NSF Industry/University Cooperative Research Centers Program (I/UCRC)

WHO:  Texas A&M University faculty, including TAES, TEES and TTI personnel.

WHY:  NSF anticipates awarding $10,000 per institution for a planning grant award with an 18-month duration. Center awards have a potential duration of five years.

WHEN: Internal proposal deadline of January 12, 2007.

HOW:  Faculty should submit internal proposal to osppc@tamu.edu for review by the internal selection committee.  

THE FINE PRINT:

The funding agency below has limited the number of preliminary proposals to two per institution. If the number of faculty wishing to submit a proposal exceeds the number allowed by the agency, we will conduct an internal selection process. Below are due dates for the program, including the due date of the internal proposal for review by the internal selection committee, the date for announcement of the internal selection and the due date for submission to the agency.                                                     

AGENCY:  National Science Foundation (NSF)

AGENCY PROGRAM TITLE:  NSF Industry/University Cooperative Research Centers Program (I/UCRC)

BRIEF PROGRAM DESCRIPTION:  The Industry/University Cooperative Research Centers Program (I/UCRC) is designed to develop long term partnerships among industry, academe and government.  Centers are catalyzed by a small investment from NSF and they are primarily supported by center members, with NSF taking a supporting role in their development and evolution.

An I/UCRC Center must develop a partnership among academe, industry and other organizations participating in the center; set a defined research agenda; limit the scope of research not within the scope of other I/UCRC centers; share intellectual property equally among center members; have center members that monitor and advise on the progress of the research and contribute toward technology transfer between universities and industry; have a strong industry and university interaction program of university, industry and other partners that are the primary financial resource for the center; have a formal structure and policies for center members as outlined in an I/UCRC membership agreement; rely on graduate student involvement in high quality research projects; have an interdisciplinary team of faculty and students that is diverse in gender, race and ethnicity; have a center director, based at the lead university, who is responsible for all center activities; provide reliable, accurate and timely information about their center for the I/UCRC Directory; have a marketing plan; have a financial plan; have a research team capable of developing and operating a center; and have formal evaluation of the partnership conducted by an independent evaluator.

In addition, a center must obtain a minimum of ten memberships, as members are generally comprised of industrial firms, organizations and non-NSF Federal agencies.  A small business, as defined by the small business administration, counts as ½ member.  The marketing plan must include viable strategies that build industry relationships that attract companies to invest in the center’s research.  Part of the center management includes an Industrial Advisory Board (IAB) that reviews and recommends ongoing and completed activities and new projects.  NSF encourages multi-institution centers because they provide a broader research base that readily addresses industry’s research needs. 

More information can be found at:  http://www.nsf.gov/pubs/2007/nsf07537/nsf07537.htm             

AGENCIES ELIGIBLE TO SUBMIT:   The Industry/University Cooperative Research Centers Program (I/UCRC) is open to U. S. academic institutions with graduate research programs.

AWARD INFORMATION:   NSF anticipates awarding $10,000 per institution for a planning grant award with an 18 month duration.  Center awards have a potential duration of five years.

ELIGIBLE PROJECT COSTS:   Indirect Cost (F&A) Limitations:  NONE.

COST SHARING:  NONE.   
 

Internal Selection Procedures and Deadlines

January 10, 2007:  Deadline for an email of intent, including the names of the PI and co-PIs, title of internal proposal and a 1-3 sentence description of the project.  Send email of intent to osppc@tamu.edu    

January 12, 2007: Deadline to obtain signatures of approval from your department head and college dean to submit an internal proposal to the Office of Sponsored Projects for review by the internal selection committee.  The internal proposal should include:

An executive summary, up to three pages, based on the proposal description as outlined in the NSF program announcement;
Summary budget;
Project and Management Plans (including team members)

The form for completing the internal proposal is here. 

This completed form should be submitted electronically to osppc@tamu.edu for review by the internal selection committee.

Please read the RFP carefully for specific requirements of the program at http://www.nsf.gov/pubs/2007/nsf07537/nsf07537.htm   

Selection of a proposal will be based on NSF guidelines.  The needs of the university’s reinvestment plan will also be taken into account.

During the selection process, the internal selection committee may contact departments and colleges for their opinions and commitments.  They may also request additional information from PIs.

January 18, 2007: The Internal Selection Committee will notify PIs of the result of the internal competition.

January 19, 2007:  Deadline for required letter of intent.

March 30, 2007:  Deadline for full proposal: (due by 5 p.m. proposer’s local time).