Opportunity Information: Apply for 10 608
Apply for 10 608
- The National Science Foundation in the science and technology and other research and development sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Accelerating Innovation Research" and is now available to receive applicants.
- Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 47.041 Engineering Grants.
- This funding opportunity was created on Dec 3, 2010 and posted on Sep 3, 2010.
- Applicants must submit their applications by Feb 1, 2011 Letter of Intent Due Date(s) (required) (due by 5 p.m. proposers local time) December 01, 2010 Full Proposal Deadline(s) February 01, 2011. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
- The funding agency has allocated a total of $12,000,000.00 to eligible and selected applicants.
- Each selected applicant is eligible to receive up to $1,000,000.00 in funding.
- The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 18 candidate(s).
- Eligible applicants include: Others (see text field entitled Additional Information on Eligibility for clarification).
- PI Limit PI may submit to Option 1 or Option 2, but NOT both. PI must specify to which option he or she is submitting. There may be only one co PI forOption 1, and one co PI forOption 2.
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Opportunity Summary:
The National Science Foundation (NSF) grant opportunity titled Accelerating Innovation Research (NSF Publication 10-608; Funding Opportunity Number 10-608) is a discretionary grant program aimed at speeding up the path from research results to real-world technologies. The core idea is to strengthen the U.S. innovation ecosystem by helping promising NSF-supported discoveries move beyond the lab and by building stronger collaboration networks that can turn early-stage breakthroughs into usable, market-relevant innovations. The opportunity sits in the Science and Technology and other Research and Development category and is listed under CFDA 47.041 (Engineering Grants). A key feature of this solicitation is that it explicitly connects technical progress with entrepreneurship and partnership-building, reflecting NSF's interest in not only advancing knowledge but also improving how discoveries are translated into impact.
The solicitation is built around two related activities (often described as two options). The first activity focuses on translation: taking the many technologically promising, fundamental discoveries made by NSF-funded researchers and helping move them toward innovation outcomes. This part of the program is meant to encourage researchers and students to adopt more entrepreneurial approaches, such as thinking earlier about potential applications, validation pathways, user needs, and other steps that can turn a scientific or engineering result into something that can realistically be developed and deployed. In practice, this option is about creating momentum and structure around innovation from within the NSF research community itself, tapping the creativity and initiative of investigators and trainees who are closest to the discoveries.
The second activity focuses on connectivity and collaboration. NSF is trying to foster stronger links between established NSF innovation research alliances and other institutions that can complement them. The solicitation names examples of existing NSF-supported consortia and centers that may serve as anchor alliances, including Engineering Research Centers (ERC), Industry-University Cooperative Research Centers (I/UCRC), Partnerships for Innovation (PFI), Science and Technology Centers (STC), Nanoscale Science and Engineering Centers (NSEC), and Materials Research Science and Engineering Centers (MRSEC) grantees. The goal here is to pair these kinds of alliances with outside partners whose different capabilities, sector focus, or regional strengths can help mature discoveries into innovative technologies. This option emphasizes that innovation often requires a broader team than a single lab or center can provide, and it encourages collaborations that intentionally bridge gaps between discovery, development, and eventual application.
From a funding standpoint, NSF anticipated making about 18 awards, with an estimated total program budget of $12,000,000. Individual awards were expected to fall between $350,000 (award floor) and $1,000,000 (award ceiling). Cost sharing or matching is required, which means applicants should plan for a non-NSF contribution consistent with the solicitation rules and be ready to document or justify that commitment in their proposal materials.
Timing and submission requirements were clearly defined. The program was posted on September 3, 2010, with a required Letter of Intent due December 1, 2010 (by 5 p.m. local time of the proposer), and full proposals due February 1, 2011 (also by 5 p.m. local time). A webinar was planned for September 2010 to address questions about the solicitation, with details to be posted on NSF's Industrial Innovation and Partnerships (IIP) website.
Eligibility and proposal limitations are an important practical detail. A principal investigator (PI) could submit to Option 1 or Option 2, but not both, and the PI had to specify which option they were submitting under. The solicitation also limited team structure by allowing only one co-PI for Option 1 and one co-PI for Option 2, which effectively keeps proposals tightly led and may reduce overly complex leadership arrangements. The eligible applicant category is listed broadly as "Others (see text field entitled Additional Information on Eligibility for clarification)," meaning prospective applicants needed to consult the full solicitation for precise eligibility definitions and any institution-type requirements or restrictions.
For access and support, NSF noted that anyone having trouble accessing the full announcement electronically could contact NSF grants.gov support at grantsgovsupport@nsf.gov. The agency name for the opportunity is the National Science Foundation, and the program aligns with NSF's broader efforts to encourage use-inspired pathways without shifting away from its foundation in fundamental research. Overall, the opportunity is designed for teams that can show both strong technical promise and a credible plan to translate or accelerate that promise through entrepreneurship, partnerships, and structured collaboration.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
1. What is the Accelerating Innovation Research (AIR) grant opportunity?
The National Science Foundation (NSF) Accelerating Innovation Research opportunity (NSF Publication 10-608; Funding Opportunity Number 10-608) is a discretionary grant program designed to speed up the path from NSF-supported research results to real-world technologies. It emphasizes not only technical progress, but also entrepreneurship and partnership-building so promising discoveries can move beyond the lab toward market-relevant innovation outcomes.
2. What is the overall purpose of this program?
The program aims to strengthen the U.S. innovation ecosystem by helping NSF-supported discoveries transition toward usable technologies and by building stronger collaboration networks that can mature early-stage breakthroughs into impactful innovations.
3. Which NSF category and CFDA listing does this opportunity fall under?
This opportunity is listed in the Science and Technology and other Research and Development category and is associated with CFDA 47.041 (Engineering Grants).
4. What are the two activities (options) described in the solicitation?
The solicitation is structured around two related activities, often described as two options:
- Option 1: Translation - Focuses on moving technologically promising, fundamental discoveries from NSF-funded researchers toward innovation outcomes by encouraging entrepreneurial approaches (such as considering applications, validation pathways, and user needs earlier).
- Option 2: Connectivity and collaboration - Focuses on strengthening links between established NSF innovation research alliances and outside partners with complementary capabilities to help mature discoveries into innovative technologies.
5. What does Option 1 (translation) focus on in practical terms?
Option 1 is about creating momentum and structure around innovation within the NSF research community. It encourages researchers and students to take a more entrepreneurial approach to promising research results, including earlier attention to realistic development and deployment steps such as potential applications, pathways for validation, and understanding user needs.
6. What does Option 2 (connectivity and collaboration) focus on?
Option 2 emphasizes building broader teams and stronger networks by connecting established NSF innovation research alliances with external partners. The idea is that advancing innovation often requires capabilities and perspectives beyond a single lab or center, so collaborations are encouraged to bridge gaps between discovery, development, and application.
7. What types of NSF-supported alliances are referenced as potential anchor collaborations for Option 2?
The solicitation provides examples of NSF-supported consortia and centers that may serve as anchor alliances, including:
- Engineering Research Centers (ERC)
- Industry-University Cooperative Research Centers (I/UCRC)
- Partnerships for Innovation (PFI)
- Science and Technology Centers (STC)
- Nanoscale Science and Engineering Centers (NSEC)
- Materials Research Science and Engineering Centers (MRSEC)
8. How many awards was NSF expecting to make?
NSF anticipated making about 18 awards under this opportunity.
9. What was the estimated total budget for the program?
The estimated total program budget was $12,000,000.
10. What were the expected award sizes?
Individual awards were expected to range from $350,000 (award floor) to $1,000,000 (award ceiling).
11. Is cost sharing or matching required?
Yes. Cost sharing or matching is required, meaning applicants should plan for a non-NSF contribution consistent with the solicitation rules and be prepared to document or justify that commitment within the proposal materials.
12. When was the opportunity posted?
The opportunity was posted on September 3, 2010.
13. Was a Letter of Intent required, and when was it due?
Yes. A Letter of Intent was required and was due December 1, 2010 by 5 p.m. local time of the proposer.
14. When were full proposals due?
Full proposals were due February 1, 2011 by 5 p.m. local time of the proposer.
15. Could a PI submit to both options?
No. A principal investigator (PI) could submit to Option 1 or Option 2, but not both. The PI also had to specify which option they were submitting under.
16. How many co-PIs were allowed?
The solicitation limited leadership structure by allowing only one co-PI for Option 1 and only one co-PI for Option 2. This keeps proposals tightly led and reduces overly complex leadership arrangements.
17. Who was eligible to apply?
The eligible applicant category is listed broadly as "Others (see text field entitled Additional Information on Eligibility for clarification)." Prospective applicants were expected to consult the full solicitation for precise eligibility definitions, including any institution-type requirements or restrictions.
18. How does this program connect research and entrepreneurship?
A key feature of the solicitation is its explicit link between technical progress and entrepreneurship and partnership-building. It reflects NSF's interest in translating research results into impact by encouraging teams to think about applications, validation, and collaboration pathways alongside the underlying science and engineering.
19. Was there a webinar for this solicitation?
Yes. A webinar was planned for September 2010 to address questions about the solicitation, with details to be posted on NSF's Industrial Innovation and Partnerships (IIP) website.
20. Where could applicants get help if they could not access the announcement electronically?
NSF indicated that anyone having trouble accessing the full announcement electronically could contact NSF grants.gov support at grantsgovsupport@nsf.gov.
21. What federal agency sponsored this opportunity?
The sponsoring agency for this opportunity is the National Science Foundation (NSF).
22. What kind of projects appear to be a good fit based on the solicitation summary?
Based on the description provided, the opportunity is designed for teams that can show strong technical promise along with a credible plan to accelerate translation through entrepreneurship, partnerships, and structured collaboration, depending on whether the submission is aligned with the translation-focused activity (Option 1) or the connectivity/collaboration activity (Option 2).
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