This federal Project Grant award of $214,742 was provided by the National Science Foundation's (NSF) Social, Behavioral, and Economic Sciences (CFDA 47.075) program to Texas A&M University. The objective of this 10-month project is to evaluate how social safety net policies, including those providing child/family, health, and educational assistance, impact STEM entrepreneurship and innovation, particularly among underrepresented populations and underserved regions. The research will employ quasi-experimental methods and collect interview/survey data to develop new theories on how social policies shape entrepreneurial and innovative behavior. The findings are intended to provide practical advice to policymakers and practitioners on how social safety net benefits affect the quantity and quality of STEM entrepreneurs and inventors, with the goal of enhancing inclusive economic growth and maintaining U.S. competitiveness in science and technology.