Enabling Partnerships to Increase Innovation Capacity | 23 625

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) - NSF Enabling Partnerships to Increase Innovation Capacity (EPIIC)

1) What is the NSF EPIIC grant opportunity?

EPIIC (Enabling Partnerships to Increase Innovation Capacity) is a National Science Foundation (NSF) grant opportunity intended to help more colleges and universities build the internal capacity needed to participate in regional innovation ecosystems. The focus is on strengthening an institution's ability to form and manage external partnerships tied to high-priority, use-inspired technologies, and to translate research into real-world practice or commercial use while preparing a skilled workforce in emerging areas.

2) What is the main goal of EPIIC?

The main goal is capacity-building: helping institutions develop the staffing, structures, processes, and partner networks required to engage effectively and equitably in innovation partnerships. This includes building capabilities for workforce development, use-inspired research and development (R and D), and translation of research outputs into practice, deployment, or commercialization.

3) How does EPIIC relate to the NSF Regional Innovation Engines (NSF Engines) initiative?

EPIIC is closely connected to NSF Engines, which aims to create and expand inclusive regional networks that drive innovation and economic development. NSF's view is that regional ecosystems work best when a full range of institutions can participate, not only the most research-intensive universities. EPIIC is designed to help institutions that may currently lack partnership infrastructure become capable contributors to these ecosystems.

4) Do applicants need to already be part of an NSF Engines proposal or partnership to apply?

No. The solicitation explicitly states that an applicant does not need to already be part of an NSF Engines proposal or partnership to apply. The expectation is that the capacity built through EPIIC will create valuable partnership opportunities regardless of whether the institution later joins an NSF Engine.

5) What kinds of institutions are eligible to apply?

Eligibility is limited to institutions of higher education that are not classified as R1 or R2 under the 2021 Carnegie Classification. Proposals may be submitted by accredited two-year and four-year U.S. institutions (including community colleges) with a campus located in the United States.

6) Which institutions are especially encouraged to apply?

Minority-Serving Institutions (MSIs), Predominantly Undergraduate Institutions (PUIs), and two-year colleges that are not R1 or R2 are especially encouraged to apply. This reflects NSF's goal of broadening participation among institutions that educate large numbers of students but often have fewer resources to support external-facing innovation activity.

7) What technology areas does EPIIC emphasize?

EPIIC highlights technology areas widely seen as strategically important to U.S. competitiveness and national priorities, including advanced manufacturing, advanced wireless, artificial intelligence, biotechnology, quantum information science, semiconductors, novel materials, and microelectronics.

8) Is EPIIC primarily about expanding basic research?

No. The emphasis is not simply on basic research growth. EPIIC prioritizes strengthening an institution's ability to work with external organizations in ways that support workforce development, use-inspired R and D, and the translation of research outputs into practice, deployment, or commercialization.

9) What kinds of gaps is EPIIC meant to address?

EPIIC is aimed at closing common capacity gaps that can prevent institutions from participating at the scale required in regional innovation ecosystems. Examples described in the solicitation include limited staffing, insufficient structures or processes, underdeveloped partner networks, or limited operational experience in building and managing external partnerships.

10) What does NSF mean by "capacity-building" in this program?

Based on the description provided, capacity-building includes strengthening internal institutional capabilities so the institution can form strong external partnerships, contribute to technology development efforts, translate research into real-world practice or commercial use, and prepare a skilled workforce in emerging technology areas.

11) What is the role of NSF's Directorate for Technology, Innovation and Partnerships (TIP) in this program?

EPIIC sits within NSF's broader push that includes the Directorate for Technology, Innovation and Partnerships (TIP). This context signals NSF's intent to speed up U.S. innovation while ensuring participation is not limited to institutions that already have deep research infrastructure.

12) How does EPIIC support equitable participation in innovation ecosystems?

The program is intended to help institutions with fewer resources become equitable and effective partners in innovation networks by funding activities that build partnership and innovation infrastructure. The solicitation particularly centers institutions that serve underrepresented groups and institutions with limited research capacity.

13) What is an MSI under EPIIC?

The program defines MSIs broadly and aligns with U.S. Department of Education categories and lists. The description includes Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs), Hispanic-Serving Institutions (HSIs), Tribal Colleges and Universities (TCUs), and other federally recognized MSI categories such as Alaska Native-serving institutions, Native Hawaiian-serving institutions, Predominantly Black Institutions, Asian American and Native American Pacific Islander-serving institutions, and Native American-serving non-tribal institutions.

14) Is MSI status required to apply?

No. MSI status is not the only pathway to relevance under EPIIC. However, the solicitation makes clear that institutions serving underrepresented groups and those with limited research capacity are central to the program's intent.

15) Who can serve as the Principal Investigator (PI)?

The Principal Investigator must be a full-time administrator or a full-time faculty member at the applicant institution. Part-time administrators, adjunct faculty, and temporary hires cannot serve as PI under the stated leadership requirements.

16) Are there specific participant requirements tied to EPIIC workshops?

Yes. Preliminary proposals must name up to three people from the institution (including the PI) who will participate in EPIIC workshops, and at least one of those participants must be an administrator.

17) Why does EPIIC require administrator participation in workshops?

The solicitation signals that NSF expects both academic and institutional leadership involvement because partnership-building and capacity-building often require policy, contracting, budgeting, workforce programming, and long-term institutional commitments that go beyond a single lab or department.

18) Can institutions with international branch campuses include work at those campuses?

Yes, but there is a specific instruction. If project funds would support work at an international branch campus (including through subawards or consultants), the proposal must explain the benefits of doing that work there and why it cannot be done at the U.S. campus.

19) What is the Funding Opportunity Number for EPIIC?

The administrative listing identifies this solicitation as Funding Opportunity Number 23-625.

20) What is the application deadline?

The closing date listed for this opportunity is January 21, 2025.

21) What type of grant opportunity is EPIIC?

The opportunity is identified as a discretionary NSF grant opportunity.

22) What category of activity does EPIIC fall under?

It is categorized under science and technology and other research and development activities.

23) What NSF/CFDA areas are referenced for this opportunity?

The listing references multiple NSF CFDA areas: 47.041, 47.049, 47.050, 47.070, 47.074, 47.075, 47.076, 47.079, 47.083, 47.084. This indicates the capacity-building and technology focus can intersect with a wide range of NSF domains.

24) What is the overall "big picture" purpose of EPIIC?

EPIIC is best understood as a bridge program. It is intended to help under-resourced institutions build the partnership and innovation infrastructure needed to participate meaningfully in regional technology ecosystems and potential future NSF Engines-related opportunities, while also generating partnership benefits that stand on their own.