The NSF Partnerships for Innovation (PFI) program is an umbrella for two complementary subprograms: Building Innovation Capacity (BIC), which involves an earlier stage that focuses on building innovation capacity, and Accelerating Innovation Research (AIR), which involves a later stage that focuses on the acceleration of innovative research. The former emphasizes the transformation of knowledge to market-accepted innovations created by the research and education enterprise, while the latter emphasizes the translation of research to commercialization by NSF-funded research alliances. A research alliance is defined as a research partnership formed for mutual benefit, and funded by NSF, between/amongst universities and other entities. In the final analysis, both programs, while focusing on different stages are concerned with the movement of academic research into the marketplace.

Lead academic institutions are limited to participation in only one BIC proposal. There is no organizational limit for AIR proposals. Each PI may submit only one proposal.

Letter of intent required January 4, 2012, full proposal March 1.

For more information: http://www.nsf.gov/funding/pgm_summ.jsp?pims_id=504708