This page contains resources that guide prospective and current Teams and Hubs of the U.S. National Science Foundation Innovation Corps (I-Corps™) program through the application process.
I-Corps Teams webinars
Monthly I-Corps Teams webinars
Join a monthly webinar to learn about the I-Corps Teams program eligibility and requirements, team composition selection, and how to apply and ask questions about the program.
Before attending a webinar, please review the solicitation and FAQ.
I-Corps Teams overview
I-Corps Hubs webinars
I-Corps Hubs webinars
Join a Hubs webinar to ask questions and learn about the I-Corps Hubs program solicitation, including eligibility, important dates and deadlines, award types, Hub makeup and more.
I-Corps Hubs overview webinar recording
Application resources
The resources below pertain to the I-Corps Teams program:
- Check out the for a brief overview of the I-Corps Teams program.
- View the FAQ page to learn about program eligibility, forming a team, the training curriculum, budget preparation and grant management.
- View the step-by-step guide to learn how to create an I-Corps account and submit an executive summary in the application portal.
Lab-to-Market
The Directorate for Technology, Innovation and Partnerships accelerates the translation of research results to practical use through its Lab-to-Market Platform. I-Corps, Partnerships for Innovation and America’s Seed Fund powered by NSF are programs within the directorate providing pathways for researchers, startups and aspiring entrepreneurs to move their ideas from the laboratory to the market and society.
The Partnerships for Innovation (PFI) program assists researchers and innovators from academia, nonprofit and public organizations in accelerating the development of breakthrough technologies and speeding solutions forward. PFI-funded researchers apply an iterative process of translational research and customer discovery to develop prototypes that address a product-market fit and inform future products or services. Through the PFI program, NSF-funded researchers can increase the impact of their translational research and address pressing national and societal challenges.
The NSF Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR)/Small Business Technology Transfer (SBIR/STTR) program (also known as America’s Seed Fund powered by NSF) invests in nearly 400 startups across the U.S. each year, with an annual investment of $300 million. These startups create the next game-changing technologies — often based on fundamental science or engineering — in need of research and development to create new products, services, and other scalable solutions. Most of the startups have fewer than five employees, are recently formed and haven't received funding from the government before. NSF piloted the SBIR program for the Federal Government in the 1970s and 1980s; today, 11 federal agencies participate in the SBIR program.
Contact us
Email us with your questions at I-CORPS@nsf.gov
I-Corps Program Directors:
- Jaime Camelio
- Ruth Shuman
- Molly Wasko
Ready to apply?
I-Corps Teams
The I-Corps Teams program supports researchers interested in entrepreneurial education and mentoring, with the goal of reducing the time it takes to bring technologies from the laboratory to the marketplace. There are two pathways for eligibility to the National I-Corps program.
I-Corps Hubs
I-Corps Hubs form the operational backbone of the National Innovation Network. Learn about their responsibilities and the criteria for joining a Hub or creating a new one.
Biennial Reports
I-Corps training and infrastructure together represent an important investment for NSF and the nation, as directed by the "American Innovation and Competitiveness Act," Public Law 114-329, Section 601.
As such, NSF is required to issue a report on I-Corps' efficacy every two years, including metrics from each federal agency participating in the program.
These reports outline in detail just how much impact I-Corps is having in the research and business communities.
Impact
Impact data
Learn about I-Corps' contributions to training the scientific workforce, creating use-based technologies, and boosting the economy.
Stories
The I-Corps training program has helped launch more than 1,000 startups. Read about the remarkable work performed by our funded researchers and their role in fostering technology commercialization.