Funding-Limited Submission - NSF Partnerships for Innovation (PFI) NSF 12-511; December 14, 2011

Description: The Partnerships for Innovation (PFI) program solicitation is pursuant to two separate program solicitations: NSF 10-581, Partnerships for Innovation (PFI), and NSF 10-608, Accelerating Innovation Research (AIR). It combines these two programs into a single solicitation that consists of: 1) Building Innovation Capacity (BIC), based on NSF 10-581; and 2) Accelerating Innovation Research (AIR option 2: Research Alliance Competition), based on NSF 10-608. Thus, the NSF Partnerships for Innovation (PFI) program is now an umbrella for two complementary subprograms, one of which involves an earlier stage that focuses on building innovation capacity, and the other which involves a later stage that focuses on the acceleration of innovation research. The former emphasizes the transformation of knowledge into 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.

PI Limit:

• The PI cannot be a PI on a Partnership for Innovation award that will be active after June 1, 2012.
• One of the Co-PIs must be a Senior Administrator (at the level of dean or above), who has a demonstrated commitment to knowledge transfer of university research. The senior administrator must have an active role that is explicitly described, along with a specification of a time commitment on the project.

Program solicitation: http://www.nsf.gov/pubs/2012/nsf12511/nsf12511.htm

Limit on Number of Proposals per Organization:

• BIC - Lead academic institutions are limited to participation in only one proposal.
• AIR - No limit

Because NSF limits the number of BIC proposals to one per institution, the University of Kentucky has established an internal selection process.  Researchers interested in submitting a proposal are to submit the following material electronically to the Office of the Vice President for Research at vpr@email.uky.edu and a copy to their Associate Dean for Research by Wednesday, December 14, 2011:

(1) Names and departments of PI, key personnel, and project partners (at least two small business concerns)

(2) Project narrative – 1-2 page maximum – provide the rationale for the focus or research platform and a summary of the project activities and expected outcomes.

The Vice President for Research will appoint a committee to review the material and make recommendations as to the University’s applicant. Questions about the submission process may be sent to Ms. Annette Evans in the Office of the Vice President for Research (alevan4@email.uky.edu or 257-1663).

Deadlines:

Letter of Intent (required): January 4, 2012

Full Proposal: March 1, 2012