ABOUT
What is I-Corps?
The
National Science Foundation (NSF) supports fundamental research and education in science and engineering. Ground-breaking discoveries from science and engineering research that result in technological innovations lead to increased economic prosperity and societal well-being. A strong capacity for translating fundamental scientific discoveries into powerful engines of innovation is essential for maintaining our nation's competitive edge in the future.
The NSF created I-Corps to nurture and sustain a national innovation ecosystem that builds upon fundamental research to guide the output of discoveries closer to the development of technologies, products, services, and processes that benefit society.
I-Corps program participants learn, through customer discovery, how to identify valuable product opportunities that can emerge from academic research; this can accelerate research projects from the lab to impact.
See the most-recent NSF I-Corps Report
NSF I-Corps National Innovation Network
Through NSF activities and collaboration with other government agencies, NSF helps foster innovation among faculty and students, promotes national/regional coordination and linkages, and develops networks.
I-Corps Hubs, Nodes, Sites and Teams are part of the NSF's National Innovation Network (NIN). Hubs, Nodes and Sites are responsible for delivering I-Corps programs at the local and regional level.
The I-Corps Teams program is a highly regarded national program that provides an immersive seven-week experience using the I-Corps curriculum. Teams receive an NSF award of up to $50,000 to support their participation.
Learn more about NSF I-Corps at the NSF website .
I-Corps in New England
MIT has received an award from the NSF to establish the NE I-Corps Node and deliver I-Corps training to participants across New England. Our mission is to increase research-based technology commercialization capabilities and activities in the region.
We offer programs that provide researchers with support and seed micro-grants to accelerate the exploration of potential applications for a technology. Researchers, engineers, and others working on STEM-related technology may enroll and engage in a customer discovery process for their innovation.
These programs are held at universities and institutions across New England, including MIT.
They are offered year-round. See Programs .
Completing an I-Corps regional course may qualify teams for participation in the NSF I-Corps Teams advanced customer discovery program.