No. 25-549 · U.S. National Science Foundation
NSF National Innovation Corps Teams (NSF National I-Corps (TM) Teams) program
Invitation only
“Before an I-Corps Teams proposal may be submitted, PIs must complete a series of steps that may lead to an invitation to submit a proposal.” — From the announcement
- Award range
- From $50,000
- Expected awards
- Not specified
- Application deadline
- No deadline listed
- Posted
- Sep 26, 2025
- Last verified
- 3 days ago
At a glance
AI summaryThe program funds entrepreneurial training, mentoring, and support to help NSF-funded research move toward products, processes, services, or commercialization. Eligible applicants are U.S.-accredited two- and four-year institutions of higher education, applying on behalf of faculty members; proposals must usually be tied to a prior NSF award within the past five years, or to participation in a Regional NSF I-Corps Training Program with a recommendation letter. NSF expects about 240 awards with about $12,000,000 total funding, and the award type is a standard grant. There is no cost-share requirement stated. International branch campus funding is allowed only if the proposal explains the benefit and why the work cannot be done at the U.S. campus, and international travel is not allowed.
AI-generated summary — verify against the announcement
What it funds
Official description from grants.gov
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 all Americans . The goals of the NSF I-Corps ™ p rogram 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 program utilizes 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 program is designed to support the commercialization of "deep technologies,” those revolving around foundational discoveries in science and engineering. The NSF National I-Corps program addresses 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 NSF National 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
- Others
Program history
USASpending.govAssistance listing 47.041 · Engineering
Real awards this federal program has made — the whole assistance listing (47.041), not just this notice.
| Fiscal year | Awards | Median award | Middle half |
|---|---|---|---|
| FY 2026 (so far) | 604 | $407,608 | $200,000 – $550,000 |
| FY 2025 | 1,537 | $389,666 | $282,237 – $549,621 |
| FY 2024 | 1,761 | — | — |
| FY 2023 | 1,862 | — | — |
| FY 2022 | 2,238 | — | — |
| FY 2021 | 2,436 | — | — |
For comparison, this notice advertises From $50,000.
Dollar figures are based on the 1,000 most recent awards we store, not all 10,438 — award counts are complete.
- NORTH CAROLINA STATE UNIVERSITY $7,674,141 · FY 2026
- VANDERBILT UNIVERSITY $4,000,000 · FY 2025
- NORTH DAKOTA STATE UNIVERSITY $3,848,048 · FY 2025
- CALIFORNIA INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY $3,000,000 · FY 2025
- NORTHWESTERN UNIVERSITY $3,000,000 · FY 2025
Source: USASpending.gov · refreshed Aug 19, 2026
Assistance listing 47.049 · Mathematical and Physical Sciences
Real awards this federal program has made — the whole assistance listing (47.049), not just this notice.
| Fiscal year | Awards | Median award | Middle half |
|---|---|---|---|
| FY 2026 (so far) | 762 | $299,931 | $121,337 – $500,000 |
| FY 2025 | 2,247 | $482,485 | $249,935 – $627,333 |
| FY 2024 | 2,571 | — | — |
| FY 2023 | 2,745 | — | — |
| FY 2022 | 2,640 | — | — |
| FY 2021 | 2,567 | — | — |
For comparison, this notice advertises From $50,000.
Dollar figures are based on the 1,000 most recent awards we store, not all 13,532 — award counts are complete.
- UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA, LOS ANGELES $7,039,283 · FY 2026
- WEST VIRGINIA UNIVERSITY RESEARCH CORPORATION $5,950,041 · FY 2026
- UNIVERSITY OF WISCONSIN SYSTEM $4,950,000 · FY 2026
- AUBURN UNIVERSITY $2,998,544 · FY 2025
- THE JOHNS HOPKINS UNIVERSITY $2,831,003 · FY 2025
Source: USASpending.gov · refreshed Aug 21, 2026
Assistance listing 47.050 · Geosciences
Real awards this federal program has made — the whole assistance listing (47.050), not just this notice.
| Fiscal year | Awards | Median award | Middle half |
|---|---|---|---|
| FY 2026 (so far) | 628 | $389,288 | $209,626 – $543,580 |
| FY 2025 | 920 | $368,108 | $202,000 – $593,558 |
| FY 2024 | 1,251 | — | — |
| FY 2023 | 1,285 | — | — |
| FY 2022 | 1,315 | — | — |
| FY 2021 | 1,504 | — | — |
For comparison, this notice advertises From $50,000.
Dollar figures are based on the 1,000 most recent awards we store, not all 6,903 — award counts are complete.
- EARTHSCOPE CONSORTIUM INC. $59,141,331 · FY 2025
- UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA SAN DIEGO $6,457,844 · FY 2025
- REGENTS OF THE UNIVERSITY OF MICHIGAN $6,000,000 · FY 2025
- CALIFORNIA INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY $4,780,833 · FY 2026
- UNIVERSITY OF ROCHESTER $2,999,998 · FY 2026
Source: USASpending.gov · refreshed Sep 4, 2026
Assistance listing 47.070 · Computer and Information Science and Engineering
Real awards this federal program has made — the whole assistance listing (47.070), not just this notice.
| Fiscal year | Awards | Median award | Middle half |
|---|---|---|---|
| FY 2026 (so far) | 1,087 | $380,991 | $250,087 – $530,369 |
| FY 2025 | 1,560 | — | — |
| FY 2024 | 1,919 | — | — |
| FY 2023 | 2,178 | — | — |
| FY 2022 | 2,045 | — | — |
| FY 2021 | 1,910 | — | — |
For comparison, this notice advertises From $50,000.
Dollar figures are based on the 1,000 most recent awards we store, not all 10,699 — award counts are complete.
- UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA, SAN DIEGO $11,000,000 · FY 2026
- CARNEGIE-MELLON UNIVERSITY $10,000,000 · FY 2026
- THE MORGRIDGE INSTITUTE FOR RESEARCH, INC. $9,000,000 · FY 2026
- UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA, LOS ANGELES $9,000,000 · FY 2026
- UNIVERSITY OF TENNESSEE $9,000,000 · FY 2026
Source: USASpending.gov · refreshed Sep 4, 2026
Assistance listing 47.074 · Biological Sciences
Real awards this federal program has made — the whole assistance listing (47.074), not just this notice.
| Fiscal year | Awards | Median award | Middle half |
|---|---|---|---|
| FY 2026 (so far) | 573 | $566,575 | $308,334 – $894,239 |
| FY 2025 | 826 | $569,960 | $350,857 – $899,906 |
| FY 2024 | 1,075 | — | — |
| FY 2023 | 1,137 | — | — |
| FY 2022 | 1,240 | — | — |
| FY 2021 | 1,243 | — | — |
For comparison, this notice advertises From $50,000.
Dollar figures are based on the 1,000 most recent awards we store, not all 6,094 — award counts are complete.
- WILLIAM MARSH RICE UNIVERSITY $2,600,000 · FY 2026
- UNIVERSITY OF MARYLAND, COLLEGE PARK $2,432,713 · FY 2025
- CLEMSON UNIVERSITY $2,400,000 · FY 2025
- THE PENNSYLVANIA STATE UNIVERSITY $2,200,000 · FY 2025
- THE TRUSTEES OF COLUMBIA UNIVERSITY IN THE CITY OF NEW YORK $2,000,000 · FY 2026
Source: USASpending.gov · refreshed Sep 4, 2026
Assistance listing 47.075 · Social, Behavioral, and Economic Sciences
Real awards this federal program has made — the whole assistance listing (47.075), not just this notice.
| Fiscal year | Awards | Median award | Middle half |
|---|---|---|---|
| FY 2026 (so far) | 113 | $528,600 | $237,499 – $775,500 |
| FY 2025 | 559 | $210,247 | $37,874 – $406,540 |
| FY 2024 | 839 | $193,570 | $94,373 – $399,241 |
| FY 2023 | 869 | — | — |
| FY 2022 | 895 | — | — |
| FY 2021 | 958 | — | — |
For comparison, this notice advertises From $50,000.
Dollar figures are based on the 1,000 most recent awards we store, not all 4,233 — award counts are complete.
- REGENTS OF THE UNIVERSITY OF MICHIGAN $10,999,998 · FY 2024
- UNIVERSITY OF KENTUCKY RESEARCH FOUNDATION, THE $8,399,997 · FY 2024
- NATIONAL OPINION RESEARCH CENTER $7,998,747 · FY 2025
- ARIZONA STATE UNIVERSITY $6,430,848 · FY 2026
- REGENTS OF THE UNIVERSITY OF MINNESOTA $5,200,000 · FY 2024
Source: USASpending.gov · refreshed Sep 4, 2026
Assistance listing 47.076 · STEM Education (formerly Education and Human Resources)
Real awards this federal program has made — the whole assistance listing (47.076), not just this notice.
| Fiscal year | Awards | Median award | Middle half |
|---|---|---|---|
| FY 2026 (so far) | 542 | $400,000 | $193,868 – $750,000 |
| FY 2025 | 805 | $632,661 | $336,311 – $1,300,000 |
| FY 2024 | 1,421 | — | — |
| FY 2023 | 1,305 | — | — |
| FY 2022 | 1,344 | — | — |
| FY 2021 | 1,191 | — | — |
For comparison, this notice advertises From $50,000.
Dollar figures are based on the 1,000 most recent awards we store, not all 6,608 — award counts are complete.
- PRESIDENT AND FELLOWS OF HARVARD COLLEGE $31,161,280 · FY 2026
- MASSACHUSETTS INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY $23,000,000 · FY 2026
- GEORGIA TECH RESEARCH CORP $16,902,789 · FY 2025
- REGENTS OF THE UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA, THE $15,387,498 · FY 2026
- UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA, SAN DIEGO $14,088,417 · FY 2025
Source: USASpending.gov · refreshed Sep 4, 2026
Assistance listing 47.079 · Office of International Science and Engineering
Real awards this federal program has made — the whole assistance listing (47.079), not just this notice.
| Fiscal year | Awards | Median award | Middle half |
|---|---|---|---|
| FY 2026 (so far) | 54 | $402,500 | $206,285 – $597,486 |
| FY 2025 | 110 | $443,613 | $274,824 – $478,396 |
| FY 2024 | 127 | $344,984 | $263,421 – $512,493 |
| FY 2023 | 128 | $281,771 | $150,000 – $417,907 |
| FY 2022 | 107 | $299,888 | $162,654 – $678,098 |
| FY 2021 | 127 | $299,945 | $200,596 – $398,431 |
For comparison, this notice advertises From $50,000.
- INTERNAT HUMAN FRONTIER SCIENCE PROGRAMM $33,000,000 · FY 2025
- THE TRUSTEES OF PRINCETON UNIVERSITY $25,200,000 · FY 2023
- AMERICAN ASSOCIATION FOR THE ADVANCEMENT OF SCIENCE $22,676,043 · FY 2022
- GEORGIA TECH RESEARCH CORP $20,210,752 · FY 2021
- DUKE UNIVERSITY $20,203,733 · FY 2021
Source: USASpending.gov · refreshed Sep 4, 2026
Assistance listing 47.083 · Integrative Activities
Real awards this federal program has made — the whole assistance listing (47.083), not just this notice.
| Fiscal year | Awards | Median award | Middle half |
|---|---|---|---|
| FY 2026 (so far) | 202 | $393,157 | $294,209 – $900,000 |
| FY 2025 | 388 | $481,647 | $269,767 – $887,105 |
| FY 2024 | 700 | $495,028 | $298,038 – $943,263 |
| FY 2023 | 700 | — | — |
| FY 2022 | 477 | — | — |
| FY 2021 | 151 | — | — |
For comparison, this notice advertises From $50,000.
Dollar figures are based on the 1,000 most recent awards we store, not all 2,618 — award counts are complete.
- GEORGIA TECH RESEARCH CORP $28,999,998 · FY 2025
- UNIVERSITY OF WASHINGTON $22,294,445 · FY 2024
- THE REGENTS OF THE UNIVERSITY OF COLORADO $19,998,055 · FY 2024
- UNIVERSITY OF OKLAHOMA $19,982,835 · FY 2025
- ASSOCIATION OF UNIVERSITIES FOR RESEARCH IN ASTRONOMY, INC. $19,041,217 · FY 2025
Source: USASpending.gov · refreshed Sep 5, 2026
Assistance listing 47.084 · NSF Technology, Innovation, and Partnerships
Real awards this federal program has made — the whole assistance listing (47.084), not just this notice.
| Fiscal year | Awards | Median award | Middle half |
|---|---|---|---|
| FY 2026 (so far) | 380 | $304,939 | $50,000 – $1,240,759 |
| FY 2025 | 931 | $305,000 | $77,375 – $1,120,119 |
| FY 2024 | 1,061 | — | — |
| FY 2023 | 1,118 | — | — |
| FY 2022 | 642 | — | — |
| FY 2021 | 289 | — | — |
For comparison, this notice advertises From $50,000.
Dollar figures are based on the 1,000 most recent awards we store, not all 4,421 — award counts are complete.
- THE UNIVERSITY OF CENTRAL FLORIDA BOARD OF TRUSTEES $20,000,000 · FY 2026
- ACTIVATE GLOBAL INC $14,978,985 · FY 2025
- CORNELL UNIVERSITY $8,000,000 · FY 2025
- OREGON STATE UNIVERSITY $7,500,000 · FY 2026
- TRUSTEES OF INDIANA UNIVERSITY $7,500,000 · FY 2026
Source: USASpending.gov · refreshed Sep 6, 2026
Change history
Since we first indexed it- Jul 25, 2026 Grant announcement document replaced