URL: https://www.nsf.gov/funding/opportunities/art-accelerating-research-translation
Objectives
The NSF ART Program seeks to accelerate and scale the path from fundamental academic discovery to meaningful real-world outcomes. It is not designed to support isolated, individual investigator research projects, but rather institutional efforts to build or grow infrastructure, systems, and partnerships that enable discoveries to move into practice.
NSF’s definition of research translation and technology transfer go beyond a traditional focus on lab-to-market pathways to grow capacity at IHEs to achieve the full range of translational impacts emanating from research discoveries and innovations by including civic entrepreneurship; informing standards-setting, policy, and regulatory bodies; scaling rigorous and engaging curricula, instructional material, and pedagogies; and more.
The ART Program is built around the following five distinct yet interconnected tracks. BU is eligible to submit one proposal under the following Tracks:
- Track 2: Growing Capacity for Research Translation (GROW)
- For institutions with strong research activity but modest translation infrastructure.
- Supports efforts to significantly elevate research translation capacity and establish sustainable systems that foster innovation and economic and collective impacts.
- Proposals must identify a Mentoring Institution
- Track 3: Technology Transfer Resource Centers (RESOURCE)
- Launches regional Technology Transfer Resource Center that promote technology transfer and development by leveraging IHEs with high research translation capacity to provide guidance, training, education, and services to other IHEs in a region who have a low RTRL
- BU proposals must demonstrate very high RTRL standing
Funding Information
- Track 2 (GROW): Up to a total of $6 million over 4 years
- Track 3 (RESOURCE): Up to $8 million over 4 years
Eligibility
BU may forward one proposal for either Track 2 or Track 3 (not both). BU will select a single institutional lead proposal based on submitted expressions of interest.
The PI, co-PIs, and other Senior/Key personnel must hold an appointment at an eligible organization. Researchers with primary appointments at overseas branch campuses of U.S. institutions of higher education are not eligible.
Researchers from foreign academic institutions who contribute essential expertise to the project may participate as Senior/Key Personnel or Collaborators but may not receive NSF support.
Internal Selection Process
Interested investigators should submit an expression of interest with the following information via InfoReady Review by: 11/6/2025
- Proposal Abstract describing your interest in the program, relevant experience or connections, and information relevant to the Track you are interested in applying (maximum 300 words)
- List of Collaborators, including any individuals, organizations, potential Mentor Institution (for Track 2), and/or industry partners
Research Development will coordinate the BU team submitting proposals in response to this call and will contact all faculty who express interest.
Deadlines
Expression of Interest Due: Thursday, November 6, 2025 by 11:59 pm ET
Anticipated Notification Date: Friday, November 21, 2025
Full Proposal Due – Track 2: Thursday, January 15, 2026
Full Proposal Due – Track 3: Thursday, March 12, 2026