NSF 25-540: National Science Foundation Translation to Practice (NSF TTP)

Program Solicitation NSF 25-540

U.S. National Science Foundation Directorate for Biological Sciences Directorate for Computer and Information Science and Engineering Directorate for STEM Education Directorate for Engineering Directorate for Geosciences Directorate for Mathematical and Physical Sciences Directorate for Social, Behavioral and Economic Sciences Directorate for Technology, Innovation and Partnerships

Supplement Due Date(s) (due by 5 p.m. submitting organization's local time):

     April 01, 2025 - April 01, 2026

     April 1 - April 1, Annually Thereafter

Proposals Accepted Anytime - NSF TTP-E Track Only

Full Proposal Deadline(s) (due by 5 p.m. submitting organization's local time):

     November 18, 2025

     Third Tuesday in November, Annually Thereafter

NSF TTP-T and TTP-P Tracks

     May 19, 2026

     Third Tuesday in May, Annually Thereafter

NSF TTP-T and TTP-P Tracks

For NSF TTP-E: Proposals may be submitted anytime.

For NSF TTP-T and NSF TTP-P:

     November 17, 2026

     May 19, 2026

     Third Tuesday in November, and May, Annually Thereafter.

Important Information and Revision Notes

The NSF Translation to Practice (NSF TTP) program focuses on real-world applications of all areas of Science, Technology, and Mathematics (STEM). Proposers can tailor their research and/or innovation activities to solve specific problems faced by consumers, industries, and/or governments. Successful outcomes of NSF TTP projects are varied and may include, but are not limited to: accelerated product, process or service maturation; open-source projects; standards setting; patents; the realization of pre-commercial or commercial products, processes or services; and startup or small business formation.

For this NSF TTP solicitation, the following definitions apply:

• Practice. Here, "practice" refers to the actual application or use of an idea, discovery, or invention. Practice may include but is not limited to putting products, processes, or services into action via the establishment of proofs-of-concept; prototypes; pilot-scale efforts; open-source projects; standards setting; the realization of pre-commercial or commercial outputs; startup or small business formation; etc.
• Use-inspired research. "Use-inspired research" is driven by both the desire to advance fundamental understanding and the need to address real-world challenges. Such research often connects theoretical advances with practical applications, ensuring scientific and engineering discoveries are not just intellectually satisfying but also useful in solving challenging problems – leading to innovations that directly improve the quality of daily life.
• Translation to Practice. Translation to Practice moves the results of use-inspired research to the market. Translation to Practice involves the application of findings, knowledge, or theoretical concepts from the laboratory to real-world impact in the form of products, processes, or services, to maximize commercial, economic, and/or other potential impacts.

NSF distinguishes between two types of "partnerships" that it enables.

• NSF-Direct Partnerships. NSF engages directly with government, industry, nonprofit, and international organizations to invest in projects that support research and development (R&D) as well as education and workforce development. NSF-Direct Partnerships are formalized through a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) or other signed agreement between NSF and the external partner. These NSF-Direct Partnerships will be announced via Dear Colleague Letters (DCLs) and posted on the TTP program page at least 90 days prior to the next full proposal submission deadline. Submission to the NSF TTP program after a DCL posting signifies explicit agreement to having your proposal considered for co-funding by the NSF-Direct Partner(s). This proposal consideration may or may not include co-review of the proposal and, if an award is made, the sharing of annual/final reports. Co-funded proposals will be subject to additional award Terms and Conditions as set forth in the DCL(s) and announced on the TTP program page.
• NSF-Catalyzed Partnerships. NSF indirectly stimulates partnerships through programs that encourage or require grantees to engage with external organizations with complementary expertise and resources. NSF-Catalyzed Partners are individuals or entities that work with the PI(s) and their team(s) to provide additional value to the project and may be paid or unpaid. In these cases, the NSF grantee and any associated NSF-Catalyzed Partners are responsible for entering into partnering agreements among themselves. Strategic partnerships with stakeholders beyond U.S. institutions of higher education are essential ingredients for success and may include industry partners, government entities at all levels, philanthropies, international organizations, or other groups associated with large scale productization and distribution.

While TTP-E and TTP-T tracks may include NSF-Catalyzed Partnerships, the TTP-P track requires an NSF-Catalyzed Partnership and strongly prioritizes a non-academic partner.

The NSF TTP program offers three tracks that represent different starting points or stages in moving discoveries and innovations from the laboratory to practice:

• NSF TTP-Explore (NSF TTP-E) is a pilot track that is likely to be the first step for researchers seeking to translate their basic research to practice. To be eligible for the NSF TTP-E track, proposers must have an active, eligible, NSF research award (see Eligibility Information for further details). The NSF TTP-E track provides the opportunity to obtain an extension of the initial award period of a current NSF award for up to two years in order to offer investigators an opportunity to explore adventurous, high-risk, use-inspired research and initial translational activities not covered by the original research award.
• NSF TTP-Translate (NSF TTP-T) starts with use-inspired research and initial translational activities and further matures the idea(s), iterates and improves the solution(s), and lowers the barrier(s) to effective translation of research from lab to practice.
• NSF TTP-Partner (NSF TTP-P) supports translational efforts that demand one or more partnerships for technology development and deployment. Here, strategic partnerships with stakeholders beyond U.S. institutions of higher education are essential ingredients for success and may include industry partners, government entities at all levels, philanthropies, international organizations, or other groups associated with large scale productization and distribution. Partnerships with U.S. institutions of higher education are valued, but NSF TTP strongly prioritizes NSF-Catalyzed Partnerships that are able to help bring the product, process, or service to the market, potentially through licensing agreements, startup or small business formation, incorporation into an existing open-source ecosystem, development into standards setting arrangements, etc. Such partnering organizations will assist in the translation to practice. In addition to the Principal Investigator (PI), NSF TTP-P proposals must include a co-PI or Senior/Key Personnel who is a member or employee of the NSF-Catalyzed Partner.

NSF TTP-T and TTP-P proposals may be based upon NSF or other federally-funded research discoveries and innovations; however, prior federal funding is not a requirement for submission.

The NSF TTP tracks are not required to be accessed in any specific order; that is, one track is not a pre-requisite for another. For example, proposers are not required to move from TTP-E to TTP-T to TTP-P but instead should match the tracks to the maturity of their technology.

NSF TTP-T and NSF TTP-P recipients are required to complete NSF Innovation Corps (I-Corps^TM) Teams training. NSF I-Corps training utilizes experiential learning to identify uses or problems in society that need solutions and quickly assesses the translational potential of proposed discoveries and innovations. This training runs for a 7-week period and requires a team composed of an entrepreneurial lead, a technical lead, and an industry mentor. If the proposing PI or, if present, Co-PI, has recently (within the last 2 years) taken I-Corps training focused on the subject of the NSF TTP project, this requirement may be waived. See Proposal Preparation and Submission Instructions for budget implications.

Successful NSF TTP award recipients are focused on translating research outputs to practice. As needed, NSF TTP award recipients are encouraged to access a range of other NSF programs, including, but not limited to: Pathways to Enable Open-Source Ecosystems (POSE), Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) / Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR), SBIR-STTR Fast-Track, and NSF Translation Accelerators (NSF TAs), etc., to aid in the robust and complete development of their products, processes, or services. Over time, and potentially via follow-on funding from other NSF programs as well as other external funders, NSF TTP projects are expected to result in a variety of commercial, economic, and/or other outcomes.

Medical research, including clinical trials, is not responsive to this solicitation and may be returned without review.

NSF TTP webinars will be held periodically to answer questions about the program. Registration will be available on the TTP program page. Potential proposers and their partners are strongly encouraged to attend the webinars as they refine/develop their proposals.

Proposals must be prepared in accordance with the NSF Proposal & Award Policies & Procedures Guide (PAPPG). Use the version of the guide that is in effect on the proposal's due date.

Summary of Program Requirements

General Information

Program Title:

National Science Foundation Translation to Practice (NSF TTP)

Synopsis of Program:

The U.S. NSF Directorate for Technology, Innovation and Partnerships (NSF TIP) partners across sectors to advance three primary focus areas – accelerating technology translation and development, fostering regional innovation and economic growth, and preparing the American workforce for future high-wage jobs in STEM fields.

The translation of research to practice ensures that the insights and innovations developed through scientific study and experimentation have tangible, positive impacts for the Nation. These impacts include improving the quality of life, promoting economic and job growth, ensuring national security, and maintaining global competitiveness. Indeed, scientific and engineering breakthroughs have the potential to address critical societal challenges in industries such as aerospace, agriculture, communications, education, energy, healthcare, national security, and transportation – but the translation of discoveries and innovations from the laboratory to society often takes many forms including non-linear pathways.

The NSF TTP program was developed with several goals in mind:

• To identify and support use-inspired research and translational activities enabling a continuum from foundational research to practice;
• To develop partnerships and collaborations between institutions of higher education and other entities (e.g., industry, state/local/national government agencies, philanthropies, open-source ecosystems, for-benefit, for-profit and non-profit organizations, international organizations, etc.);
• To promote and advance the education and training of students and postdoctoral researchers, encouraging the participation of all Americans in STEM including innovation and entrepreneurship; and
• To identify future customer needs and opportunities and bring these to the forefront in the conduct of use-inspired research and translational activities.

The NSF TTP program offers three tracks that represent different starting points or stages in moving discoveries and innovations from the laboratory to practice:

• NSF TTP-Explore (NSF TTP-E) is a pilot track that is likely to be the first step for researchers seeking to translate their basic research to practice. To be eligible for the NSF TTP-E track, proposers must have an active, eligible, NSF research award (see Eligibility Information for further details). TTP-E is designed to encourage current, eligible NSF awardees to intentionally pursue applications of their research with the potential for societal impact. The NSF TTP-E track provides the opportunity to obtain an extension of the initial award period of a current NSF award for up to two years in order to offer investigators an opportunity to explore adventurous, high-risk, use-inspired research and initial translational activities as the starting point for translation that was not covered by the original research award.
• NSF TTP-Translate (NSF TTP-T) starts with use-inspired research and initial translational activities and further matures the idea(s), iterates and improves the solution(s), and lowers the barrier(s) to effective translation of research from lab to practice.
• NSF TTP-Partner (NSF TTP-P) supports translational efforts that demand one or more partnerships for technology development and deployment. Here, strategic partnerships with stakeholders beyond U.S. institutions of higher education are essential ingredients for success and may include industry partners, government entities at all levels, philanthropies, international organizations, or other groups associated with large scale productization and distribution. The NSF TTP-P track requires an NSF-Catalyzed Partnership with an organization that will assist in the translation to practice. In addition to the Principal Investigator (PI), NSF TTP-P proposals must include a co-PI or Senior/Key Personnel who is a member or employee of the NSF-Catalyzed Partner. Partnerships with U.S. institutions of higher education are valued, but NSF TTP strongly prioritizes NSF-Catalyzed Partnerships that are able to help bring the product, process, or service to the market, potentially through licensing agreements, startup or small business formation, incorporation into an existing open-source ecosystem, development into standards setting arrangements, etc.

Broadening Participation in STEM

NSF has a mandate to broaden participation in science and engineering, as articulated and reaffirmed in law since 1950. Congress has charged NSF to "develop intellectual capital, both people and ideas, with particular emphasis on groups and regions that traditionally have not participated fully in science, mathematics, and engineering."

Cognizant Program Officer(s):

Please note that the following information is current at the time of publishing. See program website for any updates to the points of contact.

• NSF TTP Program, telephone: (703) 292-4800, email: translation@nsf.gov

Applicable Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance (CFDA) Number(s):

• 47.041 --- Engineering
• 47.049 --- Mathematical and Physical Sciences
• 47.050 --- Geosciences
• 47.070 --- Computer and Information Science and Engineering
• 47.074 --- Biological Sciences
• 47.075 --- Social Behavioral and Economic Sciences
• 47.076 --- STEM Education
• 47.079 --- Office of International Science and Engineering
• 47.083 --- Office of Integrative Activities (OIA)
• 47.084 --- NSF Technology, Innovation and Partnerships

Award Information

Anticipated Type of Award: Standard Grant

Estimated Number of Awards: 29

Anticipated Funding Amount: $30,000,000

Proposal Preparation and Submission Instructions

A. Proposal Preparation Instructions

• Letters of Intent: Not required
• Preliminary Proposal Submission: Not required
• Full Proposals:
  • For proposals submitted via Research.gov, PAPPG guidelines apply.
  • For proposals submitted via Grants.gov, NSF Grants.gov Application Guide guidelines apply.

B. Budgetary Information

• Cost Sharing Requirements:

  Inclusion of voluntary committed cost sharing is prohibited.

• Indirect Cost (F&A) Limitations:

  Not Applicable

• Other Budgetary Limitations:

  Not Applicable

C. Due Dates

• Supplement Due Date(s) (due by 5 p.m. submitting organization's local time):

       April 01, 2025 - April 01, 2026

       April 1 - April 1, Annually Thereafter

  Proposals Accepted Anytime - NSF TTP-E Track Only

• Full Proposal Deadline(s) (due by 5 p.m. submitting organization's local time):

       November 18, 2025

       Third Tuesday in November, Annually Thereafter

  NSF TTP-T and TTP-P Tracks

       May 19, 2026

       Third Tuesday in May, Annually Thereafter

  NSF TTP-T and TTP-P Tracks

  For NSF TTP-E: Proposals may be submitted anytime.

  For NSF TTP-T and NSF TTP-P:

       November 17, 2026

       May 19, 2026

       Third Tuesday in November, and May, Annually Thereafter.

Proposal Review Information Criteria

Merit Review Criteria:

National Science Board approved criteria. Additional merit review criteria apply. Please see the full text of this solicitation for further information.

Award Administration Information

Award Conditions:

Additional award conditions apply. Please see the full text of this solicitation for further information.

Reporting Requirements:

Additional reporting requirements apply. Please see the full text of this solicitation for further information.

I. Introduction

The U.S. NSF Directorate for Technology, Innovation and Partnerships (NSF TIP) partners across sectors to advance three primary focus areas – accelerating technology translation and development, fostering regional innovation and economic growth, and preparing the American workforce for future high-wage jobs in STEM fields.

The translation of research to practice ensures that the insights and innovations developed through scientific study and experimentation have tangible, positive impacts on society. These impacts include improving the quality of life, promoting economic and job growth, ensuring national security, and maintaining global competitiveness. Indeed, scientific and engineering breakthroughs have the potential to address critical societal challenges in industries such as aerospace, agriculture, communications, education, energy, healthcare, national security, and transportation – but the translation of discoveries and innovations from the laboratory to society often take many forms including non-linear pathways.

The NSF Translation to Practice (TTP) program has benefited from lessons learned from a prior program, Partnerships for Innovation (PFI). The PFI program offered PIs and their teams the opportunity to develop groundbreaking technologies, engage in industry partnerships, and gain innovation and entrepreneurial skills. The NSF TTP program maintains these goals, while enabling greater flexibility so that researchers can strategically join the track best suited to the technological maturity of their technology. The NSF TTP program offers current NSF awardees a new track (NSF TTP-E) that serves as a "translational extension," extending current basic research awards in the direction of adventurous, "high-risk" use-inspired research and enabling a direct on-ramp in this direction. The TTP program maintains previous PFI avenues for researchers that already have use-inspired projects, welcoming them to further mature their technologies, iterating and improving their solutions to ensure scalability and accessibility, and lowering the barriers to effective translation with or without NSF-Catalyzed Partnerships. This new NSF TTP program also considers a much broader range of translational impacts and outcomes than the previous PFI programs, enabling research-based innovations and solutions that impact the economy and society in numerous ways, from open-source ecosystem development to standards setting; from for-benefit or non-profit creation to accelerated commercialization by industry; and from for-profit startup or small business formation to collaborations with state and local governments, international organizations, and philanthropies. The NSF TTP program is also focused on the establishment of new NSF-Direct Partnerships which will help extend the reach of the translational efforts to various technology sectors.

In short, the NSF TTP program seeks to:

• Identify and support the initiation of use-inspired research and initial translational activities enabling a continuum from foundational research to practice.
• Develop partnerships and collaborations that include traditional (academic) and non-traditional entities. These sustainable partnerships will accelerate the transfer of technology by ensuring needs and opportunities are appropriately addressed.
• Promote and advance the education and training of students and postdoctoral researchers, avoiding undue geographic concentration of funding and encouraging the participation of all Americans.
• For the NSF TTP-T and NSF TTP-P tracks: Identify future customer needs and opportunities through NSF I-Corps training.

Successful NSF TTP award recipients are focused on translating research outputs to practice. As needed, NSF TTP award recipients are encouraged to access a range of other NSF programs, including, but not limited to: Pathways to Enable Open-Source Ecosystems (POSE), Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) / Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR), SBIR-STTR Fast-Track, NSF Translation Accelerators (NSF TAs), and the NSF Technology Translation Test Beds (NSF T3s), etc., to aid in the robust and complete development of their products, processes, or services. Over time, and potentially via follow-on funding from other NSF programs as well as other external funders, NSF TTP projects are expected to result in a variety of commercial, economic, and/or other outcomes.

II. Program Description

Importantly, the NSF TIP Directorate is interested in making investments that support pathways toward commercialization, but also seeks to go further, enabling research-based innovations and solutions that impact the economy and society in numerous ways, from open-source ecosystem development to standards setting; from for-benefit or non-profit creation to accelerated commercialization by industry; and from for-profit startup or small business formation to collaborations with state and local governments, international organizations, and philanthropies. TIP seeks to advance a vision of use-inspired research and initial translational activities taking on different forms in different settings and requiring a much more distributed set of approaches and solutions than the innovation ecosystem has afforded to date.

This NSF TTP funding opportunity constitutes an investment in three different proposal tracks that aim to advance a vision of use-inspired research and initial translational activities. Researchers are welcome to join the pathways at the stage best fitting the maturity of the particular technology:

• NSF TTP-Explore (NSF TTP-E) is designed to encourage current, eligible NSF awardees to intentionally pursue applications of their research with the potential for societal impact. NSF TTP-E focuses on the support of adventurous, "high-risk" activities that bridge the gap between foundational scientific curiosity and a practical desire to address real-world problems. NSF TTP-E can be used for a large number of activities including but not limited to: initiation of interdisciplinary collaborations among scientists and engineers to bring together critical perspectives for solution development; engagement of the community in open-source products design and implementation; support of student internships and other collaborations with industry; and/or the acceleration and maturation of research technology readiness levels (TRL). In order to demonstrate real-world utilization, NSF-Catalyzed Partnerships with other academic institutions, non-profits, international organizations, government laboratories, small businesses, industry, etc. are encouraged but are not required.
• NSF TTP-Translate (NSF TTP-T) is focused on translating research results into technological innovations with promising commercial, economic, and/or other impacts. Whereas TTP-E is an extension of an existing NSF award, NSF TTP-T is a new award that aims to intentionally pursue the practical impact of the original research. TTP-T does not require previous NSF funding but begins with use-inspired research and initial translational activities and further matures the ideas, iterating and improving the solutions, ensuring scalability and accessibility, and lowering the barriers to effective translation. NSF TTP-T can be used to initiate a number of activities including, but not limited to: designing and iteratively testing prototypes; optimizing industrial processes for less resource consumption; completing activities to support patent applications that will protect intellectual property for future licensing and startup formation; engaging the community in open-source products design and implementation; working to develop and integrate acceptable standards for community benefit. In order to demonstrate real-world utilization, NSF-Catalyzed Partnerships with other academic institutions, non-profits, international organizations, government laboratories, small businesses, industry, etc. are encouraged, but are not required.

  As the NSF TTP-T track is focused on translating research results from the laboratory to practice, NSF I-Corps training will provide NSF TTP-T award recipients the entrepreneurial education and mentoring to reduce the time it takes to bring technologies from the laboratory to practice. NSF I-Corps training is a 7-week experiential course that has been shown to accelerate research toward commercialization – from demonstration to validation. For more information on I-Corps, please see the I-Corps website. (Note: NSF TTP-T PIs who can demonstrate that they have recently (within the last 2 years) completed National I-Corps training for the technology in the proposed project should identify the award number in the first line of the Project Summary and this requirement may be waived.)

• NSF TTP-Partner (NSF TTP-P) supports translational efforts that demand one or more partnerships for technology development and deployment. Here, strategic partnerships with stakeholders beyond U.S. institutions of higher education are essential ingredients for success and may include industry partners, government entities at all levels, philanthropies, international organizations, or other groups associated with large scale productization and distribution. Example NSF TTP-P activities include but are not limited to: collaborations associated with scaling and mass production of products to ensure interoperability and wide integration; the development of standards contributing to the global growth of the next generation market; and/or the large-scale advanced manufacturing and assembly of parts for commercial applications. Another highly successful outcome of the NSF TTP-P track is the formation of startups and/or small businesses. Successful partnerships may assist NSF TTP-P recipients in preparing their innovation for market as part of the POSE, SBIR/STTR, and/or SBIR-STTR Fast-Track programs, etc. Like TTP-T, the TTP-P track does not require previous NSF funding.

  While the NSF TTP-P track requires NSF-Catalyzed Partnerships within a competitive landscape, NSF TTP-P award recipients must understand prevailing community needs or unmet market opportunities to develop useful products, processes, or services. NSF I-Corps training will ensure that NSF TTP-P recipients are efficiently and effectively assessing their invention's commercial potential and economic and/or other impacts. For more information on I-Corps, please see the I-Corps website. (Note: NSF TTP-P PIs who can demonstrate that they have recently (within the last 2 years) completed National I-Corps training for the proposed technology should identify the NSF award number in the first line of the Project Summary and this requirement may be waived.)

While PIs are encouraged (NSF TTP-E and NSF TTP-T) or required (NSF TTP-P) to engage strategic partners as part of NSF-Catalyzed Partnerships, NSF also seeks to engage in NSF-Direct Partnerships with other co-funders from industry, philanthropies, other U.S. government agencies, international organizations, etc., at the programmatic level in order to promote the translation of research from the laboratory to practice. It is critical that PIs review the TTP-related Dear Colleague Letters (DCLs) and/or the NSF TTP program page as submission to the program is taken as explicit acceptance that their proposals may be shared with announced NSF-Direct Partners, and that awards may have specific Terms and Conditions related to these partnerships.

III. Award Information

Anticipated Type of Award: Standard Grant

Estimated Number of Awards: 29 awards

• NSF TTP-E projects will extend the current NSF award. Award size is estimated at approximately $600,000 per award for up to 24 months. Approximately $10,000,000 in awards are anticipated.
• NSF TTP-T projects up to $1,200,000 per award for up to 36 months. Approximately $10,000,000 in awards are anticipated.
• NSF TTP-P awards up to $2,000,000 per award for up to 48 months. Approximately $10,000,000 in awards are anticipated.

Estimated program budget, number of awards, and average award size/duration are subject to the availability of funds.

IV. Eligibility Information

Who May Submit Proposals:

Proposals may only be submitted by the following:

• Institutions of Higher Education (IHEs): Two- and four-year IHEs (including community colleges) accredited in, and having a campus located in the U.S., acting on behalf of their faculty members. Special Instructions for International Branch Campuses of U.S. IHEs: If the proposal includes funding to be provided to an international branch campus of a US institution of higher education (including through use of sub-awards and consultant arrangements), the proposer must explain the benefit(s) to the project of performance at the international branch campus, and justify why the project activities cannot be performed at the U.S. campus.
• Non-profit, non-academic organizations: Independent museums, observatories, research laboratories, professional societies and similar organizations located in the U.S. that are directly associated with educational or research activities.

Who May Serve as PI:

By the submission deadline, a PI must hold either:

• A tenured or tenure-track position, or
• A primary, full-time, paid appointment in a research or teaching position (with exceptions granted for family or medical leave), as determined by the submitting institution.

The NSF TTP-E track requires the proposers to have an active, eligible, NSF research award. NSF TTP-E proposers should have at least one year remaining on their NSF award and should have submitted (and had approved) 1-2 annual reports to date. As part of this track, EAGER, RAPID, or RAISE awards are not eligible to receive NSF TTP-E funds. TTP-E proposers MUST provide a 3- to 5-page description of future translational activities to their cognizant NSF Program Officer (PO) via email and gain their approval via email, before submission of an NSF TTP-E proposal.

For the NSF TTP-P track, in addition to the PI, proposals must include a co-PI or Senior/Key Personnel who is a member or employee of an NSF-Catalyzed Partner. Partnerships with U.S. institutions of higher education are valued, but NSF TTP strongly prioritizes NSF-Catalyzed Partnerships that are able to help bring the product, process, or service to the market, potentially through licensing agreements, startup or small business formation, incorporation into an existing open-source ecosystem, development into standards setting arrangements, etc.

Limit on Number of Proposals per Organization:

There are no restrictions or limits.

Limit on Number of Proposals per PI or co-PI:

A PI (or Co-PI) may submit only one NSF TTP proposal (NSF TTP-E, NSF TTP-T, or NSF TTP-P) at a time.

PIs (or Co-PIs) must wait for a determination (award or decline recommendation) on their current TTP proposal before submitting another TTP proposal.

V. Proposal Preparation and Submission Instructions

A. Proposal Preparation Instructions

Full Proposal Preparation Instructions: Proposers may opt to submit proposals in response to this Program Solicitation via Research.gov or Grants.gov.

You must prepare your proposal according to Chapter II.D.2 of the PAPPG, unless this solicitation specifies different instructions. Always use the version of the PAPPG in effect on your proposal's due date.

• For proposals submitted via Research.gov, PAPPG guidelines apply.
• For proposals submitted via Grants.gov, NSF Grants.gov Application Guide guidelines apply.

In determining which method to utilize in the electronic preparation and submission of the proposal, please note the following:

Collaborative Proposals. All collaborative proposals submitted as separate submissions from multiple organizations must be submitted via Research.gov. PAPPG Chapter II.E.3 provides additional information on collaborative proposals.

All NSF TTP proposals must be submitted by a single institution. Simultaneous proposal submissions from different organizations for a joint project in which each organization requests a separate award, also known as linked collaborative proposals, will be returned without review.

See PAPPG Chapter II.D.2 for guidance on the required sections of a full research proposal submitted to NSF. Please note that the proposal preparation instructions provided in this program solicitation may deviate from the PAPPG instructions. In cases where the solicitation differs from the PAPPG, the solicitation directions should be followed.

Cover Sheet

Title: NSF TTP proposal titles must start with "NSF TTP-E: ", "NSF TTP-T: ", or "NSF TTP-P: ", (as appropriate for the track requested) and then the title of the project.

Project Summary

The Project Summary should be written in the third person and consists of an overview, a statement on the intellectual merit of the proposed activity, and a statement on the broader impacts of the proposed activity. Do not include any proprietary information in the Project Summary.

The summary MUST clearly address the following items:

Overview: A summary paragraph that briefly discusses the societal need for the proposed technology translation, the areas of application, the potential stakeholder, and the potential outcomes of the proposed activity.

If the PI has recently taken NSF I-Corps on the technology proposed in the TTP proposal, please list the award number on the first line of the Overview to be considered for a waiver of the I-Corps training requirement. Note: if the TTP Program determines that the I-Corps training is not current (within the last 2 years) or on the same proposed technology, and an award recommendation is contemplated, the cognizant NSF PO will request budget modifications to include I-Corps training.

Intellectual Merit: A summary paragraph addressing the intellectual merits of the proposed activity; e.g., the goals of the proposed research and the technical hurdles that will be addressed by the proposed research.

Broader Impacts: A summary paragraph describing the expected broader commercial, economic and/or other outcomes of the proposed project.

For NSF TTP-E:

The NSF TTP-E track is designed to encourage current, eligible NSF awardees to intentionally pursue applications of their research with the potential for societal impact. The cognizant NSF Program Officer (PO) may recommend the extension of funding for the translation from foundational to use-inspired research and initial translational activities for a period of up to two years. The objective of such an extension is to offer investigators an opportunity to attack adventurous, high-risk opportunities in the same general research area, that are not covered by the original/current award. Special translational extensions may be initiated:

1. by the cognizant NSF PO based on progress during the first 1-2 years of the award, as exemplified by exceptional progress and the potential for commercialization in the PIs' annual reports or
2. by PIs who believe that their projects have promising, translation-ready outcomes. In this case, PIs may identify themselves by requesting consideration for TTP-E from their cognizant NSF PO approximately 1-year prior to the end of their individual investigator award (before submission of a renewal request). The PI should make the request for consideration via email, by providing a 3- to 5-page description of future translational, use-inspired and initial translational activities. This description should include details of the research to be pursued, the opportunity (or gap) the technology translation would address, the role of any potential partners (encouraged, but not required), the role of students and/or postdocs, etc. The cognizant NSF PO will review this description along with at least 1 (and preferably 2) submitted and approved annual report(s).

If approval is provided via email by the cognizant NSF PO, PIs will be asked to create the special creativity extension via the "Supplemental Funding Request" function in Research.gov. The Authorized Organizational Representative (AOR) is responsible for submitting the request via Research.gov. The request must include their initial 3-5 page research description as well as a copy of the email invitation in their proposal. Any TTP-E requests not accompanied by an emailed invitation from their cognizant NSF PO (in the Supplementary Documents) must be returned without review.

Note: If a PI is not invited to submit a TTP-E proposal, they are welcome to submit to the TTP-T or TTP-P tracks directly.

For NSF TTP-T and NSF TTP-P:

Project Description (Must not exceed 15 pages). The Project Description must include the following sections in the order specified. The bullet points in each section are suggestions for the information to be discussed and are provided as a guide. Adjustments in exact content and length of each section (with the exception of the Executive Summary) are allowable as necessary for the proposer(s) to clearly present their ideas.

Note: The PAPPG does not permit inclusion of Uniform Resource Locators (URLs) in the Project Description. While proposers may use URLs in the References Cited section, reviewers are not required to access URLs.

1. Executive Summary: (No more than 1 page)
   • Identification of Drivers. Describe the potential use that is inspiring the research or societal and/or market need(s) to be addressed. How is this use/solution unique? Why is translation of the innovation needed?
   • The Innovation. Succinctly describe the innovation. This section may contain proprietary information that could not be discussed in the Project Summary. What aspects are ambitious, high-impact, disruptive, or transformative compared to the state-of-the-art landscape of existing technology products, processes, or services?
   • The Value Proposition. What is the potential societal or commercial value of the innovation? What are the benefits to various stakeholders? What is the key differentiator of your technology? How will you measure this differentiation?
   • For NSF TTP-P proposals only: Describe the nature and merits of the collaboration with your required NSF-Catalyzed Partner(s).
2. Research Motivation (Suggested length: 3 - 5 pages)
   • What is the problem/challenge you are trying to solve? Why is this problem/challenge important? Who are the likely stakeholders and how will this effort impact them?
   • What is the current state-of-the-art? How will the innovation address unmet needs?
   • Describe the STEM discovery or innovation that forms the basis for the use-inspired research / initial translational activities in terms of a new or improved product, process, or service.
   • Describe the proposed end goals of the project. What does a translational solution look like (e.g., prototype development, systems optimization, industrial collaboration, global interoperability and integration, new/improved open-source ecosystem, standards implementation, change in local/state government policy, startup/small business creation, initiation of a non-profit or for-benefit entity, licensing agreement, etc.)? How will you get to this solution?
   • What is the potential value of the innovation? Who might be interested in the solution?
3. Development of Solutions (Suggested length: 5-7 pages)
   • Describe the technical barriers and anticipated hurdles that will need to be addressed before successful translation or demonstration. How will you overcome these gaps and barriers?
   • Describe how you will test, refine, and validate your product, process or service before full-scale production.
   • Provide a chart that identifies the critical milestones to be reached along a technology / product development timeline.
   • How will you measure success? How will you know if your product actually offers the desired improvement(s) and provides the desired use? How will you know if the project goals have been achieved and/or whether a pivot or re-start is needed?
   • If not initially successful, what alternative approaches will be used? Provide a risk assessment and mitigation plan to address the failure of any of your R&D objectives, tasks, or success metrics.
   • How do you envision integrating your product, process, or service into the current systems and/or marketplace?
   • How sustainable, robust, or resilient is the solution? Will you have access to consistent resources and supply chains? Is there a possibility for unanticipated consequences? How will you determine safety and compliance (if needed)?
   • What is the likely time to market or deployment, including the development timeline and the production readiness?
   • How will you ensure scalability, cost-effectiveness, timeliness, and integration / compatibility?
   • Which features might keep potential competitors from circumventing the technology?
   • If appropriate, discuss the intellectual property (IP) landscape, including elements such as results of a preliminary patent search, intellectual property (IP) status (e.g., invention disclosures, patent applications, patents granted, etc.), and the strategy for IP protection.
4. Project Team (Suggested length: 1 page)
   • List the team members and their organizational affiliation. Provide their current job titles and describe their relevant qualifications as they relate to the proposed project. If partners / collaborators / consultants are from outside the proposing organization, describe their role and the value they add to the project.
   • If students and postdoctoral researchers are involved, describe their specific roles in the project.
5. Partnerships, required only for NSF TTP-P proposals (Suggested length: 1-2 pages)
   • Identify the NSF-Catalyzed Partner(s) and the unique strengths and capabilities they bring to the collaboration. Discuss their specific roles in the project.
   • Describe how each NSF-Catalyzed Partner (a) catalyzes and accelerates technology translation development toward productization / commercialization.
   • How will the research tasks be identified, prioritized, and acted upon?
   • Provide an assessment plan with a combination of quantitative data and qualitative assessments to measure growth and gauge the success of the NSF-Catalyzed Partnerships in translating academic research and technologies into commercial and societal use.
6. Broader Impacts (Suggested length: 1-2 pages)
   • Along with the usual considerations of Broader Impacts (as described in the NSF PAPPG), describe the economic and societal benefits of the proposed translational activities.
   • If successful during the proposed project, how does the team envision moving forward after a TTP award? For example, activities might include identifying and securing strategic partnerships with economic development organizations; collaborations with accelerators, incubators, professional organizations, innovation hubs, investors, and licensees; the creation/funding of spin-out companies, etc.
7. Results of Prior NSF Support. If relevant, please place particular emphasis on the outcomes of previously funded translational research, collaboration with strategic translation partners (e.g., industry, government, startups, open-source, etc.), early proof-of-concept or similar projects of commercial, economic, and/or other impact.

References Cited. Provide a list of relevant reference sources, including patent citations and publications of relevant research results. If there are no references cited in the proposal, include a statement to that effect in this module.

Budgets and Budget Justification. The maximum budget must not exceed $1,200,000 for NSF TTP-T proposals, and $2,000,000 for NSF TTP-P proposals. Proposals with budgets in excess of these limits may be returned without review.

• For All TTP Tracks: NSF TTP PI Meeting. NSF may organize an NSF TTP PI meeting or a convening between NSF TTP teams, investors, industry representatives, and NSF-Direct Partners during the grant period. Proposers should budget travel (Line E.) for the PI and one student or postdoctoral researcher to attend (up to $2,500 per person per award) in Year 2. Additional travel costs may be budgeted for a collaborator or NSF-Catalyzed Partner on the project to travel to the NSF TTP PI meeting (up to $2,500 per person) in Year 2.
• Subawards (Line G.5.). An ideal NSF-Catalyzed Partner demonstrates a strategic interest in the NSF TTP-funded technology and is not a service provider or a vendor for the project.

  If there is a subaward to an organization with which a PI or co-PI has a Conflict of Interest, the PI's Organization must submit the Conflict-of-Interest Mitigation and Management Plan for that individual before the cognizant NSF PO makes an award recommendation. Please refer to Chapter IX.A of the NSF PAPPG for Conflict-of-Interest Policies. (The Conflict-of-Interest plan is not required at the proposal stage, only as a condition for award recommendation.)

• For NSF TTP-T and TTP-P tracks: The budget must include $50,000 for required I-Corps Teams training in Year 1, if the PI/Co-PI has not recently (within the last two years) completed NSF I-Corps training on the topic of the proposed NSF TTP-P. The I-Corps budget request should be listed as $45,000 on Line G.6. Other. and $5,000 added to the indirect costs (the maximum indirect cost rate for the I-Corps training is limited to 11.11%). Do not provide a breakdown of the I-Corps allocation in the budget justification of the NSF TTP-P proposal (for additional information about the I-Corps Teams program, please visit https://www.nsf.gov/funding/initiatives/i-corps/about-teams).
• For All TTP Tracks: Allowable Patent Expenses. To defray costs of protecting the intellectual property stemming from NSF TTP research and ultimately reducing the costs incurred by the lead institution of higher education, the NSF TTP tracks allow the budget request to include up to $50,000 for the applicant institution over the entire duration of the project. These funds can be used (a) to pay internal costs borne by the applicant institution's Technology Transfer Office (TTO) for the assessment and safeguarding of newly developed, NSF TTP-related intellectual property, and/or (b) to secure assistance from domestic third-party service providers in the U.S. or its territories. These funds may cover an array of patenting expenses including filing and patent litigation. The following are not allowed: expenses incurred by licensees; patenting expenses incurred prior to the effective date or after the end date of the NSF TTP award; patenting expenses related to inventions not directly related to NSF TTP award; and trademark or copyright search or filing expenses. Allowable patent expenses should be listed on Line G.6. Other; standard institutional indirect costs will apply.

Facilities, Equipment, and Other Resources. See the most recent PAPPG for further information.

Senior/Key Personnel Documents. See the most recent PAPPG for further information.

Special Information and Supplementary Documentation

Data Management and Sharing Plan (Required, 2 pages maximum). The Data Management and Sharing Plan must be substantive and specific to the application described in the proposal. For example, provide details regarding the protection of intellectual property rights to be generated through the NSF TTP project, recognizing the potential commercial, economic, and other benefits of the activities.

For additional information on the Dissemination and Sharing of Research Results, see: https://www.nsf.gov/bfa/dias/policy/dmp.jsp.

Letters of Support are not allowed for any of the NSF TTP tracks.

Letters of Collaboration (Required for the NSF TTP-P track; Encouraged for NSF TTP-E and NSF TTP-T tracks). NSF-Catalyzed Partners are individuals or entities that work with the PI(s) and their team to provide additional value to the project and may be paid or unpaid. Regardless of whether the NSF-Catalyzed Partner is included in the budget, a Letter of Collaboration from each NSF-Catalyzed Partner must be provided in the Supplementary Documents at the time of submission of the proposal. Such letters must appear on the entity's letterhead and be signed by the appropriate representative of the entity/organization. The letters must describe the nature of the collaboration and how the collaboration brings additional value to the project. It is the responsibility of the submitting organization to discuss the appropriate intellectual property policies, including patent disclosures and filings, with the NSF-Catalyzed Partners. NSF is not responsible for the type of agreement reached between grantees and the NSF-Catalyzed Partners.

Single Copy Documents. Proprietary or privileged information should be included only in the separate "Single Copy Documents" section of the proposal and only when such information is necessary to convey an understanding of the proposed project. This information will not be shared with reviewers or NSF-Direct Partner representatives.

Resubmission Change Description (if applicable; 2-page maximum). A declined proposal may be resubmitted, but only after it has undergone substantial revision. A resubmitted proposal that has not clearly considered the major comments or concerns resulting from the prior NSF review may be returned without review. A resubmission must include a 1- to 2-page Single Copy Document that includes the previous proposal number, a summary of the NSF reviewers' comments and the PI's (PIs') response to those comments. This document will be reviewed by the NSF program staff but not the proposal reviewers or the NSF-Direct Partners.

B. Budgetary Information

Cost Sharing:

Inclusion of voluntary committed cost sharing is prohibited.

C. Research.gov/Grants.gov Requirements

You can submit proposals in response to this solicitation through Research.gov or Grants.gov, unless otherwise noted.

Information on how to prepare and submit proposals is available on the Submitting Your Proposal page on NSF.gov.

VI. NSF Proposal Processing and Review Procedures

Information on NSF's proposal processing and review procedures is available on the Overview of the NSF Proposal and Award Process page on NSF.gov.

A. Merit Review Principles and Criteria

All NSF proposals are evaluated through use of the two National Science Board-approved merit review criteria:

• Intellectual Merit, which encompasses the potential to advance knowledge.
• Broader Impacts, which encompass the potential to benefit society and contribute to the achievement of specific, desired societal outcomes.

Information on NSF's merit review principles and process can be found on the How We Make Funding Decisions page on NSF.gov.

Additional Solicitation Specific Review Criteria

NSF TTP-T and NSF TTP-P proposals will also be evaluated on the basis of the following solicitation-specific review criteria:

Research Motivation

• Does the proposal adequately motivate the project by describing translational results that have the potential for significant societal impacts and/or economic benefits?
• Is the motivation for this research compelling? Does the innovation clearly describe unmet need(s)? Are the stakeholders and the potential impacts of the research clear?
• Does the proposal provide a suitable description of the current knowledge gaps and technical barriers to implementation of the proposed technology in products, processes, and services?
• Does the proposal adequately describe the end goals of the project? Does the proposal adequately describe what the solution will look like (e.g., prototype development, systems optimization, industrial collaboration, global interoperability and integration, new/improved open-source ecosystem, standards implementation, change in local/state government policy, startup/small business creation, initiation of a non-profit or for-benefit entity, licensing agreement, etc.) and how will the team get to this solution?
• Does the proposal appropriately assess and describe the potential value of the innovation in terms of commercial, economic, or other benefits? Does the proposal correctly identify interested stakeholders?

Development of Solutions

• Have the proposers clearly and comprehensively described the technical barriers and anticipated hurdles (e.g., safety, compliance, scalability, integration, compatibility, sustainability, cost, IP/licensing, etc.) that need to be addressed before successful translation and deployment? If needed, have they provided contingency plans for the most challenging steps?
• Has the proposer adequately described how they will test, refine, and validate their product, process or service before implementation? Has the possibility/likelihood of unanticipated consequences been adequately identified?
• Is the chart of critical milestones and metrics of success reasonable? Are risk assessment and mitigation plans appropriate?
• Does the research plan adequately describe the goals of the project and how progress towards these goals will be measured? Will the team be able to determine if/when success has been achieved and/or whether a pivot or re-start is needed?
• Has the proposer adequately considered integration into the marketplace: e.g., consistent access to resources and supply chains, safety, compliance, scalability, cost-effectiveness, timeliness, and compatibility?
• Is the likely time to market or deployment, including the development timeline and the production readiness reasonable? Will this timeline allow for a competitive advantage? How effective will the product, process or service be in keeping potential competitors from circumventing the technology?
• If appropriate, does the proposal appropriately discuss the IP landscape and the strategy for IP protection?

Project Team

• Does the team seem capable of carrying out the research and translation plan? Are there gaps in required expertise or duplication of roles?
• What is the breadth and depth of the student and postdoctoral learning experience likely to be?

Partnerships (Required for NSF TTP-P track proposals, encouraged for NSF TTP-E and NSF TTP-T tracks)

• Is (Are) the proposed NSF-Catalyzed Partnership(s) strategic? Do the partners appropriately complement each other? Is the role(s) of the NSF-Catalyzed Partner well-considered?
• Is the partnership likely to catalyze and accelerate the technology translation?

B. Review and Selection Process

Proposals submitted in response to this program solicitation will be reviewed by Ad hoc Review and/or Panel Review.

After a proposal passes an initial compliance check, it will be reviewed by an NSF Program Officer. In most cases, three or more external experts will also review it (either as ad hoc reviewers, panelists or both).

Visit the Overview of the NSF Proposal and Award Process page for more information on the proposal review and selection process.

In alignment with Executive Order 14332 (Improving Oversight of Federal Grantmaking), all else being equal after merit review, NSF may give preference to institutions with lower indirect cost rates.

VII. Award Administration Information

A. Notification of the Award

Notification of an award is made to the submitting organization by an NSF Grants and Agreements Officer.

B. Award Conditions

Information on NSF award conditions can be found on the Award Terms and Conditions page on NSF.gov and Chapter VII of the PAPPG.

Administrative and National Policy Requirements:
Information on administrative and national policy requirements can be found on the National Policy Requirements for Recipients of NSF Awards page on NSF.gov.

Consistent with the requirements specified in 2 CFR § 200.332, recipients of NSF awards must adhere to the requirements for pass-through entities in establishing and managing subawards issued ensuring alignment with Administration and NSF policies and priorities.

In alignment with Executive Order 14332 (Improving Oversight of Federal Grantmaking), proposers should be aware that NSF awards offered under this funding opportunity may include termination for convenience provisions.

Special Award Conditions:

In compliance with the CHIPS and Science Act of 2022, Section 10636 (Person or entity of concern prohibition) (42 U.S.C. 19235): No person published on the list under section 1237(b) of the Strom Thurmond National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 1999 (Public Law 105-261; 50 U.S.C. 1701 note) or entity identified under section 1260H of the William M. (Mac) Thornberry National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2021 (10 U.S.C. 113 note; Public Law 116-283) may receive or participate in any grant, award, program, support, or other activity under the U.S. National Science Foundation Directorate for Technology, Innovation and Partnerships. See here for more details.

NSF-Direct Partner Engagement: NSF-Direct Partners announced via DCL and posted on the NSF TTP Program Page. Submission of a TTP proposal (any track) after an announcement of NSF-Direct Partners serves as consent to share proposals (not including Single Copy Documents) with the NSF-Direct Partners. NSF-Direct Partners may be invited to attend the review panels as observers when relevant proposals are discussed; NSF-Direct Partners will not serve as reviewers and/or panelists. An NSF-Direct Partner may decline to provide feedback on proposals.

NSF will take into consideration the input of NSF-Direct Partner(s) prior to making final funding decisions but will retain final authority for making all award decisions. Proposals selected for NSF-Direct Partner co-funding will be awarded by NSF using funds transferred from the NSF-Direct Partner.

NSF will administer awards under the NSF TTP program in accordance with standard NSF policies and procedures. Awards will be subject to NSF terms and conditions.

An NSF-Direct Partner may attend NSF TTP PI meetings. The NSF TTP PI meetings, if held, will be inclusive of all the active NSF TTP projects. An NSF-Direct Partner may also host the event, or sponsor some or all components of the event.

Acknowledgement of Support: Recipients will be required to include appropriate acknowledgment of NSF and, if applicable, NSF-Direct Partners' support in reports and/or publications on work performed under an award. An example of such an acknowledgement would be: "This material is based upon work supported by the National Science Foundation under grant no. (NSF grant number) and is supported in part by funds from the [NSF-Direct Partner(s)] as specified in the NSF Translation to Practice (TTP) program."

C. Reporting Requirements

Unless your award notice says otherwise, NSF requires the principal investigator of every grant to submit annual project reports and a project outcomes report for the general public. For complete reporting requirements, see Chapter VII of the PAPPG.

NSF may share annual and/or final project reports with the NSF-Direct Partner(s) after they have been reviewed and accepted by the cognizant PO. The NSF-Direct Partner(s) may opt to decline to receive these reports. Details on the sharing of information with each NSF-Direct Partner(s) will be posted in the relevant DCL and on the NSF TTP program page.

VIII. Agency Contacts

For questions related to the use of NSF systems contact:

• Research.gov: NSF IT Service Desk at rgov@nsf.gov or 1-800-381-1532. The Service Desk is open from 7 a.m. to 9 p.m. Eastern time, Monday through Friday (except for federal holidays).

For questions relating to Grants.gov contact:

• Grants.gov: The Grants.gov Contact Center at support@grants.gov or 1-800-518-4726. (Contact if the Authorized Organizational Representative (AOR) has not received a confirmation message from Grants.gov within 48 hours of submitting an application.)

IX. Other Information

For information on NSF directorates, programs and funding opportunities, go to NSF.gov.

About the National Science Foundation

The U.S. National Science Foundation is an independent federal agency created by the "National Science Foundation Act of 1950." More information about NSF can be found on NSF.gov.

Location: Randolph Building, 401 Dulany Street, Alexandria, VA 22314 General Information (703) 292-5111 TDD (for the hearing-impaired): (703) 292-5090

Privacy Act And Public Burden Statements

The information requested on proposal forms and project reports is solicited under the authority of the "National Science Foundation Act of 1950," as amended. More information can be found on the Privacy Act and Public Burden Statements page on NSF.gov.

An agency may not conduct or sponsor, and a person is not required to respond to, an information collection unless it displays a valid Office of Management and Budget (OMB) control number. The OMB control number for this collection is 3145-0023. Public reporting burden for this collection of information is estimated to average 12 hours per response, including the time for reviewing instructions. Send comments regarding the burden estimate and any other aspect of this collection of information, including suggestions for reducing this burden, to:

Suzanne H. Plimpton
Reports Clearance Officer
Office of the Director
Randolph Building
401 Dulany Street
Alexandria, VA 22314