Innovation

SBA: Millennium Challenge Corporation and SBA Announce Strategic Collaboration to Advance Emerging Technologies from Small Businesses

The U.S. Small Business Administration and The Millennium Challenge Corporation (MCC) signed a Memorandum of Understanding today to advance emerging technologies and innovations developed through the Small Business Innovation Research and Small Business Technology Transfer (SBIR/STTR) programs. The SBA/MCC partnership will identify, pilot, and scale innovative technologies to address country-specific needs in sectors such as renewable energy,…

Agencies Extend Comment Period on Request for Information on Artificial Intelligence

Five federal financial regulatory agencies announced today they will extend the comment period on the request for information on financial institutions’ use of artificial intelligence (AI) until July 1, 2021. The agencies are seeking information from the public on how financial institutions use AI in their activities, including fraud prevention, personalization of customer services, credit…

Census Bureau: COVID-19 TOPx Solutions Virtual Showcase Scheduled for May 25th

This virtual event will showcase digital products created through the COVID-19 TOPx Technology Development Sprint with input from leading government and industry experts. TOPx, modeled on The Opportunity Project (TOP), is an innovation program led by Census Open Innovation Labs at the U.S. Census Bureau. Through technology development sprints, TOPx engages government, technology experts and communities to co-create digital products for the public…

FDIC: FDiTech Announces New Deputy Director of Office of Innovation

The Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC) today announced the appointment of Zunera Mazhar as Deputy Director of the agency’s Office of Innovation. Ms. Mazhar will guide the agency’s work to promote the adoption of innovative technologies within the FDIC and across the financial services sector. “I am extremely excited that Zunera will be joining our…

FDIC: FDiTech to Host Virtual Office Hours on Banking-Related Innovation

The Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC) today announced that it will host a series of virtual ‘office hours’ to hear directly from a range of stakeholders regarding current and evolving technological innovations in the business of banking.   Hosted by the FDIC’s tech lab, FDiTech, and FDIC Chief Innovation Officer Sultan Meghji, these hour-long, one-on-one sessions will…

SBA: First-of-its-Kind Technology Initiative for Restaurant Revitalization Fund Announced

Point-of-sale service providers will support eligible restaurant owners with innovative technology solutions The U.S. Small Business Administration announced today the first round of technology partners participating in a new initiative for the Restaurant Revitalization Fund (RRF) – a program that will allow eligible restaurants and other food establishments to access the RRF application or data they need…

FDIC: Agency and Duke University’s Pratt School of Engineering Announce Strategic Partnership to Promote Innovation

The Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC) and Duke University’s Pratt School of Engineering today announced a strategic partnership to support technological innovation in the banking and financial services sectors. “This exciting collaboration will amplify our efforts to drive innovation in the banking ecosystem and within the FDIC,” said Sultan Meghji, FDIC’s Chief Innovation Officer. “We…

EDA: $5.3 Million in CARES Act Recovery Assistance Invested to the Russell Center for Innovation and Entrepreneurship to Expand Regional Economic Growth

Today, U.S. Secretary of Commerce Gina Raimondo announced that the Department’s Economic Development Administration (EDA) is awarding a $5.3 million CARES Act Recovery Assistance grant to the Russell Center for Innovation and Entrepreneurship, Atlanta, Georgia, to improve and expand the facility and increase their capacity to promote entrepreneurship, support sustainable economic growth, and create jobs…

EDA: Department of Commerce Awards $29 Million in SPRINT Challange Grants to Respond to the Coronavirus Pandemic

 U.S. Secretary of Commerce Gina Raimondo today announced that a total of $29 million would be awarded to 44 organizations as part of the Economic Development Administration’s (EDA) Scaling Pandemic Resilience Through Innovation and Technology (SPRINT) Challenge. Last year, the SPRINT Challenge was launched to harness America’s entrepreneurial potential to address the economic, health, and…

EDA: $6 Million Invested to Establish Wood Innovation Center in Darrington, WA

Today, the U.S. Department of Commerce’s Economic Development Administration (EDA) is awarding a $6 million grant to the town of Darrington, Washington, to acquire land and provide infrastructure needed to establish the Darrington Wood Innovation Center. This EDA grant, to be matched with $1.7 million in state investment, is expected to create 156 jobs and…