NSF National Innovation Corps Teams (NSF National I-Corps (TM) Teams) program
The NSF National I-Corps Teams program helps NSF-funded researchers turn scientific discoveries into marketable technologies by providing entrepreneurial training, mentoring, and funding support.
Funder: U.S. National Science Foundation
Due Dates: Rolling (Proposals accepted anytime) | October 6, 2076 (Listed closing date)
Funding Amounts: $50,000 awards for 12 months; approximately $12 million in total program funding
Summary: Entrepreneurial training, mentoring, and customer discovery funding to assess the commercial potential of deep technologies arising from foundational research.
Key Information: Full proposals require prior written authorization from an NSF I-Corps Program Officer.
Description
The NSF National I-Corps Teams program, administered by NSF’s Directorate for Technology, Innovation and Partnerships, supports the translation of foundational science and engineering discoveries into emerging products, processes, and services. It provides researchers with entrepreneurial education, mentoring, and funding to assess the commercial potential of deep technologies, encourage academia–industry collaboration, and prepare ventures that may attract third-party funding.
Teams participate in an exclusively online, immersive curriculum centered on customer and industry discovery rather than technical development. Through interviews with potential customers and partners, teams assess product-market fit, identify customer segments and value propositions, and evaluate their business models. Expected outcomes include an informed decision about a commercialization path and a technology-demonstration narrative for potential partners and investors.
