NSF Org:	TI Translational Impacts
Recipient:	UNIVERSITY OF MARYLAND, COLLEGE PARK
Initial Amendment Date:	August 24, 2021
Latest Amendment Date:	August 7, 2025
Award Number:	2044502
Award Instrument:	Cooperative Agreement
Program Manager:	Ruth Shuman rshuman@nsf.gov  (703)292-2160 TI  Translational Impacts TIP  Directorate for Technology, Innovation, and Partnerships
Start Date:	January 1, 2022
End Date:	December 31, 2026 (Estimated)
Total Intended Award Amount:	$15,000,000.00
Total Awarded Amount to Date:	$12,725,124.00
Funds Obligated to Date:	FY 2021 = $3,000,000.00 FY 2022 = $3,575,124.00 FY 2023 = $3,150,000.00 FY 2024 = $3,000,000.00
History of Investigator:	Dean Chang (Principal Investigator) deanc@umd.edu Daniel Kunitz (Co-Principal Investigator) Darryll Pines (Former Co-Principal Investigator)
Recipient Sponsored Research Office:	University of Maryland, College Park 3112 LEE BUILDING COLLEGE PARK MD  US  20742-5100 (301)405-6269
Sponsor Congressional District:	04
Primary Place of Performance:	University of Maryland College Park 4131 Campus Drive Colleg Park MD  US  20742-5103
Primary Place of Performance Congressional District:	04
Unique Entity Identifier (UEI):	NPU8ULVAAS23
Parent UEI:	NPU8ULVAAS23
NSF Program(s):	I-Corps Hubs
Primary Program Source:	01002425DB NSF RESEARCH & RELATED ACTIVIT 01002324DB NSF RESEARCH & RELATED ACTIVIT 01002526DB NSF RESEARCH & RELATED ACTIVIT 01002425DB NSF RESEARCH & RELATED ACTIVIT 01002122DB NSF RESEARCH & RELATED ACTIVIT 01002324DB NSF RESEARCH & RELATED ACTIVIT 01002223DB NSF RESEARCH & RELATED ACTIVIT 01002223DB NSF RESEARCH & RELATED ACTIVIT
Program Reference Code(s):
Program Element Code(s):	170Y00
Award Agency Code:	4900
Fund Agency Code:	4900
Assistance Listing Number(s):	47.084

ABSTRACT

This I-Corps Hub develops a Mid-Atlantic regional innovation ecosystem to spur the development of deep technology startups that will have much-needed economic and societal impacts regionally, nationally, and globally. Research universities are positioned to support commercialization of scientific discoveries, and NSF I-Corps accelerates the growth and impact of university-launched deep technology ventures. The uniquely-experienced Mid-Atlantic Region I-Corps Hub team will build on the initial success of I-Corps Nodes to continue the cultural transformation at several of the country's top research universities to embed innovative practices into the conceptualization and conduct of research; to solve critical societal problems; and to create jobs, opportunities, and economic value. This Hub project is critically important for previously industrialized regions such as the Mid-Atlantic region, as it is experiencing significant economic turmoil due to shifts in American manufacturing industries.

The I-Corps program curriculum is built on scientific methods that incorporate hypothesis testing, the build-measure-learn cycle, and continuous iteration. Multiple outcomes result from the program. Teams are likely to change research directions, get funding from grants or private investors, or form start-up companies and grow through revenue. Equally important, the impact of the program accrues over many years. The Hub model enables alignment of a systematic and comprehensive analysis of regional impacts, as well as the programmatic, environmental, and individual factors that mediate the efficacy of the program itself. Understanding for whom and under what conditions I-Corps programs are most effective, and what factors contribute to or detract from this effectiveness is critical to inform the continued growth and scaling of I-Corps.

This award reflects NSF's statutory mission and has been deemed worthy of support through evaluation using the Foundation's intellectual merit and broader impacts review criteria.

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