National Innovation Corps Teams (NSF National I-Corps (TM) Teams) program
🏛 U.S. National Science Foundation (NSF)
✓ Free, no account · Source: Grants.gov · Last verified Jul 16, 2026
Can you apply?
This grant is for academic researchers who hold NSF funding or whose research is NSF-fundable. Institutions of higher education (two- and four-year colleges, community colleges) accredited and located in the US can submit proposals on behalf of their faculty.
The program supports researchers developing "deep technologies"—foundational science and engineering discoveries with commercial potential. Teams must conduct customer discovery and assess market viability of their inventions.
International branch campuses of US institutions may participate, but applicants must justify why the work cannot be done at the US campus. NSF will not fund multiple awards for the same core technology.
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Program description
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 allAmericans. 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 programutilizes 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 programis designed to support the commercializationof “deep technologies,” those revolving around foundationaldiscoveries in science and engineering. The NSF National I-Corps programaddresses 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 NSFNational 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.
Who can apply
Eligible applicants
How to apply
Application links
Key dates & requirements
Required documents
- Proposal narrative
- Budget and budget justification
- Institutional endorsement letter
- Team member CVs
- Letters of support from mentors or industry partners
Program contact
- 👤 U.S. National Science Foundation
- 📧 grantsgovsupport@nsf.gov
- 📞 703-292-4203
Funding track record
Recent awards under CFDA 47.050 from the last 3 years — real organizations that won funding through this same program.
Top 10 Largest Recent Awards
-
$640,746,599
-
$399,999,980
-
$220,735,035
-
$106,638,563
-
$82,550,071
-
$74,280,323
-
$73,335,203
-
$68,622,497
-
$64,462,832
-
$63,916,877
Top States by Funding
- TX 4 awards $689.8M
- MA 16 awards $667.5M
- OR 5 awards $452.4M
- CA 12 awards $286.7M
- NY 7 awards $217.5M
Source: USAspending.gov — federal spending transparency. Data covers last 3 years.
Funding history
Annual funding for this program — Federal obligations (CFDA 47.050). How funding has trended year over year.
| 2024 | $1,009,920,000 | |
| 2025 | $1,013,630,000 | |
| 2026 est. | $374,350 |
FAQ
Who can apply for NSF I-Corps Teams funding?
Faculty members at accredited US institutions of higher education who have NSF funding or NSF-fundable research. The institution must be a two- or four-year college or community college with a US campus.
What types of research does this program support?
Deep technologies based on foundational discoveries in science and engineering. Projects must focus on commercialization potential and customer discovery rather than traditional research.
What is the funding level for NSF I-Corps Teams?
Award amounts typically range from $50,000 and up. Teams receive funding to support entrepreneurial training, mentoring, and commercialization activities over the project period.
Is there a deadline to apply?
The program operates on a rolling submission basis. Check the NSF website for current submission windows and any announcement of specific deadlines.
Will NSF fund multiple teams working on the same technology?
No. NSF typically does not support multiple awards based on the same core technology, so teams should ensure their innovation is distinct.
💡 Tips for applicants
- Clearly demonstrate your research team's NSF funding or NSF fundability before applying. Without existing NSF support, your eligibility is uncertain.
- Develop a customer discovery plan early. Show that your team understands who will benefit from your technology and why they need it.
- Assemble a cross-disciplinary team with business and entrepreneurial experience alongside your technical experts. Mentors matter here.
- Focus your narrative on commercialization readiness and market opportunity, not just technical innovation. This program values translation over discovery.
- Be specific about your go-to-market strategy. Vague plans for "developing a startup" will not be competitive.
⚠️ Common mistakes
Proposing research-focused projects instead of commercialization-focused ones. Weak or absent customer discovery plans. Applying without confirmed NSF funding or clear path to NSF fundability.
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