Howard University has the distinction of achieving excellence in research in several areas of specialization. The ELI Institute will feature a dedicated research arm that will be centered around two topics, which explore aspects of entrepreneurship focused on the African-American community:

• Black Entrepreneurship and Business Development—Designed to explore African-American, Caribbean, and African entrepreneurial models and approaches; and 
• African-American/Urban Demographics—Identifying key trends in community purchasing power and habits that shape this trillion-dollar market, as well as exploring ways for African-American business to gain from these trends.

The ELI Center for Research is dedicated to providing a national forum for learning about the African-American entrepreneur and entrepreneurial ventures.  The Center for Research will:

• Provide fellowships for faculty, students, and other scholars to engage in fundamental and practical research on entrepreneurship as it relates to the African-American community (through fellowships and grants);
• Publish a research journal, case studies, and white papers;
• Host an annual symposium and conduct several conferences on critical research topics; and
• Create a clearinghouse of valuable data and information about African-American entrepreneurs, market opportunities, and business development trends.