WHERE BEGIN National Science Foundation Innovation Opportunities for Veterans and Veteran Owned Businesses at the National Science Foundation 10 December 2014 Donald Senich, Ph.D. Senior Advisor / Academic Program Director, Industrial Innovation & Partnerships Division Director for the Office of Small and Disadvantaged Business Utilization (OSDBU)
PRESENTATION OUTLINE Procurement Opportunities Research Opportunities at the NSF Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Program Grant Opportunities for Academic Liaison with Industry (GOALI) Industry/University Cooperative Research Centers (I/UCRCs) Individual Fundamental Research grants (academicians) Education Opportunities the Veterans Research Experiences (VRS) Hiring Opportunities at NSF Questions / Contact Information 2
The National Science Foundation 1950 - National Science Foundation (NSF) established to support fundamental research and education in all scientific and engineering disciplines. 2014 NSF annual budget ~$7.62B 7 Functional Funding Areas of Basic Research Engineering (ENG) Biological Sciences (BIO) Computer Information Science & Engineering (CISE) Education & Human Resources (EHR) Geosciences (GEO) Mathematical & Physical Sciences (MPS) Social, Behavioral & Economic Sciences (SBE) 3
CONTRACTING OPPORTUNITIES www.nsf.gov On top tool bar click ABOUT NSF and then CONTRACTING OPPORTUNITIES
CONTRACTING OPPORTUNITIES 5
CONTRACTING OPPORTUNITIES www.nsf.gov/about/contraccting/forecast.jsp 6
NSF SBIR/STTR Innovation Model Phase IB Third Party Investment match Unique to NSF Phase IIB Third Party Investment match MATCH MAKER Private Sector or Non-SBIR Investment PHASE I Feasibility Research $100k/6 mos PHASE II Research towards Prototype $500k/24 mos PHASE III Product Development to Commercial Market Federal Investment Taxes
SBIR/STTR Solicitations Organized by Topic Biotechnology and Chemical Technologies Education Applications Electronics Information & Communication Technologies Nanotechnology, Advanced Materials & Manufacturing Solicitation deadlines two times per year for Phase I and Phase II proposals NSF IIP SBIR Home Page http://www.nsf.gov/eng/iip/sbir/index.jsp 8
Grant Opportunities for Academic Liaison with Industry (GOALI) http://www.nsf.gov/pubs/2012/nsf12513/nsf12513.htm Innovation through Partnerships 9
Grant Opportunities for Academic Liaison with Industry (GOALI) Aims to synergize university-industry partnerships and fund transformative research that lies beyond that which industry would normally fund Mechanism: Faculty and Students in Industry Industry Scientists and Engineers in Academe Industry-University Collaborative Research Projects Criteria: Impact/relevance of successful research Strong industrial co-pi Resources considered (Time, facilities, materials and intellectual property) http://www.nsf.gov/pubs/2012/nsf12513/nsf12513.htm 10
Industry/University Cooperative Research Centers Academic-Industry partnerships meeting industry sector research needs http://www.nsf.gov/eng/iip/iucrc/ 77 Centers 200+ I/UCRC Sites Plus Participating International Sites 1100+ Memberships, 800+ unique organizations
What is the Veteran s Research Supplement? Supplemental funding given to veterans that introduces them to potential STEM careers by providing hands-on research experiences. 12
Why the Veteran s Research Experience Supplement Research community benefits from veteran s skills: strategic thinking teamwork problem-solving adaptability Veterans benefit Education and Workforce Development exposure to research as a career graduate school opportunities real-world experiences veteran gap funding (using Post 9/11 G.I. Bill
Veteran Eligibility for the Veteran s Research Supplement Full or part-time veteran undergraduate or graduate students at U.S. universities, colleges, or community colleges Veteran K-12 STEM teachers Veteran community college faculty 14
NSF Experience with the Veteran s Research Supplement Piloted in 2011 Rapid internal adoption Growing interest from research community and veterans Veteran placements: Individual fundamental research grants Engineering Research Centers (ERCs) Industry/University Cooperative Research Centers (I/UCRCs) SBIRs Approximately $10,000 per individual supplement Typical supplement duration - 10 weeks Today Over 100 veterans supported Current DCL: www.nsf.gov/pubs/2014/nsf14124/nsf14124.jsp 15
What next for the NSF Veteran s Research Supplement? Continue to expand participation within NSF Increase awareness to opportunities with assistance of the Student Veterans of America http://www.studentveterans.org/ Develop SBIR/STTR internship program for separating service members Share the NSF model with other Federal Agencies 16
Non-Paid Work Experience (NPWE) In March 2011 Department of Veterans Affairs approved NSF to train disabled veterans in federal careers. NSF partners with the Department of Veterans Affairs o NSF s Veterans Employment Program Manager and the VA Case Managers collaborate to identify prospective veterans to work as Program Support Assistants o Veterans are selected for the NPWE Program and work on a trial basis. o If a veteran works out during the trial period, the veteran can be hired non-competitively. o A full time position is not required but strongly recommended
Veteran Student Internships Veterans are enrolling in universities at a record rate since the post 9/11 Montgomery GI Bill was issued. Opportunity for federal work experience Allows the NSF to mentor and capture future talent. Pathways Program will roll out summer 2012. This new placement initiative is designed to recruit veterans, interns and recent graduates. Pathways Program replaces the Student Career Experience Program and STEM Talent Expansion Program (SCEP, STEP) Under Pathways students and recent graduates receive veteran s preference
WHERE BEGIN National Science Foundation QUESTIONS? Don Senich Director, Office of Small and Disadvantaged Businesses Senior Advisor, Academic Programs for the Industrial Innovation and Partnerships Division National Science Foundation dsenich@nsf.gov / (703) 292-7082 THANK YOU