Introduction

As our comprehensive analysis has demonstrated a clear bias towards large businesses in Idaho's economic development strategies, this section focuses on a program that, by its name, should be an exception to this trend. The Idaho Global Entrepreneurial Mission (IGEM) Annual Report for 2023 outlines the state's efforts to foster innovation and economic development through university-industry partnerships.

This analysis examines each component of the report, with a particular focus on the funded projects, to assess the program's alignment with entrepreneurship and its impact on businesses of different sizes. Notably, IGEM is the only program in Idaho's economic development plan with "Entrepreneurial" in its title, making its actual focus and outcomes particularly significant.

This examination is especially crucial in light of our findings regarding the state's neglect of the 'Entrepreneurship' pillar of economic development, as identified by the International Economic Development Council. This report aims to highlight the alarming disconnect between the program's name and its activities, revealing a critical gap in Idaho's economic development strategy.

By scrutinizing IGEM, we seek to further substantiate our overall conclusion that Idaho's economic development efforts are overwhelmingly focused on big businesses, even in programs ostensibly designed to support entrepreneurship and innovation.