The US National Science Foundation has announced a $20 million investment to launch a two-year pilot program that will support small businesses in commercializing their deep technology projects.
The goal of the pilot is to address a persistent gap separating federally funded deep technology research from commercial success. The investment ensures that the United States remains at the forefront of global innovation.
“NSF invests in small companies that bring the most innovative, cutting-edge technologies to the market,” said Erwin Gianchandani, deputy director of technology, innovation and partnerships at NSF.
“By helping these companies go further to bridge the so-called ‘valley of death,’ we can leverage NSF’s R&D investments and help more breakthrough innovations reach the market, strengthening America’s competitiveness and economic growth.”
Alexander N. Cartwright, president of the University of Central Florida (UCF), said, “We thank NSF for its continued confidence in UCF and the opportunity to help shape the future of research translation and commercialization.
“Discovery reaches its greatest potential when it goes beyond the laboratory and improves lives, strengthens industries and creates opportunities.”
National leadership
UCF’s National Marketing and Translation Institute (NCTI) builds on UCF’s growing national leadership to help turn promising technologies into products, businesses and economic growth.
“With Central Florida’s extraordinary concentration of talent, industry and innovation, UCF is well positioned to build a model that can create impact for Florida and the entire country.”
Led by UCF’s NCTI, the pilot will provide and test commercialization funding management, expert mentorship, and investor connections, while evaluating which factors, conditions, and approaches most effectively help deep tech companies get to market.
The results of this pilot will be used to establish and implement best practices for translating deep technology into impactful technologies at the national level.
The pilot was authorized under the NSF Small Business Innovation Research/Small Business Technology Transfer (NSF SBIR/STTR) Commercialization Readiness Pilot Program. To know more, visit the program page.