U.S. National Science Foundation
National Science Foundation National Innovation Corps Teams (NSF National I-CorpsTM Teams) Program
Key facts
- Deadline
- Due Oct 6, 2076 · 18262 days left
- Award size
- From $50K
- Total available
- $12M
- Cost share / match ?
- Not required
- Who can apply
- Other (see eligibility)
- Where
- Anywhere in the U.S., including Tennessee
Before you apply: federal grants require an active SAM.gov registration (Unique Entity ID) and a Grants.gov account. Registration is free but can take weeks, so start now, not when the deadline is close. Grant-ready checklist
How this fits you
- Available in Tennessee (nationwide program)
- No cost share required
- Tennessee recipients since 2023: 220
Tell us who you are to see whether you're eligible.
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Official notice: https://simpler.grants.gov/opportunity/d0d4d391-fca7-490f-99e4-018a0a05c4fd · Printed from grantme.click/grants/c068c493-4257-4613-b9fb-4d3e92c11788
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About this grant
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 all Americans. 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 program utilizes 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 program is designed to support the commercialization of "deep technologies,” those revolving around foundational discoveries in science and engineering. The NSF National I-Corps program addresses 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 NSF National 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.
Eligibility (from the notice)
*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:
Multiple awards based on the same core technology generally will not be supported.
Who in Tennessee has won this program
220 awards to Tennessee recipients in 10 counties since federal FY2023. Largest shown:
| Recipient | Where | Amount | FY |
|---|---|---|---|
| Vanderbilt University | Nashville, Davidson County | $15M | 2023 |
| Vanderbilt University | Nashville, Davidson County | $13.3M | 2019 |
| University Of Tennessee | Knoxville, Knox County | $11.7M | 2023 |
| Vanderbilt University | Nashville, Davidson County | $9.3M | 2024 |
| University Of Tennessee | Knoxville, Knox County | $9M | 2026 |
| University Of Tennessee | Knoxville, Knox County | $5M | 2025 |
| University Of Tennessee | Knoxville, Knox County | $5M | 2026 |
| Fisk University | Nashville, Davidson County | $5M | 2021 |
| Vanderbilt University | Nashville, Davidson County | $5M | 2022 |
| Tennessee Technological University | Cookeville, Putnam County | $4.7M | 2021 |
| Vanderbilt University | Nashville, Davidson County | $4M | 2025 |
| Vanderbilt University | Nashville, Davidson County | $4M | 2025 |
Source: USAspending.gov. Past awards show who this program funds; they don't guarantee future awards.
About the program (47.041)
Engineering — (ENG)
How applications are judged
Not Applicable.
Matching requirements
This program has no statutory formula.
Matching requirements are not applicable to this assistance listing.
MOE requirements are not applicable to this assistance listing.
Examples of funded projects
Not Applicable.
About the program (47.049)
Mathematical and Physical Sciences — (MPS)
How applications are judged
Not Applicable.
Matching requirements
This program has no statutory formula.
Matching requirements are not applicable to this assistance listing.
MOE requirements are not applicable to this assistance listing.
Examples of funded projects
Not Applicable.
About the program (47.050)
Geosciences — (GEO)
How applications are judged
Not Applicable.
Matching requirements
This program has no statutory formula.
Matching requirements are not applicable to this assistance listing.
MOE requirements are not applicable to this assistance listing.
Examples of funded projects
Not Applicable.
About the program (47.070)
Computer and Information Science and Engineering — (CISE)
How applications are judged
Not Applicable.
Matching requirements
This program has no statutory formula.
Matching requirements are not applicable to this assistance listing.
MOE requirements are not applicable to this assistance listing.
Examples of funded projects
Not Applicable.
About the program (47.074)
Biological Sciences — (BIO)
How applications are judged
Not Applicable.
Matching requirements
This program has no statutory formula.
Matching requirements are not applicable to this assistance listing.
MOE requirements are not applicable to this assistance listing.
Examples of funded projects
Not Applicable.
About the program (47.075)
Social, Behavioral, and Economic Sciences — (SBE)
How applications are judged
Not Applicable.
Matching requirements
This program has no statutory formula.
Matching requirements are not applicable to this assistance listing.
MOE requirements are not applicable to this assistance listing.
Examples of funded projects
Not Applicable.
About the program (47.076)
STEM Education (formerly Education and Human Resources) — (EDU)
How applications are judged
Not Applicable.
Matching requirements
This program has no statutory formula.
Matching requirements are not applicable to this assistance listing.
MOE requirements are not applicable to this assistance listing.
Examples of funded projects
Not Applicable.
About the program (47.078)
Polar Programs — (OPP)
How applications are judged
Not Applicable.
Matching requirements
This program has no statutory formula.
Matching requirements are not applicable to this assistance listing.
MOE requirements are not applicable to this assistance listing.
Examples of funded projects
Not Applicable.
About the program (47.079)
International Science and Engineering
How applications are judged
Not Applicable.
Matching requirements
This program has no statutory formula.
Matching requirements are not applicable to this assistance listing.
MOE requirements are not applicable to this assistance listing.
Examples of funded projects
Not Applicable.
About the program (47.083)
Integrative Activities — (OIA)
How applications are judged
Not Applicable.
Matching requirements
This program has no statutory formula.
Matching requirements are not applicable to this assistance listing.
MOE requirements are not applicable to this assistance listing.
Examples of funded projects
Not Applicable.
About the program (47.084)
Technology, Innovation, and Partnerships — NSF Directorate for Technology, Innovation, and Partnerships (TIP)
How applications are judged
Not Applicable.
Matching requirements
This program has no statutory formula.
Matching requirements are not applicable to this assistance listing.
MOE requirements are not applicable to this assistance listing.
Examples of funded projects
Not Applicable.