Deadline not published

Federal funding opportunity

NSF National Innovation Corps Teams (NSF National I-Corps (TM) Teams) program

U.S. National Science Foundation

  • Opportunity25-549
  • Agency codeNSF
  • CategoryDiscretionary (D)
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Competitive proposals usually start 6+ weeks out.

$12M Est. program funding
N/a Award ceiling
$50,000 Award floor
N/a Expected no. of awards

Program summary

Synopsis

The U.S. National Science Foundation (NSF) continues to develop and nurture a national innovation ecosystem that guides the output of scientific discoveries closer to the development of technologies, products, processes, and services that benefit allAmericans. The goals of the NSF I-Corps™program are to spur translation of foundational research to the marketplace, to encourage collaboration between academia and industry, and to train NSF-funded faculty, students and other researchers in innovation and entrepreneurship skills.

The NSF National I-Corps programutilizes experiential learning of customer and industry discovery, coupled with first-hand investigation of industrial processes, to quickly assess the translational potential of inventions. The NSF National I-Corps programis designed to support the commercializationof "deep technologies,” those revolving around foundationaldiscoveries in science and engineering. The NSF National I-Corps programaddresses the skill and knowledge gaps associated with the transformation of basic research into deep technology ventures (DTVs).

The purpose of the NSF National I-Corps Teams program is to provide NSF-funded researchers additional support in the form of entrepreneurial education, mentoring, and funding to accelerate the translation of knowledge derived from foundational research into emerging products, processes, and services that may attract subsequent third-party funding.The outcomes of NSFNational I-Corps Teams' projects are threefold: 1) a decision on a clear path forward based on an assessment of the business model, 2) substantial first-hand evidence for or against product-market fit, with the identification of customer segments and corresponding value propositions, and 3) a narrative of a technology demonstration for potential partners.

Timeline

Key dates

  • September 26, 2025
    Opportunity posted to grants.gov

Who may apply

Eligibility

Eligible applicant types as published by the awarding agency:

  • Others (see text field entitled "Additional Information on Eligibility" for clarification)
Additional info on eligibility
*Who May Submit Proposals: Proposals may only be submitted by the following: -Institutions of Higher Education (IHEs): Two- and four-year IHEs (including community colleges) accredited in, and having a campus located in the US, acting on behalf of their faculty members. Special Instructions for International Branch Campuses of US IHEs: If the proposal includes funding to be provided to an international branch campus of a US institution of higher education (including through use of sub-awards and consultant arrangements), the proposer must explain the benefit(s) to the project of performance at the international branch campus, and justify why the project activities cannot be performed at the US campus. *Who May Serve as PI: <span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: 'Calibri',sans-serif; line-height: 107%; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi;">Multiple awards based on the same core technology generally will not be supported.</span>
Cost sharing or matching
Not required

Awarding agency

Additional information

Agency name
U.S. National Science Foundation
Full announcement
NSF Publication 25-549 ↗
Grantor contact
U.S. National Science Foundation
703-292-4203
grantsgovsupport@nsf.gov

Assistance listing

CFDA program(s)

  • 47.041 Engineering
  • 47.049 Mathematical and Physical Sciences
  • 47.050 Geosciences
  • 47.070 Computer and Information Science and Engineering
  • 47.074 Biological Sciences
  • 47.075 Social, Behavioral, and Economic Sciences
  • 47.076 STEM Education (formerly Education and Human Resources)
  • 47.079 Office of International Science and Engineering
  • 47.083 Integrative Activities
  • 47.084 NSF Technology, Innovation, and Partnerships

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