X-Labs FAQ.pdf

NSF X-Labs Frequently Asked Questions

The U.S. National Science Foundation (NSF) has launched the X-Labs initiative to deploy and test a new investment framework that seeks to reduce the time it takes to move from “insight to impact” and demonstrably contribute to the U.S.

innovation enterprise. The following Frequently Asked Questions are meant to help potential proposers and partners to understand the “why,” the “what,” and the “how” of the NSF X-Labs initiative. Please note that this document may be updated as additional questions are received.

Contents

NSF X-Labs Frequently Asked Questions

Contents

1. NSF X-Labs Overview

2. Proposal Submission & Review

3. NSF X-Lab Team Eligibility & Set-Up

NSF X-Labs and Lead/Host Organization

Citizenship eligibility restrictions

4. Organizational Structure and Autonomy

5. Partnerships, Collaborations, and Teaming

6. Budgets, Funding, Other Costs and Fees

7. OT Agreements & Compliance

8. Intellectual Property (IP) Ownership & Management

9. Structure, Phases, & Milestones

10. Scope & Technology Topics

11. Accountability and Impact

1. NSF X-Labs Overview

1. What is NSF X-Labs? Can we schedule a meeting with NSF to learn more about NSF X-Labs?

NSF X-Labs seeks to drive progress on “platform technologies” (as described below) critical to U.S. competitiveness. It supports high-risk, high-impact research requiring substantial resources beyond traditional mechanisms. A key goal of NSF X-Labs is to reduce the time it takes to go from “insight to impact” through this new investment framework.

The Topics announced to date serve to illustrate “X-Labs-shaped” problems.

Specifically, NSF X-Labs aim to unlock “platform technologies,” or technologies that serve as the foundation for new scientific breakthroughs, novel engineering solutions, and/or future innovations, within the ambitions described in each NSF X- Labs Topic Announcement and the associated technical problem statements. In doing so, NSF X-Labs aim to overcome significant challenges and bottlenecks that would benefit from dedicated teams. Venture capital may be reluctant to invest in high-risk technologies at early stages, and traditional federal investment in academic research may not provide the resources to do so – hence, we seek to support ambitious and impactful projects that require considerable early-stage resources over a longer time horizon before being ready to attract broader private sector interest.

Beyond compelling platform technologies and prototypes, we are also (and especially) searching for outstanding teams. We encourage applications from those who have innovative ideas, or who believe we are underinvesting as a nation in certain critical technologies.

Due to high community interest, it is not practical for NSF to meet directly with interested teams. Instead, we encourage interested parties to review the available NSF X-Labs materials and references available directly from the NSF X-Labs webpage: NSF X-Labs | NSF - U.S. National Science Foundation. Further questions may be directed to XLabs@nsf.gov. For updates on NSF X-Labs, sign up to receive emails from NSF’s Directorate for Technology, Innovation and Partnerships (TIP).

https://www.nsf.gov/funding/initiatives/nsf-x-labs mailto:XLabs@nsf.gov https://public.govdelivery.com/accounts/USNSF/signup/32385 https://public.govdelivery.com/accounts/USNSF/signup/32385

2. Proposal Submission & Review

2. How can an independent team submit a proposal if not through a host institution? Does a team need a SAM.gov number, and does that require some sort of legal structure?

Each application will require a Unique Entity Identifier (UEI), provided through SAM.gov. For guidance for how individuals or legal entities can apply for UEIs, please see: https://sam.gov/entity-registration.

3. Should the written proposal be submitted by the university’s authorized organizational representative or may I submit it directly through the NSF X- Labs submission portal?

The submission of a proposal must be carried out by someone who possesses the authority to formally enter into legal agreements on behalf of the offeror.

Alternatively, teams are not required to submit their proposals through an existing organization. They may apply directly as an independent team once they establish a Unique Entity Identifier (UEI) through SAM.gov. Before signing an OT contract, the team must establish a legal entity, such as an LLC.

Whatever the approach, a lead organization may only submit up to two written proposals per topic.

A faculty member at a university may still be employed by that university; he/she should consider any terms of employment of relevance to also participating in an independent NSF X-Labs team.

4. Are there limits to how many proposals each person or institution can be part of? Can senior/key personnel serve as a co-PI on multiple teams within the same category, as long as they are not the lead PI?

https://sam.gov/entity-registration

Senior/Key Personnel are expected to be significantly focused on the NSF X-Labs team. Senior/Key Personnel may only propose one NSF X-Lab per Topic Announcement. Lead organizations may only submit up to two written proposals per Topic Announcement.

5. Can one apply directly for Phase 1 funding, instead of applying for Phase 0 first?

No.

6. Who will review the proposals?

Proposals will be reviewed by NSF internal reviewers as well as external reviewers from industry, academia, other federal agencies, and other subject-matter experts.

Written Proposals will be reviewed by a federal technical evaluation team, while a mixture of federal and external reviewers may be used at the Oral Proposal Package/oral presentation stage. External evaluators will be required to sign non-disclosure agreements (NDAs) and will be excluded from reviewing any proposals for which they have individual or organizational conflicts of interest.

7. Is there an expected or recommended range for the number of Senior/Key Personnel in a Phase 0 written proposal?

NSF X-Labs is set up to be flexible to allow each team to propose the right composition of leadership and interdisciplinary expertise. We encourage you to think about what specifically your team wants to achieve, and who you need to achieve it. Senior/Key Personnel can also be added at later phases; we expect teams to grow and evolve. That said, we strongly recommend more than one Senior/Key Personnel, but not so many that the team loses its ability to remain nimble and organized.

Please note that while the application website has space for three Senior/Key Personnel listed separately, additional Senior/Key Personnel can be added in a long answer box. Teams are not limited to just three.

3. NSF X-Lab Team Eligibility & Set-Up

NSF X-Labs and Lead/Host Organization

8. How do you define a lead/host organization?

The lead/host organization will be considered the entity that signs the OT contract. A host organization may sign the OT contract if the NSF X-Labs team is structured as its own independent entity within a larger organization, using the UEI and indirect cost structure of the host organization to apply. A host organization would be the lead organization for the purposes of the proposal and resulting contract.

The NSF X-Labs team, conversely, is defined as the group of dedicated personnel, led by the Senior/Key Personnel, who have an appropriate amount of independence (as outlined in the “Other Transaction Agreement Solutions Offering” document, or OTASO).

9. Can the lead/host organization be a business or university?

Yes, so long as they are able to respond to the autonomy requirements laid out in the OTASO (“Other Transaction Agreement Solutions Offering”) including the June 23, 2026, Amendment of the OTASO, which updated the Autonomy Factor Assessment.

10. How does NSF distinguish between a host/lead institution exercising governance oversight that is inappropriate for NSF X-Labs, versus a host/lead entity providing operational infrastructure and compliance?

The autonomy factor assessment was designed to be flexible – different types of organizations can demonstrate independence in various ways. The framework is adaptable and focuses on whether a given NSF X‑Labs team retains meaningful decisional authority over hiring, compensation, procurement cadence, and technical direction. Risk‑based, time‑boxed internal controls (e.g., ethics, security, financial integrity reviews) are consistent with the model when they support (vs.

override) team decisions. When evaluating independence, it is important to distinguish between administrative functions and core activities under the agreement. Host/lead organizations may offer support, but specifics will be evaluated holistically and depend on how relationships are structured. The framework is adaptable, allowing levels of support to change over time without frequent agreement modifications. The main focus should be the team's Mission and applying the spirit of autonomy creatively, acknowledging there are multiple solutions and that evaluation won't be strictly yes-or-no. If an NSF X‑Labs team maintains genuine autonomy over mission‑critical decisions, it may still receive administrative, HR, or facilities support from its host/lead organization.

11. The Autonomy Factor Assessment says that NSF X-Labs “should retain broad decisional authority over hiring, salary negotiation, and procurement and contracting as necessary to secure the talent, equipment, and partnerships necessary to pursue its Mission.” Does a narrow, time-boxed compliance sign-off for internal controls fall afoul of that factor, or is it consistent with the holistic intent so long as decision authority and cadence remain with the NSF X-Lab?

As with all of the factors assessed against the guidelines in the Autonomy Factor Assessment, this will be considered holistically. Importantly, in order to demonstrate fidelity to the program model, a host/lead organization should not impose a governance structure nor policies that would constitute micromanagement of personnel hiring choices or overall technical direction. While common-sense best practices and processes are encouraged, ultimately, the NSF X- Labs team should maintain sufficient control over its staffing and spending decisions to ensure that it is able to recruit the necessary people, acquire the necessary equipment, and secure the right partnerships to achieve its objectives efficiently and quickly without lengthy approval requirements that materially delay or displace the NSF X‑Labs leadership’s decision cadence.

12. Are lead organizations able to subcontract to universities?

Yes, NSF intends for the X-Labs teams to have the autonomy to be able to issue subcontracts in order to support the research that they need to conduct – including, if needed, subcontracting out to a lab group at a university. Teams subcontracting to federally funded research and development centers (FFRDCs) or national labs must secure Sponsoring Agency Contracting Officer approval, consistent with those institutions’ operating agreements.

13. Does it matter whether the X-Lab’s legal entity is for-profit or non-profit?

NSF is unable to offer business guidance to prospective NSF X-Labs teams. NSF does not require an NSF X-Lab to be a specific type of entity, and there is no one model for an NSF X-Labs team. NSF X-Labs is set up to be flexible to allow each team to propose the right entity and governance structure to accelerate their technology.

Citizenship eligibility restrictions

14. Can non-citizens, dual citizens, or citizens of specific countries apply?

In general, non-citizens and dual citizens may apply with or work on NSF X-Labs, including as Senior/Key Personnel, except for citizens of the Democratic People’s Republic of North Korea, the People’s Republic of China, the Russian Federation, and the Islamic Republic of Iran.

Individuals who are citizens, including dual citizens, of the Democratic People’s Republic of North Korea, the People’s Republic of China, the Russian Federation, or the Islamic Republic of Iran may not serve as Senior/Key Personnel, as defined in Section 6.2 of the NSF X-Labs OTASO. Citizens of those countries, including dual citizens, can participate in other ways – including as advisors, subcontractors, or non-Senior/Key personnel.

15. Does the Section 6.2 restriction apply to U.S. lawful permanent residents who hold citizenship in one of the four listed countries?

As U.S. Green Card holders (Lawful Permanent Residents) retain their citizenship in their home countries, if your home country is one of the four listed in Section 6.3 of the NSF X-Labs OTASO (i.e., the Democratic People’s Republic of North Korea, the People’s Republic of China, the Russian Federation, or the Islamic Republic of Iran), you may not serve as Senior/Key Personnel.

16. Are foreign organizations allowed as partners (co-PIs)?

While the lead organization must be a domestic entity, there is no prohibition on unfunded foreign contractors or foreign Senior/Key Personnel outside of those entities and citizenships stated in Section 6.3 of the OTASO. However, a stated strategic objective of the NSF X-Labs initiative is to bolster U.S. competitiveness, and engagement beyond domestic institutions and domestic collaborators must be well justified.

4. Organizational Structure and Autonomy

17. Are university faculty eligible to apply to the NSF X-Labs solicitation based on the IP, full-time, and independent organization requirements?

NSF welcomes university faculty participation as Senior/Key Personnel in the NSF X- Labs initiative and seeks out their significant focus and engagement on their Phase 0 NSF X-Labs.

Please note that there is no one model for an NSF X-Labs team. A university faculty member might arrange a leave of absence or other arrangement with the university to maintain an appointment during Phase 1. Teams may also be established within a university if the team is able to be structured to satisfy the autonomy factor assessment described in Section 6.1.1 of the OTASO. Senior/Key Personnel will not be expected to be full-time on their NSF X-Labs team until they are informed of their team's selection for a Phase 1 award. Additionally, university faculty might participate in roles outside of Senior/Key Personnel – for example, as subcontractors partnering with a team, as advisors, and as part-time employees.

18. How can a small business or corporation be involved in the NSF X-Labs initiative?

There are many ways for a business to participate. One of NSF’s strategic goals for NSF X-Labs teams is that they are appropriately partnering and collaborating with different institutions, including in the private sector.

Businesses may choose to host an NSF X-Lab team within their larger organization and set up a team of personnel within the business. In this case, the NSF X-Lab team is still required to satisfy the Autonomy Factor Assessment (Section 9.1.1) where the business is the host/lead organization. This organizational structure might work best for established industry players. Alternatively, businesses may choose to be the NSF X-Lab, with their leadership and talent as the Senior/Key Personnel. This organizational structure might work best for small start-ups or other organizations that are able to pivot their governance structure to fully becoming an NSF X-Lab.

19. Are Senior/Key Personnel permitted to maintain an academic affiliation if that affiliation does not introduce any claims on IP by the academic institution?

NSF welcomes university faculty participation as Senior/Key Personnel in the NSF X- Labs initiative and seeks out their significant focus and engagement on their Phase 0 NSF X-Labs.

Senior/Key Personnel must be full-time dedicated to the NSF X-Lab beginning in Phase 1, reflecting a reasonable interpretation of what being “full-time” involves in order to enable them to work with urgency and purpose. NSF will not dictate how a team is organized, what affiliations a team member may have, or how they would set up their agreement with another institution to allow them to work full-time on an NSF X-Labs team.

20. Can collaborators be included as part of the project team in the proposal?

Yes, with caveats: If the collaborators are interested in joining the team and being full-time during Phase I, then they could be included as Senior/Key Personnel in the proposal, if that is the desire. If instead they would like to continue working at another institution or organization, they would not then be able to be considered NSF X-Labs Senior/Key Personnel, and instead could be included as subcontractors, staff on a subcontract team, or part-time employees/consultants.

For clarification purposes, a subcontractor is generally considered to be an external entity hired to perform a specific, measurable portion of a project under a formal agreement, while a collaborator is a partner who contributes to the project’s goals through shared expertise, resources, or co-investigation without necessarily being hired to deliver a defined scope of work.

21. Under what circumstances can staff be part-time?

There is no one model for an NSF X-Labs team. NSF X-Labs is set up to be flexible to allow each team to propose the right composition of leadership and interdisciplinary expertise. Only Senior/Key Personnel are required to be dedicated, full-time employees of the NSF X-Lab. Non-Senior/Key Personnel may be employed as subcontractors, advisors, and/or part-time employees.

22. Can FFRDCs or staff scientists at national laboratories serve as Senior/Key Personnel, with institutional approval?

Federally funded research and development centers (FFRDCs) need to review their sponsorship agreement and speak to its Sponsoring Agency Contracting Officer to determine whether they are allowed to submit a proposal for, or otherwise participate in, NSF X-Labs (including as Senior/Key Personnel, part-time employees, sub-contractors or partners). NSF welcomes participation by and collaboration with national laboratories and FFRDCs.

23. If selected for Phase I funding, does this mean that the senior personnel would need to relinquish all other active research grants from other funding agencies?

All Senior/Key Personnel are expected to be full-time by Phase 1, where this can be defined on a case-by-case basis but should reflect a reasonable interpretation of what being “full-time” involves. NSF has no further requirements in how specifically Senior/Key Personnel will structure their employment.

5. Partnerships, Collaborations, and Teaming

24. Are proposers expected to have industry partners already established for the initial proposal?

It is not required that a team has industry partners already established in their initial proposal. However, if applicable, teams should include an overview of networks, partnerships, and capital resources that the team currently has, and how they will be deployed in support of the proposal.

25. Is teaming allowed? Is there a platform for teaming?

Yes. One of NSF’s strategic goals for NSF X-Labs teams in later phases is that they are appropriately partnering and collaborating with different institutions – FFRDCs, national labs, industries, universities, etc. However, NSF X-Labs is not a “teaming” program and NSF X-Labs teams are not consortia, instead acting as a single operating unit, with partners added through subcontracts. An NSF X-Labs team will be formed of dedicated, independent personnel, rather than a consortia-style group of partners or separate entities that have come together.

26. Will NSF be providing a "Teaming Partner List" or a forum for attendees to connect and explore collaborative opportunities for this solicitation?

No, NSF will not support a teaming list for proposers. Teams are expected to grow, change, and propose new subcontracts as needed during Phase 0 and throughout subsequent phases. There is no need to propose with final collaborators.

6. Budgets, Funding, Other Costs and Fees

27. Is it required that an NSF X-Lab team has no limitations on hiring decisions or salaries imposed by a host/lead organization’s pre-existing policies or guidelines?

NSF X-Labs should have sufficient internal control of hiring and compensation to credibly recruit and retain the talent necessary to accomplish their Missions, which includes the ability to offer appropriate competitive, market-rate salaries. However, this does not preclude an institution from requiring NSF X-Labs teams to follow common-sense best practices or legal requirements intended to eliminate fraud, waste, and abuse or to comply with any other relevant local policies including applicable state or federal laws. Institutions may require risk‑based financial controls or legal compliance checks, provided these do not materially delay the NSF X‑Lab’s hiring or procurement decisions. In some cases, this may mean the host/lead institution needs to develop new policies or exceptions for a hosted NSF X-Labs team; in other cases, it may require an institution to create a new subsidiary legal entity. NSF will evaluate each proposal’s approach holistically, as outlined in the Autonomy Factor Assessment in 6.1.1.

28. Is fee allowable, and to be applied to the fully loaded labor, ODC, indirect costs, etc.?

The milestones should be priced to encompass all direct and indirect costs and also be inclusive of any profit or fee.

29. Will the NSF award support the legal and administrative staff needed to manage IP, do financial reporting, support building and infrastructure, etc.

as direct costs?

The OT Contract will be structured with fixed-price payments. Offerors will provide defined payments that are inclusive of all direct and indirect costs. All costs will need to be built into those milestone payments.

NSF is also working to develop a technical assistance platform for NSF X-Labs teams, if needed, which would include support like fiscal sponsorship and back-office services (including but not limited to HR and payroll, buildings, etc.), so that NSF X-Labs teams are able to focus fully on their work. Please read our (now closed for responses) “Request for Information: NSF Tech Labs Launchpad” on SAM.gov for more information.

30. Is NSF considering the cost of, and need to access, research facilities and equipment? Will NSF X-Labs teams be able to therefore partner with universities, or will teams be expected to develop their own labs?

Yes, NSF X-Labs can and should negotiate with other institutions for access to pre-existing lab space and facilities, where possible. In other cases, dependent upon the mission and focus area of the NSF X-Lab itself, it may be the best approach for an NSF X-Lab to develop its own lab space.

31. How will team members pay the bills while waiting for payment after milestones?

We understand that new entities may struggle with large upfront payments. NSF will collaborate with teams to structure the milestones in such a way that ensures sufficient cash flow and start-up capital as necessary, including by considering payment options allowing regular monthly invoices. Examples include monthly invoices or front‑loaded early‑phase milestones, negotiated case‑by‑case. Our approach is flexible and tailored to each entity’s situation, aiming for proper oversight without treating these as simple grants. Ultimately, the funding arrangement will be determined through and during negotiation to best suit each awardee.

https://sam.gov/workspace/contract/opp/86942d3823274b2da5c0dbdac77c3979/view https://sam.gov/workspace/contract/opp/86942d3823274b2da5c0dbdac77c3979/view

32. Is an application more competitive if it comes with matching funds or cost share?

Cost-sharing is not a requirement for applicants, nor is it a prerequisite for advancing beyond Phase 0. The structure of Phases 0, 1, and 2 are intended to provide the necessary support for achieving key milestones. While additional leveraged resources may enhance opportunities, they are not essential for Phase 0 progression. Teams entering Phase 0 with cost-sharing partners should ensure they are able to stay nimble and independent, consistent with the NSF X-Labs program’s objectives.

7. OT Agreements & Compliance

33. What can we expect from the negotiation period for the OT contract?

Unlike traditional grants or contracts, OT agreements allow for greater flexibility and are executed more efficiently. This process requires active engagement from all parties involved, including NSF acquisitions and contracts staff, NSF program staff, and the potential awardee. The negotiation period is focused on ensuring mutual agreement on terms and conditions and finalizing milestones and milestone-based payments with project‑specific tailoring during negotiation are essential steps. Most of this process occurs in advance, beginning with a standard set of terms and conditions – many of which are found within the NSF X-Labs OTASO, and the NSF Other Arrangements and Transactions Guide.

34. Are federal requirements (e.g., the CHIPS and Science Act) fully applied?

Yes – the CHIPS and Science Act is where NSF TIP derives its OT authority. Other potentially applicable laws include (but are not limited to) the Paperwork Reduction Act, the Privacy Act, and the Procurement Integrity Act.

https://nsf-gov-resources.nsf.gov/files/Other_Arrangements_Transactions_Guide.pdf https://nsf-gov-resources.nsf.gov/files/Other_Arrangements_Transactions_Guide.pdf

8. Intellectual Property (IP) Ownership & Management

35. What IP framework is required to satisfy the NSF X-Labs Autonomy Factor Assessment in 6.1.1 of the NSF X-Labs OTASO?

NSF is unable to offer detailed guidance to prospective NSF X-Lab Teams prior to being selected for a Phase 0 award, as NSF expects there are a variety of approaches that would satisfy the Autonomy Factor Assessment. Teams will be expected to develop an IP Management Plan during Phase 0 — teams are not required to finalize an IP Management Plan prior to that. That IP Management Plan should reflect the NSF X-Labs initiative's programmatic intent to facilitate and enable broad technology dissemination unencumbered by any institutional restrictions that severely limit the capacity of the NSF X-Labs team to broadly out-license the technologies developed during the performance period. Ultimately, NSF expects the NSF X-Labs team to have substantial input and control over the IP produced by the NSF X-Labs team during the period of performance. To ensure NSF reviewers can accurately assess whether a team fulfills the requirements of the Autonomy Factor Assessment by the Phase 1 Go/No Go Selection period, Phase 0 NSF X-Labs teams will develop and provide thorough and detailed information in their IP Management Plans. During the proposal period, teams should justify their intended governance structure and autonomy by the beginning of Phase 1, including, briefly, plans for IP structure. IP terms will be negotiated under the OT to support the NSF X-Labs mission, team autonomy, commercialization, public benefit, and any government-use needs.

36. Does the government retain any license rights to the IP?

The NSF X-Lab initiative's mission is to reduce the time between research insight and real-world impact, which requires that NSF X-Labs preserve flexibility and degrees of freedom in the service of that mission. Thus, one of the benefits of an OT agreement is the freedom to structure the contract so that the government does not retain IP rights if that were to negatively affect the mission. NSF does not intend on retaining any non-standard IP rights, equity, or other ownership claims over the NSF X-Labs teams’ research output.

37. How detailed must the IP strategy be in Phase 0 vs. Phase 1?

Phase 0 proposals do not require a comprehensive IP management plan to be completed or submitted for consideration. If a proposing team is invited to submit an Oral Proposal Package, there is a section in the guidance where teams will be afforded an opportunity to briefly describe their IP management approach at a high level, recognizing that completed plans will not be expected until the Phase 0 performance period. NSF intends to provide external resources to help teams complete that plan in alignment with their Missions, organizational structures, and any institutional/legal obligations the teams or their host/lead organizations may have.

9. Structure, Phases, & Milestones

38. Does Phase 0 include any actual tech development, or is it solely for preparing the proposal to reach Phase 1?

Teams can optionally choose to propose technical milestones to accomplish during Phase 0, but the Phase 0 period is intended to support programmatic milestones that will set up the NSF X-Lab for success in Phase 1.

39. When does one apply for Phase 1 funding?

A Phase 1 Go/No‑Go Selection begins around month 7 of the 9‑month Phase 0 period.

40. Should the entire team be confirmed starting from Phase 0, or Phase 1? Are the teams expected to be the same throughout all phase or is there any area for change during phases?

We expect that much of the team will be developed during Phase 0, and we are expecting that teams will continue to develop into Phase 1 and even into Phase 2.

Teams are likely to need a range of personnel and experience, and that experience will change as they develop. Accordingly, the team should grow and evolve as its needs grow and evolve (including Senior/Key Personnel, subcontractors, advisors, and part-time employees).

Given its mission, NSF X-Labs is set up to be flexible to allow each team to propose the right composition of leadership and interdisciplinary expertise with an eye to change. We encourage each proposer to think about what specifically their team will achieve, and who is needed to achieve it. Teams can add Senior/Key Personnel and other roles outside of Senior/Key Personnel (subcontractors, advisors, and part-time employees) throughout the phases – the team should grow and evolve as its needs grow and evolve.

41. What is the “exit strategy” for the NSF X-Labs teams? What happens after Phase 2?

We can imagine a range of different “exit strategies” for successful NSF X-Labs teams. Ultimately, our hope is that the platform technology produced by an NSF X- Labs team will live “in the wild,” such as by being commercialized, thus seeding an entire field of science or technology. In some cases, a team might fail to hit key milestones and their work as an NSF X-Lab may be halted. In other cases, a team might spin into a small business or startup, or an NSF X-Labs team, having accomplished their goal after Phase 2, may no longer benefit from the NSF X-Labs structure and will thus transition out of the program. The NSF Tech Accelerator initiative may be well-positioned as a potential avenue for teams to pursue once they have reached higher technology readiness level (TRLs). Some teams might need a Phase 3, which will be developed and considered on a case-by-case basis.

These should not be considered the only options for “graduating” from the NSF X- Labs program! We expect paths will vary from team to team. We do not expect teams to know what their end-state looks like at Phase 0.

https://www.nsf.gov/funding/initiatives/tech-accelerators

10. Scope & Technology Topics

42. Is my idea in scope of what the NSF X-Labs program is looking for?

Please consider if your proposed technology meets the ambitious goals of the initiative, and as outlined in the relevant Topic announcement. Will the technology accelerate breakthrough R&D and have the potential to create or reshape new lines of research and new sectors of the economy? Does it expand the frontier of the Topic, beyond an incremental improvement of the state of the art? If yes, then it may be in scope.

` 43. Could you advise on the TRLs expected?

NSF explicitly did not specify exact TRLs to be targeted by this program to ensure that exciting Missions can be supported as necessary. However, we imagine that starting TRLs of 2-3 (technology conceptualization or proof-of-concept validation) would be best supported by the NSF X-Labs initiative, and that successful teams will drive accelerated progress towards achieving TRLs of 5-6 (partial- or full-scale prototype demonstration). However, TRL expectations will vary by Topic; examples in SAM.gov announcements take precedence over this FAQ.

44. In the proposal it mentions ‘substantial private investment’. Can you clarify what this means? Is there a dollar threshold?

NSF's goal is to fund novel advancements of platform technologies that are critical to national competitiveness. Therefore, we are seeking to invest in new technologies that would not otherwise be funded by existing mechanisms. There is no particular threshold, but proposers should justify in their technology landscape how NSF X-Lab funding will significantly progress the state-of-the-art beyond what is already able to be funded by VCs and industry.

45. What will the next NSF X-Labs Topic be, and when will they be announced?

We hope to announce further topics in the 2026 calendar year for funding in the 2027 calendar year. We understand that teams require time to organize and prepare their submissions, so we will share information about upcoming topics with the community as soon as it becomes available.

46. How is the NSF Tech Accelerators initiative different from the NSF X- Labs program?

The NSF Tech Accelerator initiative is focused on transforming existing basic research outputs in deep technology topics into market-ready technologies. The initiative invests in NSF Tech Accelerators, which will then invest in research-and-innovation teams.

The NSF X-Labs initiative is a flexible, outcomes-driven effort to create and accelerate novel platform technologies capable of unlocking new sectors, advancing use-inspired scientific breakthroughs, and supporting U.S. leadership in science and technology. The initiative invests in independent teams, working full-time, to overcome persistent barriers to the translation of high-impact challenges.

Where NSF Tech Accelerators are about helping multiple teams take research outputs and transform them into market-ready technologies within the topic areas of the NSF Tech Accelerators, NSF X-Labs is about accelerating R&D to produce transformative platform technologies through dedicated teams that can change entire technology sectors. The goal is to reduce the time between “research insight and real-world impact.” NSF X-Labs will typically involve more resource-intensive R&D over a sustained period of time, whereas NSF Tech Accelerators are working to translate previous breakthroughs into market-ready technologies in typically a shorter time period than an NSF X-Lab. Read more about the NSF Tech Accelerators initiative here.

11. Accountability and Impact https://www.nsf.gov/funding/initiatives/tech-accelerators

47. How will NSF X-Labs ensure accountability and technical excellence?

NSF X-Labs was designed to uphold technical excellence, technical truth, and public stewardship through a combination of structural safeguards and transparent oversight. Teams operate under milestone-based OT contracts, which require clear objectives and measurable deliverables. Funding is released only when milestones are met, ensuring that teams remain grounded in technical reality and accountable to the public interest.

NSF uses a combination of internal subject-matter experts, external reviewers, and Agreements Officer oversight to evaluate progress, identify risks early, and maintain fidelity to scientific and engineering standards. Milestones and programmatic review help ensure that teams use resources responsibly and focus on outcomes that contribute to U.S. competitiveness. This approach enables teams to work with urgency and autonomy while maintaining the high level of accountability expected of a publicly funded program.

48. How will NSF X-Labs teams be selected? What does the review process look like?

NSF X-Labs uses a competitive, two-stage selection process that draws on expertise from across NSF and the broader technical community. First, a technical evaluation team of internal NSF experts review Written Proposals using published selection criteria, including team qualifications, team structure, mission clarity, and the feasibility and ambition of the proposed platform-technology mission, as described in Section 11 of the NSF X-Labs OTASO.

Based on these evaluations, NSF will invite the most promising teams to submit an Oral Proposal Package and present to a panel of internal and external subject-matter experts, who assess the proposals using the criteria established in the OTASO.

49. How will results and progress from NSF X-Labs be shared more broadly and with the public?

Given the NSF X-Labs initiative's mission to build platform technologies to enable new breakthroughs, new industries, and reduce the time it takes to move from research insight to real world impact, public stewardship is a core design principle of the initiative. This includes sharing NSF X-Labs results and progress. Every NSF X- Labs team will develop an IP Management Plan structured to ensure the resulting platform technologies are widely accessible in the pursuit of adoption and ecosystem growth, rather than remaining locked inside a single organization, and benefit the nation.