Innovation Corps @ Department of Defense Program (I-Corps @ DoD Program) | W911NF 20 S 0007

Opportunity Information: Apply for W911NF 20 S 0007

The Innovation Corps at the Department of Defense (I-Corps @ DoD) Program is a discretionary grant opportunity run through the Department of Defense (specifically the Department of the Army, Materiel Command) that targets a very specific audience: current or recent DoD-funded research teams that already have an award and a research result with potential defense relevance. Rather than funding brand-new basic research, the program is meant to help teams take what they have already developed under DoD support and quickly test whether it can realistically transition into real-world use, whether that is in a defense setting, a commercial market, or both. The central idea is to reduce the gap between promising lab results and practical adoption by pairing small amounts of funding with structured mentorship and training focused on commercialization.

The core of the program is an innovation and entrepreneurship training model built around customer discovery. Principal Investigators and student team members receive coaching designed to push them beyond technical validation and into market and stakeholder validation, meaning they are expected to get out of the building and talk to relevant users, partners, buyers, and other decision-makers who would ultimately influence whether the technology gets adopted. The intent is to teach researchers how to identify real needs, clarify who the customer actually is (which can be different from the end user in defense acquisition environments), and understand the path from a research output to a product or service that someone will pay for, procure, or integrate into operations.

The program emphasizes three concrete outcomes. First, the team is expected to reach a clear go or no-go decision on whether a product or service concept is viable. This is not just a technical decision; it is a practical assessment that considers demand, stakeholder fit, barriers to adoption, and the credibility of the transition pathway. Second, if the outcome is a "go," the team should produce a transition plan that lays out how they will move forward, including next steps to mature the technology, engage partners, and position the work for follow-on funding, pilots, partnerships, or procurement. Third, the team is expected to develop a realistic understanding of what a minimum viable product (MVP) demonstration would need to look like for key partners and customer segments, which helps define the smallest credible proof point that would unlock interest, commitment, or a trial deployment.

Decision-making in the program is collaborative and guided by experienced leadership. The go/no-go determination is made by the I-Corps team in consultation with the program instructors, the I-Corps @ DoD Program Manager, and NSF I-Corps leadership. That structure signals that the program is aligned with the broader I-Corps methodology associated with the National Science Foundation, while tailoring the focus toward defense-relevant transition and the realities of DoD stakeholders and pathways.

From an administrative standpoint, the opportunity is listed under Funding Opportunity Number W911NF 20 S 0007, categorized as a grant under Science and Technology and other Research and Development, with CFDA number 12.630. The award ceiling is listed at $70,000, with an expectation of around 10 awards. Eligibility is described as "Others" with additional clarification referenced in the full eligibility text, but the main practical qualifier highlighted in the description is that applicants should be current or recent DoD awardees working on relevant research topics. The overall purpose is to spur the transition of fundamental research into the marketplace, encourage stronger collaboration between academia and industry, and build innovation and entrepreneurship skills among students, faculty, and research personnel so that defense-relevant discoveries are more likely to become deployable, scalable solutions.

• The Department of Defense, Dept of the Army -- Materiel Command in the science and technology and other research and development sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Innovation Corps @ Department of Defense Program (I-Corps @ DoD Program)" and is now available to receive applicants.
• Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 12.630.
• This funding opportunity was created on Mar 04, 2020.
• Applicants must submit their applications by Jun 15, 2020. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
• Each selected applicant is eligible to receive up to $70,000.00 in funding.
• The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 10 candidate(s).
• Eligible applicants include: Others (see text field entitled Additional Information on Eligibility for clarification).

Apply for W911NF 20 S 0007

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