Minority-focused Entrepreneurship and Commercialization Forum
According to the U.S. DOT Equity Action Plan, Black and Hispanic-owned businesses were underrepresented, receiving only 1.7% and 2.4%, respectively, of FY20 USDOT direct contract dollars in the technology-related transportation sector. As an enabling step toward addressing this issue, CR2C2 has created the Minority-focused Entrepreneurship and Commercialization Forum (MECF) to connect researchers and entrepreneurs, particularly those from underrepresented minority groups, with successful entrepreneurs, innovation-focused university administrators, and offices as well as private sector and industry experts to promote direct translation of Center research into business opportunities.
Supported by entrepreneurship programs within the CR2C2 consortium, MECF will organize a quarterly workshop series called Paths to Entrepreneurship in Transportation.
MECF will also create networking opportunities among inventors and entrepreneurs through which accomplished entrepreneurs and experts can provide mentorship to their peers and facilitate the successful commercialization of results and business creation.
The fact that CR2C2 is led by an HBCU and includes an HSI will enable this forum to become an excellent space to encourage and promote diversity among efforts to create enterprises from CR2C2 research.
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