Notice2021-12665
Agency Information Collection Activities: Comment Request; NSF I-Corps Regional Hubs Assessment
Primary source
Metadata and text below are from the Federal Register, a public-domain U.S. government work. Always verify the official published version before relying on it for any legal matter.
Published
June 16, 2021
Issuing agencies
National Science Foundation
Abstract
The National Science Foundation (NSF) has submitted the following information collection requirement to OMB for review and clearance under the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995. This is the second notice for public comment; the first was published in the Federal Register and one request for a copy of the information collection was received. NSF is forwarding the proposed renewal submission to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for clearance simultaneously with the publication of this second notice.
Full Text
<html>
<head>
<title>Federal Register, Volume 86 Issue 114 (Wednesday, June 16, 2021)</title>
</head>
<body><pre>
[Federal Register Volume 86, Number 114 (Wednesday, June 16, 2021)]
[Notices]
[Pages 32072-32073]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [<a href="http://www.gpo.gov">www.gpo.gov</a>]
[FR Doc No: 2021-12665]
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
NATIONAL SCIENCE FOUNDATION
Agency Information Collection Activities: Comment Request; NSF I-
Corps Regional Hubs Assessment
AGENCY: National Science Foundation.
ACTION: Submission for OMB review; comment request.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
SUMMARY: The National Science Foundation (NSF) has submitted the
following information collection requirement to OMB for review and
clearance under the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995. This is the second
notice for public comment; the first was published in the Federal
Register and one request for a copy of the information collection was
received. NSF is forwarding the proposed renewal submission to the
Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for clearance simultaneously with
the publication of this second notice.
DATES: Written comments and recommendations for the proposed
information collection should be sent within 30 days of publication of
this notice to <a href="http://www.reginfo.gov/public/do/PRAmain">www.reginfo.gov/public/do/PRAmain</a>. Find this particular
information collection by selecting ``Currently under 30-day Review--
Open for Public Comments'' or by using the search function.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Suzanne H. Plimpton, Reports Clearance
Officer, National Science Foundation, 2415 Eisenhower Avenue,
Alexandria, VA 22314, or send email to <a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#f380839f9a9e83879cb39d8095dd949c85"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="255655494c4855514a654b56430b424a53">[email protected]</span></a>. Individuals
who use a telecommunications device for the deaf (TDD) may call the
Federal Information Relay Service (FIRS) at 1-800-877-8339, which is
accessible 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year (including
federal holidays). Comments regarding this information collection are
best assured of having their full effect if received within 30 days of
this notification. Copies of the submission(s) may be obtained by
calling 703-292-7556.
NSF may not conduct or sponsor a collection of information unless
the collection of information displays a currently valid OMB control
number, and the agency informs potential persons who are to respond to
the collection of information that such persons are not required to
respond to the collection of information unless it displays a currently
valid OMB control number.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Title of Collection: Reporting Requirements for the National
Science Foundation (NSF) Innovation Corps (I-Corps) Hubs Program.
OMB Number: 3145-NEW.
Type of Request: Intent to seek approval to establish an
information collection.
Abstract: NSF's Division of Industrial Innovation and Partnerships
(IIP), within the Engineering Directorate, serves a wide range of
grantees across five major programs.
The NSF Innovation Corps (I-Corps) program was established at NSF
in FY 2012 to equip scientists with the entrepreneurial tools needed to
transform discoveries with commercial realization potential into
innovative technologies. The goal of the I-Corps Program is to use
experiential education to help researchers reduce the time necessary to
translate a promising idea from the laboratory bench to widespread
implementation. In addition to accelerating technology translation, NSF
seeks to reduce the risk associated with technology development
conducted without insight into industry requirements and challenges.
The I-Corps Program uses a lean startup approach to encourage
scientists to think like entrepreneurs through intensive workshop
training and ongoing support. The program focuses on teams comprised of
a Principal Investigator, Entrepreneurial Lead, and Mentor that work
together to explore commercialization for their research-derived
products.
In FY 2017, the American Innovation and Competitiveness Act (AICA),
Public Law 114-329, Sec 601, formally authorized and directed the
expansion of NSF I-Corps Program by increasing
[[Page 32073]]
the economic competitiveness of the United States, enhancing
partnerships between academia and industry, developing an American STEM
workforce that is globally competitive, and supporting female
entrepreneurs and individuals from historically underrepresented groups
in STEM through mentorship, education, and training.
To that end, NSF built and has continued expanding an I-Corps
National Innovation Network (NIN). NIN is a collection of NSF I-Corps
Nodes and Sites that together with NSF implement the I-Corps program to
grow and sustain the national innovation ecosystem. I-Corps Nodes are
typically large, multi-institutional collaborations that deliver NSF
national I-Corps Teams training curriculum as well as recruit and train
the National I-Corps instructors. Sites are entrepreneurial centers
located at individual colleges and universities to catalyze potential
I-Corps teams within their local institutions. Together, the Nodes and
Sites serve as the backbone of the NIN.
Recently, IIP published a new I-Corps Program Solicitation, NSF 20-
529--NSF Innovation Corps Hubs Program (I-Corps\TM\ Hubs), that has
placed a strong emphasis on developing and further expanding the NIN.
The I-Corps Hubs Program has strengthened the requirements to support a
diverse and inclusive community of innovators, in that teams are
encouraged to recruit diverse members at all levels. In addition, the
I-Corps Hubs Program also provides new pathways for teams to qualify
for the participation in the national I-Corps Teams program (at the
Nodes). Through this solicitation, NSF seeks to evolve the current
structure, in which NSF I-Corps Teams, Nodes, and Sites are funded
through separate programs, towards a more integrated operational model
capable of sustained operation at the scope and scale required to
support the expansion of the NSF I-Corps Program as directed by AICA.
In order to support the agency's congressional reporting
requirements in response to the AICA, we are asking NIN grantees to
report the following information:
<bullet> Expansion of NIN
[cir] Number of teams trained
[cir] Number of teams advancing to national I-Corps Teams program
(applicable to I-Corps Hubs and I-Corps Sites)
<bullet> STEM Workforce
[cir] Team size (number of members on the team)
[cir] Team characteristics (participation of females, veterans, and
underrepresented minorities)
[cir] Participant status at the time of program
<bullet> Subsequent Commercialization Outcomes
[cir] Company formation
[cir] Following-on funding
[ssquf] SBIR Phase I, II funding
[ssquf] Other Federal Funding
[ssquf] Private Funding (including competition, and prize awards)
[cir] Revenues (sales, licensing fees, other operational cash
flows)
The reporting of this information is in addition to the agency's
annual report requirement for the grantees. Not only will the
information help the agency report on NIN activities to Congress, they
also provide managing Program Directors a means to monitor the
operational states of these I-Corps Sites, Nodes, and Hubs, and ensure
that their awards are in good standing. These data will also allow NSF
to assess these awardees in terms of intellectual, broader, and
commercial impacts that are core to our merit review criteria. Finally,
in compliance with the Evidence Act of 2019, information collected will
be used in satisfying congressional requests, responding to queries
from the public, NSF's external merit reviewers who serve as advisors,
and NSF's Office of the Inspector General, and supporting the agency's
policymaking and internal evaluation and assessment needs.
Use of the Information: The information collected is primarily for
the agency's AICA Reporting requirements, and other congressional
requests.
Respondents: I-Corps Sites, Nodes, and Hubs Grantees.
Estimated number of respondents: 2,000.
Average burden per reporting: 15 minutes per respondent--10 minutes
for the record of participation and five minutes for the follow-up
survey for an estimate of 250 hours per year.
Frequency: Twice a year--once for the record of participation and
once for the follow-up survey.
Comments: Comments are invited on: (a) Whether the proposed
collection of information is necessary for the proper performance of
the functions of the Agency, including whether the information shall
have practical utility; (b) the accuracy of the Agency's estimate of
the burden of the proposed collection of information; (c) ways to
enhance the quality, utility, and clarity of the information on
respondents, including through the use of automated collection
techniques or other forms of information technology; and (d) ways to
minimize the burden of the collection of information on respondents,
including through the use of automated collection techniques or other
forms of information technology.
Dated: June 10, 2021.
Suzanne H. Plimpton,
Reports Clearance Officer, National Science Foundation.
[FR Doc. 2021-12665 Filed 6-15-21; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 7555-01-P
</pre><script data-cfasync="false" src="/cdn-cgi/scripts/5c5dd728/cloudflare-static/email-decode.min.js"></script></body>
</html>Indexed from Federal Register on June 16, 2021.
This is legal information, not legal advice. Laws vary by jurisdiction and change frequently. Always verify current law with official sources and consult a licensed attorney in your jurisdiction for advice on your specific situation.