The National Advisory Council on Innovation & Entrepreneurship (NACIE) is charged with identifying and recommending solutions to issues critical to driving the innovation economy, including enabling entrepreneurs and firms to successfully access and develop a skilled, globally competitive workforce.

Seeks to support entrepreneurship and accelerate company growth within the Blue Economy for the FY20 cycle.The FY20 Industry Challenge will award grants to organizations who are Supporting commercialization of these technologies; Improving competitiveness of these startups; Increasing connectivity and collaboration between these stakeholders; Leveraging the blue economy to support innovation and job creation

The STEM Talent Challenge seeks to develop or expand regional workforce capacity to support high-growth, high-wage entrepreneurial ventures

The FY20 Venture Challenge (formerly known as the “i6 Challenge”) seeks to support entrepreneurship and accelerate company growth in communities, regions or combinations of regions. The Venture Challenge awards grants to intermediary organizations like accelerators, universities, and non-profits supporting new business ventures

The FY20 Capital Challenge (formerly known as “Seed Fund Support”) seeks to increase access to capital in communities where risk capital is in short supply. The Capital Challenge provides operational support fo the formation, launch, or scale of investment funds that seek to invest their capital in scalable startups, AND organizations with a goal to expand capital deployment within a community, region, or regional industry