NSF’s Accelerating Research Translation (ART) funding program

Georgetown is preparing a proposal for submission to the National Science Foundation’s Accelerating Research Translation (ART) funding program. The goal of this program is to help Institutions of Higher Education (IHEs) increase their capacity for translational research activities, and to thereby generate societal and economic benefits. 

The ART program will provide funding in part for specific pilot projects, known as Seed Translational Research Projects (STRPs), that can demonstrate a clear path from fundamental research in NSF-supported areas to translational impact.  As well as traditional product innovations and technology and knowledge transfer, the NSF is expanding the concept of translation to include “positive impacts on local communities, data-informed policy, open-source ecosystems, formal and informal education, and social entrepreneurship.”

Our interpretation of this expanded definition is that, as well as new gadgets and molecules, new approaches to decision making, behavioral interventions, and information sharing could be considered ripe for translation.  We do not believe however that “translational research” would include processes by which the results of fundamental research are shared and made accessible to the public, policymakers, or other stakeholders, as valuable as these communication efforts no doubt are.

We are inviting Georgetown faculty to submit Letters of Intent (LOIs) for candidate STRPs, at least two of which will be included in our NSF grant application.   Successful proposals will

• build on innovations that have emerged from prior fundamental research with clear underlying analytical and/or experimental proof of concept;
• identify possible tangible outcomes that will be achieved through translation,
• articulate customer identification, user-centered design, development, validation, and testing of prototypes for specific potential customers;
• have a justifiable path to achieving a prototype in an accelerated manner (< 2 years) that can be demonstrated in an environment relevant to the intended usage of the innovation;
• include a timeline for translation, and exit strategy, and anticipated next steps in terms of technology knowledge transfer and commercialization for economic and/or societal impact.

In the event Georgetown University is awarded an ART grant, each selected STRP will be funded with up to $100K per year for up to 2 years.

To submit your preliminary LOI, please fill out this FORM no later than 5 pm EST, Monday, April 24.  LOIs submitted after this deadline will not be reviewed.  A committee comprised of leadership and researchers from the Main Campus and GUMC, and OTC staff will select 2-4 of the most compelling LOIs, and invite faculty to prepare more complete project descriptions by May 12 to be included in the ART proposal.

A virtual workshop will be hosted at 10 am EST, Wednesday, April 19, for faculty who want to learn more.

If you have any questions, please contact viceprovostforresearch@georgetown.edu or techlicensing@georgetown.edu . 

Process