New funding opportunity to help NSF-funded researchers begin to translate their outputs

NSF to help existing awardees explore pathways for maturing their biotechnology and bioeconomy-related research 

The U.S. National Science Foundation issued a Dear Colleague Letter (DCL) seeking proposals to pursue initial steps to translate their research outputs to the market and society. The Use-Inspired Creativity Extension for the Bioeconomy (UICREX-Bioeconomy) funding opportunity invites existing NSF awardees in select programs to extend their high-risk projects to explore the potential for commercial translation or widespread adoption.  

NSF investments have sparked discoveries in biotechnology for decades, leading to the development of novel biopolymers, green fluorescent proteins, gene editing techniques and other innovations that have advanced fields from bio-manufacturing to health care to food production. In response to the "CHIPS and Science Act of 2022," the UICREX-Bioeconomy DCL adds up to two years of support to existing awards to start transitioning the foundational research activities associated with these projects into use-inspired and translational efforts, creating pathways to or prototypes of minimal viable products.  

"We are excited to roll out this new funding opportunity, which pilots an approach to enabling our research community to start to test out the translation potential of their research outputs," said Erwin Gianchandani, assistant director for NSF Technology, Innovation and Partnerships (NSF TIP). "We see great potential in scaling this effort across the full range of NSF programs over time."  

The UICREX-Bioeconomy funding opportunity is a new collaboration between NSF TIP, Biological Sciences and Mathematical and Physical Sciences directorates.  

To learn more, read the DCL.