KRS 154.12-305: Kentucky Entrepreneurship and Innovation Hub Program.

(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, ne w 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

(d) 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.