Feds to Railroads: Maybe Look Before You Push Trains Backward
Published Date: 12/12/2025
Notice
Summary
The National Science Foundation (NSF) is asking for public feedback on a form used by innovators applying to their I-Corps program. This form helps NSF understand new ideas before full proposals are submitted. Comments are open for 30 days, and this process won’t cost anyone money but aims to make the application smoother and clearer.
Analyzed Economic Effects
3 provisions identified: 2 benefits, 1 costs, 0 mixed.
Pre-submission Moves To Web Form
If you apply to the NSF I-Corps Teams Program, the Pre-submission Executive Summary must now be submitted in a single secure, web-based form instead of as an emailed two-page attachment. NSF says the web form replaces varying email formats and is used to route your project to the right Program Director.
Form Requires Specific Project Details
The web-based Executive Summary form collects specific information: team member composition and roles, brief qualifications, Principal Investigator connection to the team, relevant NSF award lineage, core technology description, potential commercial application, and the current commercialization plan. If the team participated in a local or regional I-Corps Hub, Node, or Site training, the form also asks for that senior member's contact, date of participation, and location.
Estimated Time Burden For Applicants
NSF estimates the form will take 1 hour per response and expects about 1,500 annual respondents, for an annual total burden of 1,500 hours. NSF also states the process will not cost anyone money.
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Key Dates
Department and Agencies
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