Opportunity Information: Apply for 10 581
Apply for 10 581
- The National Science Foundation in the science and technology and other research and development sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Partnerships for Innovation" 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 May 16, 2011 and posted on Jul 1, 2010.
- Applicants must submit their applications by Current but no longer receiving proposals. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
- The funding agency has allocated a total of $7,000,000.00 to eligible and selected applicants.
- Each selected applicant is eligible to receive up to $600,000.00 in funding.
- The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 11 candidate(s).
- Eligible applicants include: Others (see text field entitled Additional Information on Eligibility for clarification).
- Organization Limit Proposals may only be submitted by the following Accredited Degree Granting Institutions US universities and two and four year colleges (including community and technical colleges) accredited in, and having a campus located in the US, acting on behalf of their faculty members. Such organizations also are referred toas academic institutions. The lead(submitting) organizationmust be an academic institution. At least two or more existing small businesses (as defined by the Small Business Administration (SBA)) must participate in the PFI proposal. PI Limit One of the Co PIs must be a Senior Administrator (at the level of dean or above in the reporting structure, for example, Dean, Vice President for Academic Research, Provost, etc.), who has a demonstrated commitment to knowledge transfer of university research. The senior administrator must have an active role that is explicitly described along with the specification of a time commitment on the project. The PI cannot be a PI on a PFI award that will be active after June 1, 2011.
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Opportunity Summary:
The National Science Foundation (NSF) Partnerships for Innovation (PFI) grant opportunity was designed to help move university-generated research closer to real-world use by building strong, working partnerships between academic researchers and small businesses. The overall aim is economic and societal impact: turning research knowledge into innovations that can create new wealth, strengthen local and regional economies, support national competitiveness, and improve public well-being. For the FY 2011 competition cycle described in this notice (Funding Opportunity Number 10-581), NSF emphasized "innovation capacity building" through hands-on, sustained collaboration rather than one-off technology transfer activities.
At the center of each proposed project is a "knowledge-enhancing partnership group" that must be newly formed and structured for intensive interaction. The required core is an accredited, U.S.-based degree-granting academic institution serving as the lead applicant, plus at least two existing small businesses as defined by the Small Business Administration (SBA). The program is intentionally built around small-group collaboration models where both sides shape the work: researchers contribute emerging ideas and technical capabilities, while business practitioners bring market awareness, product constraints, and commercialization realities. Although the key relationship is between academe and small business, the core group can also include large companies and nonprofit organizations, and it may sit within a broader PFI partnership network that also involves other universities, private-sector organizations, and state/local/federal government entities.
The partnerships are expected to make researchers more nimble in adapting research for new applications and to improve the ability of small businesses to capitalize on that research capacity. A big part of the rationale is that translation from lab to market is often limited by real operational constraints (manufacturing realities, regulatory barriers, cost targets, customer requirements, timelines). By working closely with small businesses, researchers are expected to better anticipate those constraints and respond more effectively. At the same time, business partners are expected to strengthen their ability to develop future-facing products with strong market demand, informed by the technical frontier and by early exploration of multiple application paths.
NSF signaled a clear preference for projects that go beyond a single product idea and instead explore, redefine, and create a "platform" that can be applied to multiple markets or problem areas. The solicitation gave illustrative examples of platform-oriented innovations: laser-based technologies that can be used across different product verticals; adaptable software algorithms with reusable, customizable functions; nanostructured materials with multiple downstream uses; environmental remediation technologies; remanufacturing approaches that restore used products to at least original performance as a more sustainable alternative to conventional manufacturing; energy conservation or storage technologies; innovation through design; education in innovation with broad reach; and personalized medicine or genetic testing platforms. Partnerships addressing energy, sustainability, or educating the next generation of entrepreneurs were described as particularly desirable. In terms of project activities, NSF highlighted applied, early-stage translation work that fits a platform exploration frame, such as feasibility research, alpha prototype development, design work, and product conceptualization.
From a funding and administrative perspective, this was a discretionary grant program in the Science and Technology/Research and Development category, listed under CFDA 47.041 (Engineering Grants). NSF anticipated making roughly 9 to 11 awards, with an expected total program funding level of about $7,000,000 and an award ceiling of $600,000 per project. The solicitation stated that cost sharing or matching was not required. Eligibility was limited to accredited U.S. degree-granting institutions (including two-year and four-year colleges, community colleges, and technical colleges) with a campus located in the United States, and the submitting organization had to be the academic institution acting on behalf of its faculty.
The leadership structure requirements were also notable. One of the co-principal investigators had to be a senior administrator at the level of dean or above (for example, dean, vice president for academic research, provost) with a demonstrated commitment to transferring university research into use. That administrator was required to have an active, clearly described role and a specified time commitment, underscoring that NSF wanted institutional leadership engaged in making the partnership and translation process work. The solicitation also limited who could serve as PI by stating that the PI could not be a PI on a PFI award that would remain active after June 1, 2011.
In terms of timing (for the cycle described in this notice), a letter of intent was required, due October 1, 2010 by 5 p.m. local time, and full proposals were due December 4, 2010. The opportunity is archived and no longer accepting proposals, with an archive date of May 16, 2011. Overall, the grant opportunity can be understood as NSF backing a small number of carefully structured university-small business teams to jointly pressure-test research ideas, build early prototypes and concepts, and shape platform technologies with multiple potential commercial pathways, with the broader goal of creating durable innovation capacity rather than a single transactional commercialization push.
NSF Partnerships for Innovation (PFI) Grant (FY 2011, Funding Opportunity Number 10-581) - FAQs
What is the NSF Partnerships for Innovation (PFI) grant designed to do?
The NSF Partnerships for Innovation (PFI) grant was designed to move university-generated research closer to real-world use by building strong, working partnerships between academic researchers and small businesses. The overall aim is economic and societal impact: translating research knowledge into innovations that can create new wealth, strengthen local and regional economies, support national competitiveness, and improve public well-being.
What was NSF emphasizing in the FY 2011 PFI cycle described here?
For the FY 2011 competition cycle in this notice (Funding Opportunity Number 10-581), NSF emphasized "innovation capacity building" through hands-on, sustained collaboration rather than one-off technology transfer activities.
Who must lead an application?
The lead applicant must be an accredited, U.S.-based degree-granting academic institution. The submitting organization had to be the academic institution acting on behalf of its faculty.
What is the required partnership structure for a PFI project?
Each project centers on a newly formed "knowledge-enhancing partnership group" structured for intensive interaction. The required core group includes:
- An accredited U.S. degree-granting academic institution (lead)
- At least two existing small businesses as defined by the Small Business Administration (SBA)
Are the small business partners required to be newly formed?
The solicitation required at least two existing small businesses (as defined by SBA). The "knowledge-enhancing partnership group" itself must be newly formed and structured for intensive interaction.
Can large companies or nonprofits participate?
Yes. Although the key relationship is between academe and small business, the core partnership group can also include large companies and nonprofit organizations.
Can a project be part of a broader partnership network beyond the core team?
Yes. The core group may sit within a broader PFI partnership network that can include other universities, private-sector organizations, and state/local/federal government entities.
Why does the program focus on intensive collaboration between researchers and small businesses?
The program rationale is that translation from lab to market is often constrained by operational realities (manufacturing, regulatory barriers, cost targets, customer requirements, and timelines). Close collaboration is intended to help researchers anticipate and adapt to these constraints, while helping small businesses better capitalize on university research capacity and the technical frontier.
What kinds of outcomes did NSF expect from these partnerships?
NSF expected partnerships to make researchers more nimble in adapting research for new applications and to improve the ability of small businesses to capitalize on research capacity. Business partners were also expected to strengthen their ability to develop future-facing products with market demand, informed by early exploration of multiple application paths.
Did NSF prefer a single product commercialization plan or something broader?
NSF signaled a preference for projects that go beyond a single product idea and instead explore, redefine, and create a "platform" applicable to multiple markets or problem areas.
What does "platform-oriented" innovation mean in this solicitation?
In this context, a platform is an innovation base (technology, approach, or system) that can be adapted and applied across multiple uses or markets, rather than being limited to one narrowly defined product concept.
What platform examples did NSF provide?
The solicitation gave illustrative examples of platform-oriented innovations, including:
- Laser-based technologies usable across different product verticals
- Adaptable software algorithms with reusable, customizable functions
- Nanostructured materials with multiple downstream uses
- Environmental remediation technologies
- Remanufacturing approaches restoring used products to at least original performance
- Energy conservation or storage technologies
- Innovation through design
- Education in innovation with broad reach
- Personalized medicine or genetic testing platforms
Were any topic areas described as particularly desirable?
Yes. Partnerships addressing energy, sustainability, or educating the next generation of entrepreneurs were described as particularly desirable.
What types of project activities did NSF highlight?
NSF highlighted applied, early-stage translation work consistent with platform exploration, such as feasibility research, alpha prototype development, design work, and product conceptualization.
What was the funding category and CFDA listing for this opportunity?
This was a discretionary grant program in the Science and Technology/Research and Development category, listed under CFDA 47.041 (Engineering Grants).
How many awards did NSF anticipate making in this cycle?
NSF anticipated making roughly 9 to 11 awards.
What was the expected total funding level for the program?
The expected total program funding level was about $7,000,000.
What was the maximum award size?
The award ceiling was $600,000 per project.
Was cost sharing or matching required?
No. The solicitation stated that cost sharing or matching was not required.
Which institutions were eligible to apply?
Eligibility was limited to accredited U.S. degree-granting institutions with a campus located in the United States, including two-year and four-year colleges, community colleges, and technical colleges.
Who had to submit the proposal?
The submitting organization had to be the academic institution acting on behalf of its faculty.
Were there special leadership requirements for the project team?
Yes. One of the co-principal investigators had to be a senior administrator at the level of dean or above (for example, dean, vice president for academic research, provost) with demonstrated commitment to transferring university research into use. This administrator was required to have an active, clearly described role and a specified time commitment.
What was the purpose of requiring a senior administrator as co-PI?
The requirement underscored that NSF wanted institutional leadership actively engaged in making the partnership and translation process work, not treated as a purely transactional or isolated technology transfer effort.
Were there restrictions on who could serve as PI?
Yes. The solicitation stated that the PI could not be a PI on a PFI award that would remain active after June 1, 2011.
Was a letter of intent required?
Yes. A letter of intent was required for this cycle.
What was the letter of intent deadline?
The letter of intent was due October 1, 2010 by 5 p.m. local time.
What was the full proposal deadline?
Full proposals were due December 4, 2010.
Is this opportunity currently accepting proposals?
No. The opportunity is archived and no longer accepting proposals. The archive date was May 16, 2011.
In plain terms, what was NSF trying to fund with this PFI opportunity?
NSF was backing a small number of carefully structured university-small business teams to jointly pressure-test research ideas, build early prototypes and concepts, and shape platform technologies with multiple potential commercial pathways, with a broader goal of building durable innovation capacity.
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