U. S. -Ireland Research Translation and Commercialization Initiative

The U.S. National Science Foundation (NSF), through its Directorate for Technology, Innovation and Partnerships (TIP) and the Office of International Science and Engineering (OISE), intends to launch the U.S.–Ireland Research Translation and Commercialization Initiative (RTCI) in partnership with Research Ireland and the Department for the Economy of Northern Ireland. The initiative will build on the long-standing U.S.–Ireland Research & Development Partnership to accelerate the translation of federally funded research into practical applications, startups, and other commercial outcomes.

Through this effort, NSF anticipates engaging an organization with demonstrated expertise in technology markets, research translation, and innovation ecosystems to support the design and operation of this initiative. The selected organization would help identify research projects with strong translation potential, provide mentorship and customized translation roadmaps to participating teams, administer milestone-based funding for U.S.-based researchers, and support trans-Atlantic collaboration among academic, industry, and entrepreneurial partners. The goal of the initiative is to help research teams advance promising technologies along the innovation-to-impact pathway and strengthen connections between research discoveries and real-world economic and societal outcomes.

The U.S. National Science Foundation seeks input to inform the agency’s development of this initiative and better understand the capabilities available within the marketplace. Responses to this Request for Information (RFI) will assist NSF in determining the appropriate acquisition strategy and operational model for supporting this activity.

The attachment to this Request for Information (RFI) provides additional detail regarding the objectives, potential activities, and organizational capabilities being considered. Interested parties are encouraged to review the attachment and provide feedback describing their experience, capabilities, and recommendations relevant to the objectives of this initiative.

This posting shall not be construed as an obligation on the part of the Government. This is NOT a request for quotations or proposals. No solicitation document currently exists, and a formal solicitation may or may not be issued as a result of responses received to this RFI. The Government will not pay for any information submitted or for any costs incurred in responding to this notice.

Information submitted in response to this RFI may be used by NSF to support further evaluation of potential approaches to the initiative, including the possible use of an Other Transaction (OT) or other funding mechanism authorized by statute. Responses may inform the Government’s acquisition strategy and may also be used to identify organizations that demonstrate the operational capability, financial systems, and subject matter expertise necessary to execute the contemplated activities.

Any information received becomes the property of the Government and will not be returned to the submitter. NSF may share responses with other parts of the Government or unattributable portions of responses outside of the Government, including with international program partners, as helpful in finalizing the design or implementation of the program. Responses may also be subject to disclosure under the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) or as otherwise required by law.

Submission Details

Please submit responses to this RFI via email to rscsolicitations@nsf.gov with the subject line “U.S.–Ireland Research Translation and Commercialization Initiative” no later than April 13, 2026 at 3:00 PM Eastern Time.

Submission Formatting

All responses must be submitted on pages not exceeding 8½ by 11 inches, with text no smaller than 11-point font. Margins must not be less than one inch on all sides. Responses should not exceed five pages in length. All pages must be numbered. Text may be single or double spaced. Diagrams, charts, or graphics must use text no smaller than 11-point font.