The National Science Foundation (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. This will facilitate the application of scientific discoveries into technologies and products that eventually benefit society.

 Timeline: 

• Thursday, October 6, 2022: Application Opens 
• Saturday, October 22, 2022: Application Closes
• Tuesday, October 25, 2022: Notification of Selected Participants
• Thursday, October 27, 2022: Information Session for Selected Participants
  • 1:00 - 2:00 pm via Zoom 
• Wednesday, November 2, 2022: In-person I-Corps Opening Session in Weslaco, TX
  • Kickoff Workshop/ Class 1: 8:30 am - 1:30 pm 
• Tuesday, November 8 - Friday, November 11, 2022: Onsite in Houston, TX
  • Tuesday November 8:
    • Welcome Reception: 6:00 pm - 7:30 pm
  • Wednesday November 9:
    • Class 2: 8:30 am - 1:00pm
    • Get out of the Building: 1:00pm - 5:30pm 
    • I-Corps Office Hours: 6:00 pm
  • Thursday November 10:
    • Get out of the Building: All Day 
    • I-Corps Office Hours: 6:00 pm
  • Friday November 11:
    • Get out of the Building: 8:00 am - 11:50 am,
    • Class 3: 12:00 pm - 3:30 pm 
    • Traveling back home: 4:00pm 
• Wednesday, November 16, 2022: In-person I-Corps Closing Session in Weslaco, TX
  • • 9:00 am - 1:00pm 

I-Corps

I-Corps is an intensive NSF program designed to enable scientists and engineers to identify paths-to-market for inventions. Central to the program is the validation of commercialization hypotheses through a process of customer discovery. I-Corps training is delivered through National and Regional programs.

If you're interested in commercializing your technologies, generating grants, and aligning your research agendas with the marketplace, then you might be interested in the NSF funded I-Corps program.

Why should I consider participating?

Grants: National I-Corps teams are awarded a $50,000 NSF grant. 
I-Corps positions teams well to receive SBIR and STTR grants.

Commercialization: I-Corps is designed to maximize the likelihood of commercial success.

Research: I-Corps helps align research agendas with the marketplace.

What is an I-Corps team?

Teams are typically comprised of three members:

Principal Investigator (PI): researcher, inventor, idea-holder

Entrepreneurial Lead (EL): grad student, post doc, or community entrepreneur

Industry Mentor (IM): experienced businessperson

Are there eligibility requirements?

For National I-Corps, PI's must have NSF funding within the last 5 years in the field related to the opportunity. Apply to National I-Corps

Anyone can apply for Regional I-Corps programs. Certified instructors have the discretion to grant an endorsement into National I-Corps if the team performs above and beyond the expectations of the program.

How are National and Regional I-Corps programs run?

The National I-Corps program is an intensive seven week program with heavy emphasis on interviewing customers. National teams are required to attend an opening (3 day) and closing (2 day) workshop at a national I-Corps Node location designated by the NSF. The national program also requires 5 weekly WebEx sessions with instructors.

Regional programs (either 3 days or 2 weeks) provide condensed overview of the National program.