Accelerating Discovery to Innovation 

Rathindra (Babu) DasGuptaProgram Director

Directorate for Engineering 

National Science Foundation

23rd National NSF EPSCoR ConferenceNovember 3‐7, 2013

• NSF Organization • Current (established) Programs & ‘Outcomes’• Filling gaps in the Innovation Ecosystem• New Programs (ex: I‐CorpsTM)• Q&A

Outline

Mathematical& PhysicalSciences

(MPS)

Geosciences(GEO)

Engineering(ENG)

Computer &Information Science &

Engineering(CISE)

BiologicalSciences

(BIO)

Office of theInspector General

(OIG)

Directorand Deputy Director

National Science Board (NSB)

Social, Behavioral,& Economic

Sciences(SBE)

Education & Human

Resources(EHR)

Budget, Finance, &

Award Management

(BFA)

Information& Resource Management

(IRM)

Office of Diversity and Inclusion

Office of the General Counsel

Office of International & Integrative Activities

Office of Legislative & Public Affairs

National Science Foundation

NSF  Investments

• Support basic research in ALL fields of science and engineering.

• Fund high‐risk research; can sometimes lead to unexpected results!

• Many discoveries and products we now rely upon began with NSF support.

Venture Capital

Industry

NSF overall

SBIR

Resources Invested

Research Development Commercialization

Angel Investors

NSF Innovation Investments

5

Translational Research

University Small Business

Disclaimer

• NSF doesn’t claim SOLE responsibility for these successes, but

• NSF played a clear and definable role in the intellectual evolution of all these innovations.

The Ubiquitous Bar Code

• In the 1970s, research led to improvements in the accuracy of scanners

• More recently, advanced algorithms have been developed for bar code readers

DNA Evidence

• Forensic DNA analysis is key to our legal system• Basic biological research led to the PCR (polymerase 

chain reaction) technique, making DNA fingerprinting possible

• Recently, PCR has been used with great success in forensic science to examine small quantities of blood, urine, or hair

Internet Search Engines

• In the 1990s, NSF funded Stanford University Professor Hector Garcia‐Molina’s “Digital Library Project”

• Garcia‐Molina’s grad student, Larry Page, developed a new search engine that reflected linking among web pages

Affordable, Effective Medicines

• NSF–funded researchers engineered yeast cells to produce ‘artemisinin,‘ a chemical critical to making anti‐malaria drug

• On April 11, 2013, the pharmaceutical company Sanofilaunched the large‐scale production of a partially synthetic version of artemisinin

The leaves of Artemisia annua, the sweet wormwood tree, are the source of artemisinin. Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory

Clean, Abundant Water

• NSF supported research into water desalination, decontamination, and disinfection. – New techniques are more rapid, less expensive, and more sensitive. 

• New models can analyze watersheds and the links between water and infrastructure systems. 

Credit: Josh Chamot, NSF

MRSEC: Laser Transmission 

On Friday November 19th 2004, a minimally invasiveprocedure was performed on a patient with near‐totalobstruction of the larynx and trachea.

The procedure was performed by Dr. Jamie Koufman,the director of the Center for Voice and Swallowing Disordersof Wake Forest University at the Voice Center inWinston‐Salem, North Carolina. The patient was awakeduring the procedure and was able to go home immediatelythereafter.

Enabling Technology: a new class of photonic bandgap fiberscapable of transmitting CO2 laser energy at a wavelengthof 10.6 microns. This technology evolved from MRSEC supportedfundamental research (Temelkuran et al., Nature 420, 650‐653,2002). The technology was licensed exclusively to OmniGuideby MIT for further development in 2003.

MRSEC: support interdisciplinary and multidisciplinary materials research and education of the highest quality while addressing fundamental problems in science and engineering that are important to society. 

STC: Magnetic Resonance Imaging

• STC for Magnetic Resonance Technology for Basic Biological Research at UIUC established in 1991 

• PI Paul Lauterbur discovered the possibility of creating a two‐dimensional image by producing variations in a magnetic field

Lauterbur was awarded a Nobel Prize in 2003 for discoveries leading to magnetic resonance

imaging.

STCs: address complex research problemswith interdisciplinary approaches, partnerships, and knowledge transfer to stakeholders

Plasma Reactor

GOALI: Nanocrystal Formation and Morphology in Nonthermal Plasmas

• Uwe Kortshagen (University of Minnesota) and Michael Zachariah (Univ. of Maryland College Park) have demonstrated the ability of plasmas to produce crystalline nanoparticles with specific geometries and beneficial properties.

• InnovaLight, Inc., licensed the approach to synthesize silicon nanocrystals for the use in low‐cost, efficient solar cells based on silicon nanoparticle films. 

GOALI: aims to synergize university-industry partnerships and fund transformative Research that lies beyond that which industry would normally fund

I/UCRC Success Stories

Spin‐offs: 3 centers; 1 ENG & 2 CISE in FY 2012 22 spin‐offs in last 4‐5 years

Technology Transfers & Impacts: Air Liquide & I/UCRC for Excellence in Logistics and Distribution (CELDi): 1 to 

2% realized savings in logistics ratio (investment in tanks to logistics transportation costs)

Sam’s Club & I/UCRC for CELDi: Estimated $60M annual impact resulting from reduction in club inventory

Medical Center Health System & I/UCRC for CELDi: Improve patient discharge process; $250,000 annual impact

I/UCRCs: conduct cooperative, pre‐competitive industry relevant research

ERC: Radar Network Detects Low‐Altitude Weather Phenomena

• ERC for Collaborative Adaptive Sensing of the Atmosphere, Univ. of Massachusetts, Amherst

• Improves on Doppler radar and NEXRAD

ERCs: focus on engineered systems that integrate fundamental research, technology development and education in partnership with industrial members .

IA IAPhase IB

Third-PartyInvestment + 1:2NSF Matching

(up to $30k)

Phase IIBThird-Party

Investment + 1:2NSF Matching(up to $500k)

Private SectorOr

Non-SBIRInvestment

Phase IFeasibility Research

SBIR - $ 150k/6 monthsSTTR - $ 225k/12

months

Phase IIResearch towards

Prototype$750k/24 months

Phase IIIProduct Development

toCommercial Market

IA = Innovation Accelerator

SBIR: Support of Qualcomm• In 1985, Andrew Viterbi and 6 colleagues formed “QUALity 

COMMunications”

• In 1987–1988 SBIR provided $265,000 for single chip implementation of Viterbi decoder – Led to high‐speed data transmission via wireless and satellite 

• Now the $78B company holds more than 10,100 U.S. patents, licensed to more than 165 companies

PFI:BIC

Revised in 2013 to focus on smart service systems◦ Focus on technologies with potential for transformational change in existing service systems, or to spur entirely new service systems◦ Understand the interaction of technology with customers–the “socio‐technical” system

• Established 2000• Develops technological 

and human innovation capacity through academe‐industry partnerships

Reso

urce

sInv

ested

STC

ERC

I/UCR

C

GOAL

I

PFI:B

IC

SBIR/STT

R Partnerships for Innovation: Building Innovation Capacity

PFI:AIR

PFI:AIR—Technology Translation◦ Aimed at faculty researchers to extend research discoveries toward commercial application

PFI:AIR—Research Alliance◦ Aimed at “centers” to leverage center investments to translate technologies and form a sustainable innovation ecosystem◦ Requires 3rd party investment to accelerate commercialization

• Established 2010• America Competes Act• Lineage to NSF‐funded research results

Reso

urce

sInv

ested

STC

ERC

I/UCR

C

GOAL

I

PFI:B

ICPF

I:AIR‐TT

PFI:A

IR‐RA

SBIR/STT

R Partnerships for Innovation: Accelerating Innovation Research

•Spur Translation of Fundamental Research

•Encourage Collaboration between Academia and Industry

•Educate to Innovate

Filling Gaps in the Innovation Ecosystem

•Translation Research in the Academic Community (TRAC)Resources for existing NSF grantee researchers aimed at translating fundamental research into commercial applications

• Industry Inspired Fundamental Research (IFR)Small groups of industry identify innovation opportunity and fundamental research questions / needs

•Industry Post DocsCorporate Research Postdoctoral Fellowship Program provides recent engineering PhD recipients the opportunity to conduct postdoctoral research in a corporate setting

Pilot Programs

I‐CorpsTM in A Nutshell• Transcending the “Ditch of Death”: a public‐private partnership to 

support the translation of NSF research into the development of technologies, products and processes

• Increasing Network Opportunities: aims to help create a national network scientists, engineers, innovators, business leaders and entrepreneurs building on existing NSF grantee events

• Aligns with NSF Strategy: I‐Corps will enhance our nation’s economic competitiveness by “reaching out to a range of communities that play complementary roles in the innovation process and are essential to ensuring the impact of NSF Investments.” * 

23*From “Empowering the Nation through Discovery and Innovation” NSF Strategic Plan, April 2011

24

Investors

Industry

NSF

ove

rall

Res

ourc

es In

vest

ed

Discovery Development Commercialization

Foundations

Valley of Death

I-CorpsTM

University

Small Business

I‐CorpsTM “Home”

“Ditch of Death”

25

NSF I‐CorpsTM Flow Diagram

Recruiting processes

(NSF)

Pool of eligible Teams(NSF)

TeamSelection

(NSF)

Node Assignment

(NSF)

Awarded I-Corps Teams(NSF)

Curriculum Delivery &

Refinement(Nodes)

Customer Discovery

(Teams/Nodes)

Business Model

Canvasses(Teams)

“Go” Decision(Teams)

“No-Go”

Decision(Teams)

Resource Infusion

Strategic Partnership

Private Capitalizati

on

Public Funding (e.g., SBIR, STIR,

…. )

Private Sector

Some motivations for I‐Corps Sites Program:• A need to increase the pool of potential NSF  I‐Corps Teams by supporting local teams 

whose projects are likely candidates for commercialization.• Leverage intellectual assets of academic institutions and instill a culture of 

entrepreneurship in universitiesSites are funded at academic institutions:

• with already existing innovation or entrepreneurial units, • to enable them to nurture teams of students and/or faculty who are engaged in 

projects having the potential to be transitioned into the marketplace.Sites can be funded up to $100,000/year for up to 3 yrs.Sites provide:

• infrastructure, advice, resources, networking opportunities, training, and • modest funding  ($1,000 to $3,000 total to individual teams) to enable groups to 

transition their work into the marketplace or into becoming I‐Corps Team.  Approx. 30teams per institution per year.

Sites can serve as “feeders” to produce I-Corps-eligible teams.FY’13: 4 Sites awarded

Some motivations for I‐Corps Sites Program:• A need to increase the pool of potential NSF  I‐Corps Teams by supporting local teams 

whose projects are likely candidates for commercialization.• Leverage intellectual assets of academic institutions and instill a culture of 

entrepreneurship in universitiesSites are funded at academic institutions:

• with already existing innovation or entrepreneurial units, • to enable them to nurture teams of students and/or faculty who are engaged in 

projects having the potential to be transitioned into the marketplace.Sites can be funded up to $100,000/year for up to 3 yrs.Sites provide:

• infrastructure, advice, resources, networking opportunities, training, and • modest funding  ($1,000 to $3,000 total to individual teams) to enable groups to 

transition their work into the marketplace or into becoming I‐Corps Team.  Approx. 30teams per institution per year.

Sites can serve as “feeders” to produce I-Corps-eligible teams.FY’13: 4 Sites awarded

26

I‐Corps Sites

NSF I‐Corps Program Dashboard      Cohorts 1‐10 

• 236 Awards (Including 4 ARPA‐E)• 115 Academic Institutions• 43 States

0%

10%

20%

30%

40%

50%

60%

70%

0

5

10

15

20

25

30

35

FY2012 FY2013

Proposals Awards Success Rate

SBIR Proposals and Awards from I‐Corps Teams – Through FY13Q3

I‐Corps Team Outcomes for Years 1 & 2

I‐Corps: The Charge Tracker (University of Michigan Ann Arbor) ‐ AGS Lineage  

They started I-Corps with….

Nilton Harvey

Dave Gus

They ended I-Corps with….. a business

a team… a technology…

The Charge TrackerTM capable of locating electric charge buildup on objects located tens of feet away from it.

$1.6 Million funding from NASA and NSF since June 2007

and a lot of ideas…

R.Montelli Ph.D., September 23, 2013

…and the startup received a microloan from the Michigan Microloan Fund Program ($50k), and received a NSF-SBIR Phase I ($150k)

30

Forbes "[...Neon] is now integrating her research into an algorithm that helps determine which online images produce the greatest number of clicks."

Sophie Lebrecht, Carnegie Mellon University, Entrepreneurial Lead; Mike Tarr, PI; Babs Carryer, Mentor

Sophie Lebrecht identified that the brain computes a very rough, very rapid and automatic snapshot of perception in order to estimate the likability of an object. They had essentially discovered a way to predict the images people would be most attracted to, and that image discovery had huge market potential—anytime there is an image, and you want a human to relate to that image, the research is applicable.

NEON

31

North Carolina A&T State University Crowned Champion in $100,000 ACC Clean Energy ChallengeBioadhesive Alliance’s winning technology, an environmentally friendly bio-based adhesive, is a sustainable alternative resource developed from the thermochemical liquefaction process converting swine manure to a bio-binder, while sequestering carbon and greenhouse gases otherwise released into the atmosphere.

… Bio-Adhesive Alliance was selected as the $25,000 grand prize winner. The start-up company is a spin-out from NC A&T State University that has developed an innovative technology to produce liquid asphalt from swine manure.

According to the company, “This technology provides a sustainable and cost-effective solution to swine manure treatment while reducing pavement construction and maintenance cost.”

The Bio-Adhesive Alliance team completed the National Science Foundation’s commercialization program known as I-Corps.

Bio-Adhesive Alliance

32

“Selected as a GigaOm "Best of the Best" finalist for new start-up”

“They've already received $xxx in Angel financing and are going out for their series A round now.”

“Development model for web and mobile applications.

AppScale is the open source implementation of Google App Engine cloud platform.”

PI: Chandra KrintzUniversity of California-Santa Barbara“AppScale -- Spurring Innovation Through Cloud Application Portability”

I‐Corps™ Nodes

33

Level 1 – Regional Training

Level 2 – Develop Tools and Resources

Level 3 – Blue Sky Research+ +

THANK YOU!