Industry: Engaging with NSF - Funding at NSF | NSF - U.S. National Science Foundation
Industry: Engaging with NSF
View image credit & caption
Updates to NSF Research Security Policies
On July 10, 2025, NSF issued an
Important Notice
providing updates to the agency's research security policies, including a research security training requirement, Malign Foreign Talent Recruitment Program annual certification requirement, prohibition on Confucius institutes and an updated FFDR reporting and submission timeline.
Funding at NSF
Share
Share on Facebook
Share on X (formerly known as Twitter)
Share on LinkedIn
Email
The U.S. National Science Foundation engages with industry in various ways. NSF provides funding for large, medium and small companies to conduct research and workforce development. The foundation also enters into cross-sector partnerships that help inform research and workforce directions.
On this page
Funding programs for industry
Explore NSF programs that support industry research, training and capacity building. For-profit organizations are eligible to apply to any of these programs.
America's Seed Fund (SBIR/STTR)
Startups can receive up to $2 million from NSF for early-stage research and development; NSF takes no equity in the companies it funds. Submit a project pitch at any time to get started.
Learn about America's Seed Fund
Convergence Accelerator
Transdisciplinary teams can receive up to $5.75 million to co-design and co-create technological advances that will benefit society and the economy.
Learn about Convergence Accelerator
NSF Regional Innovation Engines
Receive up to $160 million from NSF to create regional "innovation ecosystems" — coalitions of organizations that galvanize use-inspired research, technology translation and workforce development.
Learn about Regional Innovation Engines
Experiential Learning for Emerging and Novel Technologies
Organizations can receive up to $1 million to offer hands-on learning experiences for diverse groups, preparing them with essential skills for careers in emerging technology fields.
Learn about ExLENT
Pathways to Enable Open-Source Ecosystems
Secure up to $1.5 million in funding to support the facilitation, creation and growth of open-source ecosystems for the creation of new technology solutions.
Learn about POSE
Partnership programs
NSF offers many programs that cultivate partnerships between industry, academia and other sectors so they can pursue transformative research, solve societal problems, fuel economic progress, and build a future-ready workforce.
Some of these programs allow for-profit organizations to apply, while others require industry to partner with a lead organization, typically a college or university.
Learn about funding for research partnerships
Contracting opportunities
Each year, the U.S. National Science Foundation spends a large proportion of its budget acquiring goods and services from the private sector, such as:
Research, including applied and educational research.
Audit services.
Facilities maintenance.
IT hardware, software, maintenance and integration; telecommunications and other technical support.
Logistics, operations and maintenance support for ocean drilling and operations in polar regions.
Learn about contracting opportunities at NSF
Additional resources
Applying for NSF funding
Learn about NSF funding, including tips for finding the right opportunity, how to prepare and submit a proposal, and how NSF makes funding decisions.
Funding at NSF
Partnering with NSF
NSF partners with other organizations to amplify its investments in research and education — increasing the foundation's economic and societal benefits to the United States.
Explore highlights of recent NSF partnerships
Partnering with NSF
Technology, Innovation and Partnerships
NSF's newest directorate focuses on advancing U.S. competitiveness by investing in the development of key technologies and addressing pressing societal and economic challenges.
Technology, Innovation and Partnerships
Top