National Science Foundation's iCorps Program - for St. John's Faculty and their Research Students

The Innovation Corps (I-Corps^TM) Teams program is at the heart of the U.S. National Science Foundation's mission to develop and nurture a national innovation network. The I-Corps Teams program supports researchers interested in entrepreneurial education and mentoring, with the goal of reducing the time it takes to bring technologies from the laboratory to the marketplace.

I-Corps provides real-world, immersive instruction that allows scientists and engineers to evaluate a technology’s commercial opportunity, a critical first step toward successful translation into products, processes and services that benefit society.

To apply to the program, start by forming a team. Each team consists of three to five members and includes a technical lead, an entrepreneurial lead and an industry mentor.

Then connect with the Venture & Innovation Center (VIC) on the St. John's Queens Campus at [email protected].  The VIC has built up significant expertise in supporting teams that wish to participate in this program, and we are ready to help.  You should also make the Office of Grants & Sponsored Research (OGSR) at St. John's aware that you plan on applying - contact them on [email protected].

There are various levels of application, but most start at the "Regional" level where grants are typically around $3,000.  Following completion of the "Regional" Program, teams typically apply to participate in the "National" program where grants are typically $50,000.  In both cases, we work closely with CUNY who are the NY Region Hub Lead.

The NSF's "America's Seed Fund" can fund up to $2 million through programs like SBIR and STTR.