National Science Foundation Translation to Practice

Overview

The NSF Translation to Practice (NSF TTP) program focuses on real-world applications of all areas of Science, Technology , Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM). Proposers can tailor their research and/or innovation activities to solve specific problems faced by consumers, industries, and/or governments. Successful outcomes of NSF TTP projects are varied and may include, but are not limited to: accelerated product, process or service maturation; open-source projects; standards setting; patents; the realization of pre-commercial or commercial products, processes or services; and startup or small business formation.

Importantly, the NSF TIP Directorate is interested in making investments that support pathways toward commercialization, but also seeks to go further, enabling research-based innovations and solutions that impact the economy and society in numerous ways, from open-source ecosystem development to standards setting; from for-benefit or non-profit creation to accelerated commercialization by industry; and from for-profit startup or small business formation to collaborations with state and local governments, international organizations, and philanthropies. TIP seeks to advance a vision of use-inspired research and initial translational activities taking on different forms in different settings and requiring a much more distributed set of approaches and solutions than the innovation ecosystem has afforded to date.

This NSF TTP funding opportunity constitutes an investment in three different proposal tracks that aim to advance a vision of use-inspired research and initial translational activities. Researchers are welcome to join the pathways at the stage best fitting the maturity of the particular technology: 
[NOTE: This call is for NSF TTP-T and TTP-P Tracks only.]

• NSF TTP-Translate (NSF TTP-T) is focused on translating research results into technological innovations with promising commercial, economic, and/or other impacts. Whereas TTP-E is an extension of an existing NSF award, NSF TTP-T is a new award that aims to intentionally pursue the practical impact of the original research. TTP-T does not require previous NSF funding but begins with use-inspired research and initial translational activities and further matures the ideas, iterating and improving the solutions, ensuring scalability and accessibility, and lowering the barriers to effective translation. NSF TTP-T can be used to initiate a number of activities including, but not limited to: designing and iteratively testing prototypes; optimizing industrial processes for less resource consumption; completing activities to support patent applications that will protect intellectual property for future licensing and startup formation; engaging the community in open-source products design and implementation; working to develop and integrate acceptable standards for community benefit. In order to demonstrate real-world utilization, NSF-Catalyzed Partnerships with other academic institutions, non-profits, international organizations, government laboratories, small businesses, industry, etc. are encouraged, but are not required.
  
  As the NSF TTP-T track is focused on translating research results from the laboratory to practice, NSF I-Corps training will provide NSF TTP-T award recipients the entrepreneurial education and mentoring to reduce the time it takes to bring technologies from the laboratory to practice. NSF I-Corps training is a 7-week experiential course that has been shown to accelerate research toward commercialization – from demonstration to validation. For more information on I-Corps, please see the I-Corps website. (Note: NSF TTP-T PIs who can demonstrate that they have recently (within the last 2 years) completed National I-Corps training for the technology in the proposed project should identify the award number in the first line of the Project Summary and this requirement may be waived.)
  
  
• NSF TTP-Partner (NSF TTP-P) supports translational efforts that demand one or more partnerships for technology development and deployment. Here, strategic partnerships with stakeholders beyond U.S. institutions of higher education are essential ingredients for success and may include industry partners, government entities at all levels, philanthropies, international organizations, or other groups associated with large scale productization and distribution. Example NSF TTP-P activities include but are not limited to: collaborations associated with scaling and mass production of products to ensure interoperability and wide integration; the development of standards contributing to the global growth of the next generation market; and/or the large-scale advanced manufacturing and assembly of parts for commercial applications. Another highly successful outcome of the NSF TTP-P track is the formation of startups and/or small businesses. Successful partnerships may assist NSF TTP-P recipients in preparing their innovation for market as part of the POSE, SBIR/STTR, and/or SBIR-STTR Fast-Track programs, etc. Like TTP-T, the TTP-P track does not require previous NSF funding.

Limit on Number of Proposals per PI or co-PI: A PI (or Co-PI) may submit only one NSF TTP proposal (NSF TTP-E, NSF TTP-T, or NSF TTP-P) at a time. PIs (or Co-PIs) must wait for a determination (award or decline recommendation) on their current TTP proposal before submitting another TTP proposal

Estimated Number of Awards: 29 awards

• NSF TTP-E projects will extend the current NSF award. Award size is estimated at approximately $600,000 per award for up to 24 months. Approximately $10,000,000 in awards are anticipated.
• NSF TTP-T projects up to $1,200,000 per award for up to 36 months. Approximately $10,000,000 in awards are anticipated.
• NSF TTP-P awards up to $2,000,000 per award for up to 48 months. Approximately $10,000,000 in awards are anticipated.

NSF TTP webinars will be held periodically to answer questions about the program. Registration will be available on the NSF TTP website. Potential proposers and their partners are strongly encouraged to attend the webinars as they refine/develop their proposals.