Federal Cooperative Agreement Summary

Northeastern University received a $7.1 million Cooperative Agreement from the National Science Foundation (NSF) under the Technology, Innovation, and Partnerships program (CFDA 47.084), effective July 1, 2026 through June 30, 2030. The award supports a pilot initiative to scale deep technology innovation by facilitating strategic international partnerships between U.S. deep tech startups and industry partners in Japan, South Korea, Taiwan, and Singapore. The project delivers structured engagement opportunities through targeted bilateral workshops that convene U.S. startup founders, incubator leaders, government officials, and corporate partners with international counterparts to identify collaboration opportunities and document available specialized capabilities—including fabrication facilities, pilot-scale manufacturing capabilities, and capital equipment—that support U.S. commercialization objectives.

Northeastern will provide direct support services to selected U.S. deep tech startups pursuing international partnerships, with awards determined through a rigorous two-stage review process evaluating technical merit, partnership strength, commercial potential, and feasibility. The project generates empirical insights through quarterly reviews, in-person convenings, and longitudinal data collection to assess which international partnership models most effectively accelerate the translation of U.S. research into domestic economic value. This effort addresses critical national security and economic competitiveness priorities in semiconductors, advanced materials, quantum computing, and advanced manufacturing by removing barriers that currently limit U.S. startup access to specialized international resources and innovation ecosystems.