Economic Development

• Commercialization Investment Programs
  Commercialization Investment Programs (CIP) provide funding for the Research and Development Program, Rural Innovation Program, and Commercialization Fund, all established in the Kentucky Innovation Act to promote the development of early stage technology companies in Kentucky.
  
  
• Connect Kentucky
  Connect Kentucky is an alliance of businesses, government entities, and universities that work together to accelerate technology growth in the Commonwealth through broadband expansion, research, governmental affairs, public relations, and high-tech recruiting.
  
  
• Kentucky Statewide Experimental Program to Stimulate Competitive Research (EPSCoR)
  Kentucky is one of 24 EPSCoR states in a network of federal-state partnerships that focus on the expansion of science, engineering, and technology capabilities to promote national competitiveness for federal research funding.  These partnerships help to balance the distribution of federal research dollars and use state or local control in the delivery of program goals.
  
  
• Kentucky Knowledge-Based Economy Annual Reports
  The Council reports annually to the Kentucky Innovation Commission, the Governor and the General Assembly on the status of knowledge-based economy programs in Kentucky.
  
  
• Kentucky Science and Engineering Foundation (KSEF)
  The KSEF builds science and engineering capacity and excellence by investing in research, technology development, human resource development, and technological innovation. The KSEF also serves as a science and engineering information resource center in Kentucky.
  
  
• Research & Development (R&D) Voucher Program
  The R&D Voucher program allows Kentucky-based companies to seek state funding to develop a unique and competitive product, technology, or process in partnership with a Kentucky postsecondary institution. This program was established by the Kentucky Innovation Act of 2000 to expand knowledge-driven research and development capacity in Kentucky.
  
  
• Responsive Ph.D. Initiative
  The University of Kentucky and the University of Louisville participate in the national Responsive Ph.D. Initiative sponsored by the Woodrow Wilson National Fellowship Foundation. This program encourages universities to increase the quality of the doctoral experience for students by promoting interdisciplinary scholarship, encouraging pedagogical training, improving diversity, and applying academic expertise to social challenges.
  
  
• Rural Innovation Program
  The Kentucky Rural Innovation Program is a $1 million investment fund established by the Kentucky Innovation Act of 2000 that assists small, rural, Kentucky-based firms to undertake research and development.