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NSF plans for streamlined breakthrough innovation prizes
The U.S. National Science Foundation (NSF) Directorate for Technology, Innovation, and Partnerships (TIP) is inviting comments regarding the proposed collection of information for its Breakthrough Innovations Initiative application. According to the notice in the Federal Register, published on Sept. 19, 2025, they are launching this initiative “to enable researchers, innovators, and entrepreneurs to apply unconventional approaches to create game-changing technologies and translate discoveries into tangible applications and products.” TIP is proposing a streamlined application process with the aim of “accelerating timelines for selecting and conducting translational research….” They estimate that the data collection burden for the application form is only 15 to 25 hours of the respondents' time in each instance.
This announcement is the second notice for public comment; the first was published in the Federal Register, and no comments were received. NSF is forwarding the proposed submission to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for clearance simultaneously with the publication of this second notice. Written comments and recommendations for the proposed information collection should be sent within 30 days of the Sept. 19 publication of this notice to www.reginfo.gov/public/do/PRAmain. Find this particular information collection by selecting “Currently under 30-day Review—Open for Public Comments” or by using the search function.
I-Corp forms also open for public comments
As also announced in the Federal Register on Sept. 19, 2025, NSF is requesting comment on the I-Corps Team Program pre-submission executive summary form. The form requests information on the members of the applying team, the eligibility pathway, and a description of the team's proposed technology innovation, which includes the intellectual property status, commercial application, and commercialization plan. Written comments on this notice must be received by Nov. 18, 2025. Public comments may be submitted at https://www.regulations.gov/commenton/NSF_FRDOC_0001-3548.