National Science Foundation
Industrial Innovation and Partnerships
Partnerships for Innovation:
Accelerating Innovation Research (AIR)
Barbara Kenny
Small Business Programs: SBIR and STTR
Ruth Shuman
SBIR
STTR
I-Corps
I/UCRC
GOALI
ERC
STC
NSF
Primary
Funding
PFI : BIC / AIR
Industrial Innovation and
Partnerships (IIP)
Industry
Investors
Valley of
Death
Foundations
Small Business
University
Discovery
Development
Commercialization
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Accelerating Innovation Research (AIR)
• Opportunity for academic researchers to accelerate NSFfunded research results toward commercialization
– Within academic environment
• Develops innovation and entrepreneurship experience for
faculty and students
• Creates partnerships
• Established 2010
• Two types of awards
– Technology Translation (14-569): Designed for single
investigators. http://www.nsf.gov/eng/iip/pfi/air-tt.jsp
– Research Alliance (14-612): Designed for centers.
http://www.nsf.gov/eng/iip/pfi/air-ra.jsp
AIR- Technology Translation:
Leveraging NSF Investments
AIR domain
1. Technical
Proof-ofConcept
Early Stage
Prototype
Technology/knowledge gaps
NSF-Funded
Research Result
2. Commercial
Preliminary understanding of
market need, potential
competitive advantage, IP
landscape, regulatory hurdles.
Strategy toward
commercialization.
Enhanced
commercial
understanding,
refined strategy
toward
commercialization
≈≈ ≈≈
Basic
Research
Successful
Commercialization
3. Educational
Student innovation/entrepreneurial experiences
Key Facts 14-569 (PFI:AIR-TT)
• Two windows
LOI required
Full Proposal
Sept. 2, 2014
October 2, 2104
March 13, 2015
April 14, 2015
• PI/co-PI requirements:
– PI must be faculty member at U.S. academic institution
– Lineage: PI or co-PI must have had an NSF research award that
ended no more than 6-years prior that is the basis for the
proposed translational research work.
– There must be at least one other individual involved in the work
(co-PI, Senior Personnel, or Other Personnel) with explicit
business experience.
– PI/co-PI may submit only one proposal per year
• Up to $200K for 18 months
Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR)
Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR)
Program Goals
To foster technological innovations
To catalyze technology commercialization
To encourage broader participation
Program Fundamentals
• Applicant must be a small business concern
• Targets early-stage development of technology on a
commercial path
• Seeks to fund transformational, game-changing technology
• Values academic collaboration/translation
• Strong focus on commercialization
• Looks for significant market opportunity
• Encourages ties to private sector
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What’s the difference? SBIR vs. STTR
SBIR
STTR
Phase I project duration
6 months
12 months
Phase I max award amount
$150,000
$225,000
Phase II project duration
24 months
24 months
Phase II max award amount
$750,000
$750,000
Subaward to research institution (RI)
Allowed
Required
Small business minimum budget
percentage in Phase I / Phase II
66 / 50
40 / 40
N/A
30 / 30
Research institution minimum budget
percentage in Phase I / Phase II
Industrial Innovation & Partnerships – Small Business Partnerships
www.nsf.gov/eng/iip/sbir/
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Funds and Funding Rate
 2015 Funds Estimated for NSF SBIR ~ $160 million
 2015 Funds Estimated for NSF STTR ~ $18 million
 Funds available to fund up to 15% of Phase I and 3050% of the Phase II proposals received
 2 Solicitations offered each year with early June and
early December submission deadlines
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Thrust Areas
 Biological, Biomedical, Environmental and Chemical
Technologies
 Electronics, Information, and Communication
Technologies
 Nanotechnology, Advanced Materials, and
Manufacturing Technologies
 Technologies for Education Applications
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Nine Topic Areas









Educational Technologies and Applications (EA)
Information and Communication Technologies (IC)
Semiconductors (S) and Photonic (PH) Devices and Materials
Electronic Hardware, Robotics and Wireless Technologies (EW)
Advanced Manufacturing and Nanotechnology (MN)
Advanced Materials and Instrumentation (MI)
Chemical and Environmental Technologies (CT)
Biological Technologies (BT)
Smart Health (SH) and Biomedical (BM) Technologies
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Connect with NSF SBIR/STTR
Funding and webinar announcements,
news, and success stories
Online:
nsf.gov/eng/iip/sbir/ and nsf.gov/eng/iip/sttr/
Quarterly Update Listserv:
Send a blank email to INNOVATION-SUBSCRIBEREQUEST@listserv.nsf.gov
Twitter: @NSFInnovateSBIR
Channel: NSFInnovationIIP
Industrial Innovation & Partnerships – Small Business Partnerships
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