Innovation Corps Teams (I-CorpsTM* Teams) Program

The National Science Foundation (NSF) seeks to develop and nurture a national innovation ecosystem that builds upon fundamental research to guide the output to facilitate the application of scientific discoveries closer to the development of technologies, products and processes that benefit society. In order to maintain, strengthen and grow a national innovation ecosystem, NSF has established the Innovation Corps - National Innovation Network Teams Program (I-Corps Teams). The NSF I-Corps Teams Program purpose is to identify NSF-funded researchers who will receive additional support in the form of entrepreneurial education, mentoring and funding to accelerate innovation that can attract subsequent third-party funding. The purpose of the I-Corps Teams program is to identify NSF-funded researchers who will receive additional support in the form of entrepreneurial education, mentoring and funding to accelerate the translation of knowledge derived from fundamental research into emerging products and services that can attract subsequent third-party funding. The outcomes of I-Corps Teams projects will be threefold: 1) a clear go/no go decision based on an assessment of the viability of the overall business model, 2) substantial first-hand evidence for or against product-market fit, with a pithy definition of the customer segments and corresponding value propositions, and 3) a narrative of a compelling technology demonstration for potential partners. WEBINAR: A webinar will be held monthly to answer questions about this program. Details will be posted on the I-Corps website (see http://www.nsf.gov/news/special_reports/i-corps/program.jsp) as they become available.