The U.S. National Science Foundation Grant Opportunities for Academic Liaison with Industry (GOALI) proposals seek to promote cooperation between academic institutions and industry.
Funding through the GOALI proposal type can be requested two different ways:
- In conjunction with a regular proposal submitted to a standing program of NSF.
- As a supplemental funding request to an existing NSF-funded award.
More information and instructions for GOALI proposals are in the NSF Proposal and Award Policies and Procedures Guide (PAPPG).
What we support
GOALI proposals should focus on research that addresses interests shared by academic researchers and industrial partners. The research should build scientific and engineering foundations that enable future breakthrough technologies and address critical industry needs.
Industry involvement assures that the research is industrially relevant. Principal investigators are expected to integrate their research objectives with educational and industrial needs.
GOALI provides opportunities for:
- Collaborative research projects between interdisciplinary university-industry teams in which the industry research participant provides critical research expertise, without which the project's likelihood for success would be diminished.
- Projects that allow faculty, postdoctoral fellows and students to conduct research and gain experience in an industrial setting.
- Projects that facilitate industrial scientists and engineers bringing industry's perspective and integrative skills to academia.
Who can participate
NSF encourages research and education projects that involve faculty from different academic departments or institutions collaborating with one or more industrial partners. Proposals may include an additional partner, such as a national laboratory or a nonprofit organization.
The industrial participant cannot use or receive any NSF funds on a GOALI award, except for small businesses that are not currently funded by the NSF Small Business Innovation Research/Small Business Technology Transfer (SBIR/STTR) programs and meet these requirements:
- Must be a small business (fewer than 500 employees) located in the U.S.
- At least 50% of the company's equity must be owned by U.S. citizens or permanent residents.
- All funded work must take place in the U.S. (including work done by consultants and contractors).
Contact us
Questions about NSF's GOALI program can be emailed to the lead program director, Prakash Balan (pbalan@nsf.gov).