NSF PFI-TT Translation Pillar
Administers innovative organizations in United States to connect innovation teams to commercialization pathways and real buyers.
NSF PFI-TT Translation Pillar is the translation track within the National Science Foundation's Partnerships for Innovation umbrella, administered through the Technology, Innovation and Partnerships directorate. It is designed for university-led technology projects that need a small grant to move from research toward commercial use with an industry partner in the loop. Awards run from $150,000 to $250,000, with a median actual award of $225,000, on an annual cycle. The route is limited to U.S. universities with industry partners, requires a for-profit partner, excludes nonprofits and individuals, and is aimed at TRL 3 to 5 work in deep-tech translation. The best fit is a project that already has a plausible use case and needs focused support to prove commercial direction, tighten the technical plan, and align the university and company roles. Applicants should keep the scope clean, because the program is not built for broad consortia or oversized development plans; it rewards a sharp translation story and a realistic path to market.
No upcoming rounds verified. Cadence: Annual.