Innovation Corps - National Innovation Network Sites Program

 

The National Science Foundation (NSF) seeks to develop and nurture a national innovation ecosystem that builds upon research to guide the output of scientific discoveries closer to the development of technologies, products and processes that benefit society.

In order tocontribute toa national innovation ecosystem, NSFestablished the NSF Innovation Corps Sites Program(NSF I-Corps Sites). Sites are funded at academic institutions, having already existing innovation or entrepreneurial units, to enable them to:

• Nurture students and/or faculty who are engaged in projects having the potential to be transitioned into the marketplace. I-Corps Sites will provide infrastructure, advice, resources, networking opportunities, training and modest funding to enable groups to transition their work into the marketplace orinto becoming I-Corps Team applicants.
• Develop formal, active, local innovation ecosystems that contribute to a larger, national network of mentors, researchers, entrepreneurs and investors. Networking is an essential component of all of NSF’s I-Corps activities – local and national networking activities help advance the goals of I-Corps and contribute to local and national ecosystems for innovation.

The purpose of an I-Corps Site is to nurture and support multiple, local teamsto transitiontheir ideas, devices, processes or other intellectual activities into the marketplace.

Active 16-547 Agency: National Science Foundation Grant 25 *Who May Submit Proposals: Proposals may only be submitted by the following: -Universities and Colleges - Universities and two- and four-year colleges (including community colleges) accredited in, and having a campus located in, the US acting on behalf of their faculty members. Such organizations also are referred to as academic in - A competitive proposal for an I-Corps Site will be led by an institution having an already existing unit whose goal is to assist faculty, students and other academic personnel to engage in entrepreneurial activities and transition scientific and technological innovations. Such units are typically called: innovation centers, entrepreneurial centers, technology incubators, etc. Their mission is to provide resources to individuals and teams in the form of space, seed funding, entrepreneurial mentoring, curriculum, or other assets needed to transition technology into the marketplace. Collaborative proposals from multiple institutions are discouraged. Exceptions can be made, with the approval of the NSF I-Corps Management Team, for institutions that have collaborative entrepreneurial centers already in place. I-Corps Sites are awarded to single institutions and Sites fund teams from their own institution. In exceptional cases, a Site may also fund teams from branch campuses or other institutions in the Site's geographical region. However, a Site must obtain permission from a cognizant program officer before proposing this model. 05/25/2016 This program does not have cost sharing or matching requirements. NSF grants.gov support
grantsgovsupport@nsf.gov
http://www.nsf.gov/publications/pub_summ.jsp?ods_key=nsf16547 grantsgovsupport@nsf.gov $2,500,000.00