proof-of-concept development; and (B) such activities as the Secretary considers necessary to build local, regional, and national infrastructure for agricultural entrepreneurship. (2) Limitation Grants under paragraph (1) shall be limited to participants in Ag I–Corps with innovations that, because of the early stage of development of such innovations, are not eligible to participate in a Small Business Innovation Research Program or Small Business Technology Transfer Program (as defined in section 9 of the Small Business Act (15 U.S.C. 638)). (d) Partnerships The Secretary may engage in partnerships with other Federal agencies, State and local governments, economic development organizations, and nonprofit organizations to provide access to Ag I–Corps to support entrepreneurship education and training for agricultural researchers, students, and institutions of higher education under this section. (e) Report Not later than September 30, 2027, and not less frequently than once every other year, the Secretary shall submit to the Committee on Agriculture of the House of Representatives and the Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry of the Senate a report on the efficacy of Ag I–Corps, including metrics on the effectiveness of the program.

(a) In general The Secretary shall establish an Agricultural Innovation Corps (referred to in this section as the Ag I–Corps) to promote technology transfer and increase the economic impact of federally-funded research through— (1) supporting agricultural researchers, students, and institutions of higher education (as defined in section 101 of the Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1001)), in exploring the commercial potential of technologies developed in laboratories through a standardized entrepreneurial training program; and (2) bringing together Agriculture Research Service researchers and institutions of higher education within a distinct geographical region to collaborate and deliver a standardized entrepreneurial training curriculum. (b) Eligibility Agricultural researchers, students, and institutions of higher education receiving funds from the Department shall be eligible to participate in Ag I–Corps. (c) Follow-on grants (1) In general The Secretary may make funds available from the Small Business Innovation Research Program for competitive grants to Ag I–Corps participants to help support— (A) prototype or proof-of-concept development; and (B) such activities as the Secretary considers necessary to build local, regional, and national infrastructure for agricultural entrepreneurship. (2) Limitation Grants under paragraph (1) shall be limited to participants in Ag I–Corps with innovations that, because of the early stage of development of such innovations, are not eligible to participate in a Small Business Innovation Research Program or Small Business Technology Transfer Program (as defined in section 9 of the Small Business Act (15 U.S.C. 638)). (d) Partnerships The Secretary may engage in partnerships with other Federal agencies, State and local governments, economic development organizations, and nonprofit organizations to provide access to Ag I–Corps to support entrepreneurship education and training for agricultural researchers, students, and institutions of higher education under this section. (e) Report Not later than September 30, 2027, and not less frequently than once every other year, the Secretary shall submit to the Committee on Agriculture of the House of Representatives and the Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry of the Senate a report on the efficacy of Ag I–Corps, including metrics on the effectiveness of the program.