University of Kentucky and JSU spark HBCU innovation drive

University of Kentucky and Jackson State University (JSU) joined forces on Wednesday for a program aimed at commercialising health innovations from historically-black US colleges and universities (HBCUs).
The Enrich program is being led by JSU with additional support from local accelerator XLerateHealth. Enrich is an acronym for Engaging Researchers and Innovators for Commercialization at HBCUs.
HBCUs were formed before the promulgation of the Civil Rights Act in 1964 with the intent of teaching African-Americans who were disqualified from many mainstream universities.
Enrich will serve 25 such schools situated in US states eligible for national grant program Institutional Development Award (Idea), which aims to improve the geographical coverage of government research agency National Institutes of Health (NIH).
Enrich will train minorities underrepresented in entrepreneurship through JSU’s branch of government-funded health accelerator NSF I-Corps, in addition to XLerateHealth, while University of Kentucky’s Office of Technology Commercialization will protect resulting intellectual properties.
XLerateHealth also supports XLerator Network, the health innovation drive led by University of Kentucky that covers 24 institutions in the southeastern US states eligible for Idea.
XLerator Network was funded to the tune of $3.5m in NIH grants over three years. A portion of those resources has been allocated to form Enrich.
Eli Capilouto, president of University of Kentucky, said: “University of Kentucky is excited for the opportunity to partner with JSU and support the Enrich program.
“We believe in the profound power of increasing accessibility for historically-marginalised communities, and we look forward to helping improve equity in discovery and innovation.”