(1) There is established the Kentucky Entrepreneurship and Innovation Hub Program within the Office of Entrepreneurship and Innovation. The goal of the program is to create products, new companies, and value-added jobs in communities throughout the Commonwealth. Strategies to achieve this goal include:
- (a) Increasing quality deal flow of knowledge-based, technology-intensive companies in Kentucky;
- (b) Increasing understanding of start-up process and investment practices;
- (c) Providing value-added services to the start-up and investment community;
- (d) Supporting entrepreneur-led economic development; and
- (e) Attracting workforce talent, investors, and start-up companies to Kentucky.
(2) The duties of the hubs shall include but not be limited to:
- (a) Identifying and linking entrepreneurs, faculty, subject-matter experts, scientists, venture capitalists, and other key individuals from the business sector, universities, community and technical colleges, local leaders, and government for the creation and expansion of knowledge-based, technology- intensive companies;
- (b) Establishing a uniform protocol for assembling and communicating project concepts and opportunities;
- (c) Supporting high-quality projects through the concept and development phases including services such as market research, prototype development, business plan and strategies development, grant and contract capabilities, and capital and management resource identification; and Identifying, in the area of technology development, potential partners, strategic opportunities, training and educational needs, and issues that inhibit the growth of technology sectors and business clusters in the state.
- (d)
Effective: July 15, 2026
History: Amended 2026 Ky. Acts ch. 114, sec. 2, effective July 15, 2026. -- Amended 2006 Ky. Acts ch. 210, sec. 8, effective July 12, 2006. -- Amended 2005 Ky. Acts ch. 181, sec. 12, effective June 20, 2005. -- Created 2002 Ky. Acts ch. 230, sec. 10, effective July 15, 2002.