Partnerships for Innovation: Accelerating Innovation Research (PFI: AIR)

Partnerships for Innovation: Accelerating Innovation Research (PFI: AIR) is sponsored by National Science Foundation (NSF). NSF's PFI: AIR program supports the translation of fundamental research into market-valued solutions through public-private partnerships.

NSF 12-571: Partnerships for Innovation: Accelerating Innovation Research (PFI) | NSF - U.S. National Science Foundation Archived funding opportunity This solicitation is archived. Important information for proposers and award recipients All proposals must be submitted in accordance with the requirements specified in the funding opportunity and in the Proposal & Award Policies & Procedures Guide (PAPPG) and its supplements .

All NSF grants and cooperative agreements are subject to the applicable set of NSF award terms and conditions . NSF has updated its research security policies for NSF funded projects. NSF 12-571: Partnerships for Innovation: Accelerating Innovation Research (PFI: AIR) Replaced by: NSF 13-575 , NSF 13-591 Download the solicitation (PDF, 0.

3mb) National Science Foundation Directorate for Engineering Division of Industrial Innovation and Partnerships Letter of Intent Due Date(s) (required) (due by 5 p. m. proposer's local time) : Full Proposal Deadline(s) (due by 5 p.

m. proposer's local time): Important Information And Revision Notes A revised version of the NSF Proposal & Award Policies & Procedures Guide (PAPPG) , NSF 13-1 , was issued on October 4, 2012 and is effective for proposals submitted, or due, on or after January 14, 2013. Please be advised that the guidelines contained in NSF 13-1 apply to proposals submitted in response to this funding opportunity.

Proposers who opt to submit prior to January 14, 2013, must also follow the guidelines contained in NSF 13-1 . Please be aware that significant changes have been made to the PAPPG to implement revised merit review criteria based on the National Science Board (NSB) report, National Science Foundation's Merit Review Criteria: Review and Revisions .

While the two merit review criteria remain unchanged (Intellectual Merit and Broader Impacts), guidance has been provided to clarify and improve the function of the criteria. Changes will affect the project summary and project description sections of proposals. Annual and final reports also will be affected.

A by-chapter summary of this and other significant changes is provided at the beginning of both the Grant Proposal Guide and the Award & Administration Guide . Please note that this program solicitation may contain supplemental proposal preparation guidance and/or guidance that deviates from the guidelines established in the Grant Proposal Guide .

The NSF 12-511 solicitation combined two standalone solicitations ( NSF 10-581 and 10-608 ) which combined the PFI: Building Innovation Capacity (PFI: BIC) and PFI: Accelerating Innovation Research (PFI: AIR). This new solicitation separated the two programs into PFI: BIC and PFI: AIR, therefore separate solicitations are being offered to the community. This solicitation focuses on PFI: AIR.

The NSF Partnerships for Innovation (PFI) program is an umbrella for two complementary subprograms, Building Innovation Capacity (BIC) and Accelerating Innovation Research (AIR). While both programs focus on different stages along the innovation spectrum, in the final analysis these programs are concerned with the movement of academic research discoveries into the marketplace.

To further the NSF's investment in strengthening the innovation ecosystem, the NSF is offering two options under this solicitation. What distinguishes one option from the other is not the subject matter, but the participants, i.e., the persons or groups involved.

The first option, Technology Translation, encourages the translation of technologically-promising research discoveries, made by prior and/or current NSF-funded investigators, to move toward a path of commercialization; while the second option, Research Alliance, promotes synergistic collaborations between an existing NSF-funded research alliance and other public and private entities to motivate the translation and transfer of research discoveries into innovative technologies and commercial reality.

A research alliance is defined as a research partnership between/among universities and other entities, formed for mutual benefit, and funded by the NSF. Each Partnerships for Innovation: Accelerating Innovation Research (AIR) - Technology Translation or Research Alliance proposal must contain all the required components as per the Grant Proposal Guide.

Additionally each submitted proposal MUST contain additional information within the following Supplemental Documents module: Letters regarding use of human subjects or vertebrate animals, e.g., from Institutional Review Board or providing Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee (IACUC) approval of animal use (if applicable) Proposers are encouraged to supply an annotated list of suggested reviewers complete with contact information.

Summary Of Program Requirements Partnerships for Innovation: Accelerating Innovation Research (PFI: AIR) To continue to strengthen the innovation ecosystem, NSF is revising NSF 12-511 to promote two choices under the Partnerships for Innovation (PFI): Accelerating Innovation Research (AIR) subprogram.

The first choice, Technology Translation, encourages the translation of technologically-promising research discoveries made by prior and/or current NSF-funded investigators toward a path of commercialization; while the second choice, Research Alliance, promotes synergistic collaborations between an existing NSF-funded research alliance (including consortia such as Engineering Research Centers, Industry University Cooperative Research Centers, Science and Technology Centers, Nanoscale Science and Engineering Centers, Materials Research Science and Engineering Centers, Centers for Chemical Innovation, and Emerging Frontiers in Research and Innovation grantees) and other public and private entities to motivate the translation and transfer of research discoveries into innovative technologies and commercial reality.

Both of these choices are designed to accelerate innovation that results in the creation of new wealth and the building of strong local, regional, and national economies. WEBINAR: A webinar will be held within 6 weeks of the release date of this solicitation to answer any questions about this solicitation. Details will be posted on the Industrial Innovation and Partnerships (IIP) website ( www.

nsf. gov/div/index. jsp?

div=iip ) as they become available. 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.

Karlene A. Hoo, Program Director, Accelerating Innovation Research (AIR), Applicable Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance (CFDA) Number(s): Anticipated Type of Award: Standard Grant or Continuing Grant Estimated Number of Awards: 40 The budget for the PFI: AIR Technology Translation is up to $150,000 for 18 months per award; approximately 30 - 35 awards will be made.

The budget for the PFI: AIR Research Alliance is up to $800,000 for up to twenty-four months per award; approximately 10 - 12 awards will be made. Anticipated Funding Amount: $14,250,000 Anticipated Funding Amount is subject to the availability of funds and the quality of proposals received.

Proposals may only be submitted by the following: U.S. universities and four-year colleges accredited in, and having a campus located in the U.S., acting on behalf of their faculty members. Such organizations also are referred to as academic institutions. The lead (submitting) organization must be an academic institution.

One and only one institution within an NSF-funded research alliance can be the lead/submitting institution on a Research Alliance proposal. An NSF-funded research alliance is defined as a research partnership between/among universities and other entities, formed for mutual benefit, and funded by the NSF.

Examples of NSF research alliances include but are not limited to consortia, such as Engineering Research Centers, Industry University Cooperative Research Centers, Science and Technology Centers, Nanoscale Science and Engineering Centers, Materials Research Science and Engineering Centers, Centers for Chemical Innovation, and Emerging Frontiers in Research and Innovation grantees.

A PI may submit to PFI: AIR Technology Translation or PFI: AIR Research Alliance, but NOT both. The PI must specify to which choice s/he is submitting in the title of the proposal. For example, "PFI: AIR Technology Translation - title" and "PFI: AIR Research Alliance - title".

For each choice there may be only one co-PI. Limit on Number of Proposals per Organization: Limit on Number of Proposals per PI: 1 Proposal Preparation and Submission Instructions A. Proposal Preparation Instructions Letters of Intent: Submission of Letters of Intent is required.

Please see the full text of this solicitation for further information. Preliminary Proposal Submission: Not Applicable Full Proposals submitted via FastLane: NSF Proposal and Award Policies and Procedures Guide, Part I: Grant Proposal Guide (GPG) Guidelines apply. The complete text of the GPG is available electronically on the NSF website at: https://www.

nsf. gov/publications/pub_summ. jsp?

ods_key=gpg . Full Proposals submitted via Grants. gov: NSF Grants.

gov Application Guide: A Guide for the Preparation and Submission of NSF Applications via Grants. gov Guidelines apply (Note: The NSF Grants. gov Application Guide is available on the Grants.

gov website and on the NSF website at: https://www. nsf. gov/publications/pub_summ.

jsp? ods_key=grantsgovguide ) Cost Sharing Requirements: Inclusion of voluntary committed cost sharing is prohibited. Indirect Cost (F&A) Limitations: Not Applicable Other Budgetary Limitations: Other budgetary limitations apply.

Please see the full text of this solicitation for further information. Letter of Intent Due Date(s) (required) (due by 5 p. m.

proposer's local time) : Full Proposal Deadline(s) (due by 5 p. m. proposer's local time): Proposal Review Information Criteria Merit Review Criteria: National Science Board approved criteria.

Additional merit review considerations apply. Please see the full text of this solicitation for further information. Award Administration Information Award Conditions: Standard NSF award conditions apply.

Reporting Requirements: Additional reporting requirements apply. Please see the full text of this solicitation for further information. Summary of Program Requirements Proposal Preparation and Submission Instructions Proposal Preparation Instructions FastLane/Grants.

gov Requirements NSF Proposal Processing and Review Procedures Merit Review Principles and Criteria Review and Selection Process Award Administration Information Notification of the Award The National Science Foundation (NSF) supports both fundamental research and education in science and engineering. NSF's dual role, unique among government agencies, results in new knowledge and tools as well as a capable, innovative workforce.

These complementary building blocks of innovation ( https://www. nsf. gov/eng/iip/innovation.

pdf ) have led to revolutionary technological advances and whole new industries. Through this initiative, NSF seeks to accelerate the translation and transfer of new knowledge from research discoveries into novel products that provide new value. There are other federal programs that contribute to the goal of innovation.

Internal to NSF there are the following programs: Partnerships for Innovation: Building Innovation Capacity (to be released at a later date), Innovation Corps ( I-Corps ), the Small Business Innovation Research/Small Business Technology Transfer Research ( SBIR/STTR ), and Grant Opportunities for Academic Liaison with Industry ( GOALI ).

For more information on these programs, go to the Division of Industrial Innovation and Partnerships website: https://www. nsf. gov/div/index.

jsp? org=IIP The Directorate for Engineering (ENG) of the National Science Foundation (NSF) invites requests for funding under the Partnerships for Innovation (PFI): Accelerating Innovation Research (AIR) solicitation.

The goals of the PFI: AIR are to motivate the translation and transfer of fundamental research discoveries, to encourage synergistic public-private partnerships between academia and industry, and to educate and train students to understand the innovation and entrepreneurial processes. The two options available for requesting funding from NSF in the PFI: AIR subprogram are described below.

PFI: AIR Technology Translation The Technology Translation option is designed to support innovative ideas in the translation of fundamental science and engineering discoveries into market-valued solutions. The outcomes of this option will be more research discoveries on the path to becoming new technologies, and the engagement of faculty and students in entrepreneurial/innovative thinking.

The PFI: AIR Technology Translation program provides an opportunity for prior and/or current NSF-funded investigators to complete the necessary research such as proof-of-concept, prototyping and/or scale-up that addresses real-world constraints and potential market-valued solutions. A proof-of-concept (POC) is the realization of a certain method or idea to ascertain its scientific or technological parameters.

A POC should be understood sufficiently so that potential application areas can be identified and a working prototype designed. A prototype is a functional demonstration of the POC that addresses a relevant application. The prototype should be understood well enough to identify performance parameters, design criteria, and functional limitations in an application area.

However, at this stage, predictions of possible manufacturing techniques, costs and scalability to conceive of commercial products have not been validated. If a POC and a prototype have been developed previously, and preparation of a viable commercialization plan is all that remains for the research activity, the proposal will not be accepted.

The Technology Translation choice is intended to help bridge the funding gap between research discoveries that validate relevant science and engineering fundamentals and their transition toward a path of commercial reality. The maximum award size for the PFI: AIR Technology Translation is $150,000 for 18 months per award, commensurate with the planned activities.

PFI: AIR Research Alliance The Research Alliance option is intended to promote collaborations between an existing NSF-funded research alliance and at least one other research partner entity to form a synergistic relationship that will accelerate the translation and transfer of research discoveries into innovative technologies and commercial realities.

An NSF-funded research alliance is defined as a research partnership between/among universities and other entities, formed for mutual benefit, and funded by the NSF.

Examples include but are not limited to consortia such as, Engineering Research Centers, Industry University Cooperative Research Centers, Science and Technology Centers, Nanoscale Science and Engineering Centers, Materials Research Science and Engineering Centers, Centers for Chemical Innovation, and Emerging Frontiers in Research and Innovation, and so forth.

One and only one academic institution within a research alliance can be the lead/submitting institution. The narrative must provide a clear description of the role of the academic institutions in the alliance that are participating in the proposed work vis-à-vis the institution designated as the locus of the proposed project activities.

In other words, the proposal must discuss what activities and/or talents other academic institutions in the alliance are bringing to the lead institution for the work proposed and how that leverages the core mission of the research alliance. The ideal partnership would be one that ultimately leverages the collaborative relationship developed under the grant to strengthen the innovation ecosystem.

The collaboration would link multiple entities such that research results are moved more rapidly into marketable solutions through the formation of new start-up businesses or partnerships with existing businesses and the creation of new jobs.

The grant may be used to fund translational research necessary to bring a particular technology from either the research alliance or the partner entity to market, or to fund infrastructure, such as a rapid prototype facility, that would enable technologies to be commercialized more expeditiously.

A PFI: AIR Research Alliance award will enable 1) faster translation of research and/or technology(ies) into new start-up business (es) or existing firms; 2) development of a network of connections between university researchers and others leading to a sustainable innovation ecosystem; 3) creation of jobs as a result of the innovation ecosystem; and 4) preparation of students who understand the innovation and entrepreneurship processes.

The partnership between the NSF-funded academic alliance and the third-party investor(s) will create an academic-based innovation ecosystem that offers a cost-effective, timely, and risk-reduced approach for potential investors to participate in the development of new marketable solutions having potentially high commercial impact.

The maximum award size for the PF: AIR Research Alliance is up to $800,000 for up to 24 months per award, commensurate with the planned activities. In order for innovation research to be successful, it is essential that a third party investment is in place as a means to accelerate the innovation toward commercialization of a product, process, and/or service.

The partnership between the NSF-funded academic entity and the third party investor will create an academic entity based innovation ecosystem that offers a cost-effective, timely, and risk-reduced approach for potential investors to participate in the development of new technologies, products, and/or services having potentially high commercial impact.

Market research, advertising, patent applications, and refining of the business plan are good examples of uses of the third party investment. A third party investor may include such entities as company, a venture capital firm, an individual "angel" investor, federal, state or local government, or any combination of the above. The third party investments must be directly tied to the research project envisioned by the application.

Third party investment can be cash, liquid assets, or tangible financial instruments. Intangible assets (e.g. "in-kind") are also acceptable. Estimated program budget, number of awards and average award size/duration are subject to the availability of funds.

Full Proposals submitted on November 13, 2012 will have an approximate award start date of April 1, 2013 Full Proposals submitted on May 15, 2013 will have an approximate award start date of September 1, 2013 IV. Eligibility Information Proposals may only be submitted by the following: U.S. universities and four-year colleges accredited in, and having a campus located in the U.S., acting on behalf of their faculty members.

Such organizations also are referred to as academic institutions. The lead (submitting) organization must be an academic institution. One and only one institution within an NSF-funded research alliance can be the lead/submitting institution on a Research Alliance proposal.

An NSF-funded research alliance is defined as a research partnership between/among universities and other entities, formed for mutual benefit, and funded by the NSF.

Examples of NSF research alliances include but are not limited to consortia, such as Engineering Research Centers, Industry University Cooperative Research Centers, Science and Technology Centers, Nanoscale Science and Engineering Centers, Materials Research Science and Engineering Centers, Centers for Chemical Innovation, and Emerging Frontiers in Research and Innovation grantees.

A PI may submit to PFI: AIR Technology Translation or PFI: AIR Research Alliance, but NOT both. The PI must specify to which choice s/he is submitting in the title of the proposal. For example, "PFI: AIR Technology Translation - title" and "PFI: AIR Research Alliance - title".

For each choice there may be only one co-PI. Limit on Number of Proposals per Organization: Limit on Number of Proposals per PI: 1 Additional Eligibility Info: No collaborative proposals (defined as simultaneous proposal submissions for a joint project from different organizations, with each organization requesting a separate award) will be accepted for either choice.

PFI: AIR Technology Translation The Principal Investigator (PI) or a co-PI must have been an NSF research award recipient, no more than 4-years prior to this solicitation's due date, or be a current NSF research award recipient. Regardless, the PI must be a faculty member at a U.S. academic institution at the time of the award.

The subject technology must be derived from a research discovery project already conducted or initiated by the NSF. If industry/business is participating, it is the responsibility of the award recipients to discuss the appropriate intellectual property policies, including patent disclosures and filings. NSF is not responsible for the type of agreement reached between grantees and the industry/business entity.

Submit with the proposal a letter stating that a cooperative research agreement (CRA) will be provided upon recommendation of an award. If an award is recommended, the submitting institution must follow-up by providing a signed, written CRA that has been negotiated with the industry/business entity before NSF funding will be released.

PFI: AIR Research Alliance One of the partners must be an NSF-funded research alliance and be engaged actively in the alliance. The research alliance must be active at the time of submission. The other partner(s) may be another research entity or alliance (either NSF-funded, other government agency funded, or privately funded), small business consortia, or a local or regional innovation entity.

There must be at least two research partners. In the case that one of the partners is a multi-organization entity, it counts as a single partner. The submitting institution must be an NSF-funded research alliance.

The partners either will be budgeted for a subaward to the NSF research alliance or will bring their own funding to the partnership. In the case of a partnership with a federally-funded National Laboratory or FFRDC (Federally Funded Research and Development Center), that center or agency must co-fund its portion of the effort because, in general, NSF funds cannot be used to support other federally-funded centers.

It is the responsibility of the award recipients to discuss the appropriate intellectual property policies, including patent disclosures and filings, with third-party investors. NSF is not responsible for the type of agreement reached between grantees and third-party investors. Submit with the proposal a letter stating that a cooperative research agreement (CRA) will be provided upon recommendation of an award.

If an award is recommended, the partners must follow-up by providing a signed, written CRA that has been negotiated with the partners and third-party investors before NSF funding will be released. V. Proposal Preparation And Submission Instructions A.

Proposal Preparation Instructions Letters of Intent (required): Submission of a Letter of Intent (LOI) from the lead institution is mandatory. Letters of intent are to be submitted via FastLane which is available at http://fastlane. nsf.

gov/ . The LOI allows the NSF to examine the proposals with respect to the eligibility requirements, to identify correctible issues, and to categorize proposals in order to prepare for the proposal review process. The LOI will not be used to eliminate or deter full proposal submissions.

Enter the requested core Letter of Intent information as prompted by FastLane. The "synopsis" and the "other comments" data fields each can contain a maximum of 2,500 characters. Note that the LOIs are restricted as to the number of data fields and the number of characters in each of the "additional information" data fields that can be entered in FastLane.

Additionally, complete these data fields for the LOI: Scope of Work (255 chars) - brief description of the scope of work. Acceleration of Innovation (255 chars) - compelling argument to support acceleration of the innovation. Partners (255 chars) - Technology Translation: provide identification of any industry/business, if appropriate.

If none, state NONE. Research Alliance: provide identification of the research party(ies), and the third-party investor(s).

Letter of Intent Preparation Instructions: When submitting a Letter of Intent through FastLane in response to this Program Solicitation please note the conditions outlined below: Sponsored Projects Office (SPO) Submission is required when submitting Letters of Intent A Minimum of 0 and Maximum of 4 Other Senior Project Personnel are allowed A Minimum of 0 and Maximum of 4 Other Participating Organizations are allowed Scope of Work is required when submitting Letters of Intent Acceleration of Innovation is required when submitting Letters of Intent Partners is required when submitting Letters of Intent Submission of multiple Letters of Intent is not allowed Full Proposal Preparation Instructions: Proposers may opt to submit proposals in response to this Program Solicitation via Grants.

gov or via the NSF FastLane system. Full proposals submitted via FastLane: Proposals submitted in response to this program solicitation should be prepared and submitted in accordance with the general guidelines contained in the NSF Grant Proposal Guide (GPG). The complete text of the GPG is available electronically on the NSF website at: https://www.

nsf. gov/publications/pub_summ. jsp?

ods_key=gpg . Paper copies of the GPG may be obtained from the NSF Publications Clearinghouse, telephone (703) 292-7827 or by e-mail from nsfpubs@nsf. gov .

Proposers are reminded to identify this program solicitation number in the program solicitation block on the NSF Cover Sheet For Proposal to the National Science Foundation. Compliance with this requirement is critical to determining the relevant proposal processing guidelines. Failure to submit this information may delay processing.

Full proposals submitted via Grants. gov: Proposals submitted in response to this program solicitation via Grants. gov should be prepared and submitted in accordance with the NSF Grants.

gov Application Guide: A Guide for the Preparation and Submission of NSF Applications via Grants. gov. The complete text of the NSF Grants. gov Application Guide is available on the Grants.

gov website and on the NSF website at: ( https://www. nsf. gov/publications/pub_summ.

jsp? ods_key=grantsgovguide ). To obtain copies of the Application Guide and Application Forms Package, click on the Apply tab on the Grants.

gov site, then click on the Apply Step 1: Download a Grant Application Package and Application Instructions link and enter the funding opportunity number, (the program solicitation number without the NSF prefix) and press the Download Package button. Paper copies of the Grants. gov Application Guide also may be obtained from the NSF Publications Clearinghouse, telephone (703) 292-7827 or by e-mail from nsfpubs@nsf.

gov . Important Proposal Preparation Information: FastLane will check for required sections of the proposal, in accordance with Grant Proposal Guide (GPG) instructions described in Chapter II. C.

2. The GPG requires submission of: Project Summary; Project Description; References Cited; Biographical Sketch(es); Budget; Budget Justification; Current and Pending Support; Facilities, Equipment & Other Resources; Data Management Plan; and Postdoctoral Mentoring Plan, if applicable. If a required section is missing, FastLane will not accept the proposal.

Please note that the proposal preparation instructions provided in this program solicitation may deviate from the GPG instructions. If the solicitation instructions do not require a GPG-required section to be included in the proposal, insert text or upload a document in that section of the proposal that states, "Not Applicable for this Program Solicitation." Doing so will enable FastLane to accept your proposal.

Guide to Submission of a Proposal: Technology Translation Note: the submission criteria outlined below are in addition to requirements contained within the NSF Grant Proposal Guide (GPG) or NSF Grants. gov Application Guide. The cover sheet is automatically generated by FastLane or Grants.

gov based on information entered into the "Cover Sheet" module. B. Project Summary (one-page limit) The Project Summary 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.

The Project Summary should be written in the third person. The summary MUST clearly address in separate statements: An overview including a listing of "key" words. The key words/phrases should identify the areas of technical expertise in science and engineering, which are to be invoked in reviewing the proposal; and the areas of application that are the initial target of the technology.

Intellectual merit of the proposed activity. No proprietary information should be included in the summary. Broader impacts resulting from the proposed activity.

Include information on how the innovation will enhance scientific and technological understanding. Describe the potential societal and commercial impact of the innovation. The table of contents is automatically generated by FastLane or Grants.

gov. D. Project Description (cannot exceed 15 pages) The project description must include the following: A detailed description of the technology developed. Preference will be given to those technologies that have the most compelling combination of high potential of market viability and commercial payback.

An overview of the lineage (connections to prior and/or current NSF awards) of the technology and how it came to be in its current state of advancement. A succinct specification of the current state of the technology and the remaining research needed for the successful translation of the subject technology to commercial reality.

This section should clearly identify the technology knowledge gaps that need to be filled and the research methods to be used to address these gaps. An explicit justification that the technology is capable of being delivered as a fully functioning prototype in the timeframe for this award and a technology strategy for how this will be accomplished.

A preliminary market research study to support the commercial potential of the proposed technology development. This section should include a detailed discussion of the market need addressed, the competitive technologies to meet the need and their shortcomings, and how the subject technology will provide a solution with a compelling profit potential.

If it is proposed that intellectual property will be held as trade secrets, a compelling argument must be presented for this choice. A preliminary patent search and accompanying discussion to support the feasibility of obtaining needed licenses and/or sufficient protection for the intellectual property developed.

This section should include a discussion of any relevant background intellectual property held by the proposing institution, its availability for licensing, and an assessment of how another party might patent or practice around both background and anticipated intellectual property assets.

A detailed plan for involvement of undergraduate, graduate students and/or post-docs, incorporating an explanation of how the proposed effort will enhance the knowledge of innovation. Please note that per guidance in the GPG, the Project Description must contain, as a separate section within the narrative, a discussion of the broader impacts of the proposed activities.

You can decide where to include this section within the Project Description. Provide a comprehensive listing of relevant reference sources, including patent citations. If there are no references cited in the proposal, include a statement to that effect in this module.

Include short bios (two pages maximum) of the PI and co-PI, highlighting their technical expertise and track records in successful technology and/or business development. Biographical sketches for non-academic participants need not follow the academic bio sketch format, but rather one appropriate to their respective backgrounds.

Regardless, all participants listed as either "co-PIs or "Non co-PI/Senior Personnel" can submit a bio sketch of no more than two pages. G. Budgets and Sub-budgets The NSF Summary Proposal Budget is generated in FastLane or Grants.

gov. Prepare a budget for each year. The system will automatically generate a cumulative budget for the entire project. A budget justification is required for each item in the budget; it should explicitly state how and where the requested funds will be spent.

Note that costs of prototype development, patents, and marketing studies are allowable costs. It is allowable to expend up to 50 percent of the total budget as a subaward to a small business, as defined by the Small Business Administration. Bear in mind that the NSF does not intend to fund industrial research and development; the proposed subaward should augment the research capabilities of the submitting academic institution.

If there is any university/industry/business collaboration in which funds are used to support activity of the industry/business, this should be explained and justified clearly in the budget justification. Funding requests will be evaluated relative to the scope and balance of the research planned.

If a POC and a prototype have been developed previously and preparation of a viable commercialization plan is all that remains for the research activity, the proposal will not be accepted. H. Current and Pending Support The proposal should provide information regarding all research to which the PI and other senior personnel either have committed time or have planned to commit time.

If none, state NONE. For all ongoing or proposed projects, the following information should be provided for the Principal Investigator and senior personnel: Name of sponsoring organization and award number; Title and performance period of the award/proposal; and Person-months/calendar months (per year) devoted to the project by the PI and each of the senior personnel. *Current and Pending