NSF 25-548: Accelerating Research Translation (ART)

To:	Chairs and Administrators, Departments in the Biological, Physical and Social Sciences; Associate Deans for Research; College/School Research Administrators
From:	Office of the Vice Chancellor for Research
Date:	December 11, 2025
Subject:	NSF 25-548: Accelerating Research Translation (ART)

Deadline

Deadline for Internal Review:

January 12, 2026

Project Description

This internal competition pertains to Track 3 and Track 4 proposals only. UW-Madison is not eligible for Track 1 or Track 2. If you are interested in submitting a Track 5 proposal, please contact grants@research.wisc.edu as soon as possible.

The U.S. National Science Foundation (NSF) seeks to increase the scale and pace of advancing discoveries resulting from academic research into tangible solutions that benefit the public. The overarching goal for the Accelerating Research Translation (ART) program is to advance the U.S. scientific and economic leadership by building capacity and increasing the number of robust translational research ecosystems in Institutions of Higher Education (IHEs) that span across the full geography of our nation. Innovations can occur anywhere and can be opportunities for creating sustained impacts in every single region of the United States. Achieving translational outcomes as a mechanism to drive sustained economic impacts is the primary aim of the “Accelerating Research Translation” (ART) program.

The ART program framework is built around five distinct Tracks that are interconnected. Tracks 3 and 4 are designed and intended for IHEs or non-profits that have a significantly higher research translation readiness level (RTRL) and can create and deliver entrepreneurship, technology transfer related education and training materials and offer related services to IHEs that have a much lower RTRL.

Track 3: Technology Transfer Resource Centers (RESOURCE)  

• The ART program aims to leverage the experience and resources of IHEs or non-profits with strong research translation capacity (and/or experience) to launch a network of regional Technology Transfer Resource Centers (RESOURCE) that promote regional technology transfer and technology development activities available to multiple IHEs in a region with low or emerging research capacity and little or no dedicated technology transfer or research translation resources.  A Track 3 award for a RESOURCE is expected to provide guidance, training, education, and services to other IHEs in a region who have a low RTRL. A Track 3 award is expected to be up to a total of $8 million for a duration of 4 years. Subject to availability of funds and quality of proposals, NSF plans to make up to 5 RESOURCE awards. Some awardees demonstrating strong performance, as demonstrated by successfully meeting evaluation criteria during the award, including progress toward self-sustainability, may have an opportunity to receive renewal support for up to 4 more years and additional funding of up to $2 million, subject to the availability of funds. As noted above, the lead IHE for this Track is expected to be an IHE with a very high RTRL or a non-profit with significant expertise related to technology transfer, entrepreneurship and related areas leading to sustained economic impacts.

 

         Amount per Award: Up to $8,000,000
         Duration of Award: 4 Years
         Number of Awards: Up to 5

 

Track 4: Education and Training (ET)   

• This nationally focused Track invites proposals from IHEs or non-profits with any combination of either a strong, vibrant and established research translation ecosystem, and/or demonstrated experience to develop, evaluate, and deploy educational and training resources related to entrepreneurship, technology transfer and related activities. The beneficiaries for these education and training resources to be developed will be lower RTRL IHEs located anywhere in the United States (including but not limited to Track 1 and Track 2 awardees). Track 4 awards may be budgeted up to a total of $3 million for a duration of 3 years. Subject to availability of funds and quality of proposals, NSF plans to make up to 4 ET awards. Some awardees demonstrating strong performance, as demonstrated by successfully meeting evaluation criteria during the award, including progress toward self-sustainability, may have an opportunity to receive renewal support for up to 2 more years and additional funding up to $2 million (subject to the availability of funds), to scale up the deployment and adoption of the developed resources and training materials nationally.

       

          Amount per Award: Up to $3,000,000
          Duration of Award: 3 Years
          Number of Awards: Up to 4

Eligibility

UW-Madison may submit one proposal for Track 3 and one proposal for Track 4.

Website

The following link contains additional information on the program and specific application instructions:
https://www.nsf.gov/funding/opportunities/art-accelerating-research-translation/nsf25-548/solicitation

Internal Competition Application Instructions

Sponsor Deadlines

Applications are due to National Science Foundation by March 12, 2026.

Questions?

Contact grants@research.wisc.edu.