SALISBURY, MD—The U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) recently named Salisbury University among the recipients of its 2024 Growth Accelerator Fund Competition (GAFC) stage one winners.
SU was awarded in the domestic production category for the proposal of implementing an AgTech challenge competition at the University’s Dave and Patsy Rommel Center for Entrepreneurship.
“We believe we can leverage SU’s existing partnerships in poultry and agriculture to make the region a national test environment in agricultural robotics and automation,” said Michael Jensen, SU executive director of entrepreneurship.
The stage one award includes $50,000 for impactful and inclusive approaches to foster a thriving, collaborative national innovation support ecosystem to advance small business research and development.
SU’s goal is to create an industry-driven collegiate competition focused on agricultural robotics and automation, similar to the structure of other entrepreneurship competitions in SU’s Franklin P. Perdue School of Business.
Next steps include: an assessment of AgTech innovation on the Delmarva Peninsula; a high-level vision and strategy plan for AgTech innovation; and establishing how stakeholders throughout the region can leverage the competition’s activities to catalyze discussions on innovation, promote equitable access pipelines and educate innovators in diverse communities.
For more information or collaboration opportunities, contact Jensen at mdjensen@salisbury.edu or visit the center’s webpage at www.salisbury.edu/entreprenuership.
Learn more about SU and opportunities to Make Tomorrow Yours at www.salisbury.edu.