IGEM Overview and Structure

Key Findings

• IGEM consists of three funding streams: IGEM-Commerce ($1M), IGEM-HERC ($2M), and IGEM-CAES ($2M)
• Focus on university research and commercialization partnerships
• Emphasis on "advanced university research" and "economic development initiatives"

Analysis

Small Business Perspective

The structure of IGEM inherently excludes most small businesses, particularly those under 20 employees. The focus on "advanced university research" creates significant barriers for small business participation, as these enterprises typically lack the resources or need for such partnerships.

Big Business Perspective

The program's structure heavily favors large corporations or well-funded startups capable of engaging in complex research partnerships with universities. The substantial funding and focus on commercialization align well with the R&D strategies of larger enterprises.

The use of "Global" and "Entrepreneurial" in the program's title is misleading. The program neither addresses global markets specifically nor supports the vast majority of Idaho's entrepreneurs – the 184,000 small business owners with fewer than 20 employees. This misuse of terminology suggests a fundamental misunderstanding of entrepreneurship in Idaho.