Implement step 17 modules: threads/messages, notifications with automation (submission.created, idea.created, grant_call.opened), innovation test feedback, admin panel (submissions, verify, metrics, grant call status), Middleman adaptation and partnerships. Split multi-type files into one type per file and replace object-valued dictionaries with string-valued maps in data contracts (migrations 0006/0007).
Add a pluggable embedding provider with an offline deterministic default, vector indexing for problems and innovations, cosine semantic ranking, similar cases and solution suggestions, area filtering and an admin reindex endpoint. Refresh the index when innovations or submissions change.
Add submission CRUD with pagination and role scoping, challenge/location binding, automatic keyword extraction, a validated status workflow, and domain events for matchmaking and notifications. Create a problem record together with each submission.