[Federal Register Volume 87, Number 96 (Wednesday, May 18, 2022)]
[Notices]
[Pages 30282-30283]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2022-10654]


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NATIONAL SCIENCE FOUNDATION


Notice of Intent To Seek Approval To Revise an Information 
Collection System

AGENCY: National Science Foundation.

ACTION: Notice and request for comments.

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SUMMARY: Under the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, and as part of its 
continuing effort to reduce paperwork and respondent burden, the 
National Science Foundation (NSF) is inviting the general public or 
other Federal agencies to comment on this proposed continuing 
information collection.

DATES: Written comments on this notice must be received by July 18, 
2022, to be assured consideration. Comments received after that date 
will be considered to the extent practicable. Send comments to address 
below.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Suzanne H. Plimpton, Reports Clearance 
Officer, National Science Foundation, 2415 Eisenhower Avenue, Suite 
E7465, Alexandria, Virginia 22314; telephone (703) 292-7556; or send 
email to <a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#ff8c8f9396928f8b90bf918c99d1989089"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="c6b5b6aaafabb6b2a986a8b5a0e8a1a9b0">[email protected]</span></a>. Individuals who use a telecommunications 
device for the deaf (TDD) may call the Federal Information Relay 
Service (FIRS) at 1-800-877-8339, which is accessible 24 hours a day, 7 
days a week, 365 days a year (including federal holidays).
    Comments: Comments are invited on: (a) Whether the proposed 
collection of information is necessary for the proper performance of 
the functions of the Foundation, including whether the information will 
have practical utility; (b) the accuracy of the Foundation's estimate 
of the burden of the proposed collection of information; (c) ways to 
enhance the quality, utility, and clarity of the information to be 
collected; and (d) ways to minimize the burden of the collection of 
information on those who are to respond, including through the use of 
automated collection techniques or other forms of information 
technology.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Title of Collection: Reporting Requirements 
for the National Science Foundation (NSF) Innovation Corps (I-Corps) 
Hubs Program.
    OMB Number: 3145-0258.
    Expiration Date of Approval: August 31, 2024.
    Type of Request: Intent to seek approval on revising an existing 
information collection.
    Abstract:

Proposed Project

    The National Science Foundation (NSF) Innovation Corps (I-
Corps\TM\), herein known as I-Corps program, was established at NSF in 
Fiscal Year (FY) 2012 to equip scientists with the entrepreneurial 
tools needed to transform discoveries with commercial realization 
potential into innovative technologies. The goal of the I-Corps Program 
is to use experiential education to help researchers reduce the time 
necessary to translate a promising idea from the laboratory to the 
marketplace. In addition to accelerating technology translation, NSF 
seeks to reduce the risk associated with technology development 
conducted without insight into industry requirements and challenges. 
The I-Corps Program uses a lean startup approach to encourage 
scientists to think like entrepreneurs through intensive workshop 
training and ongoing support.
    In FY 2017, the American Innovation and Competitiveness Act (AICA), 
Public Law 114-329, Sec. 601, formally authorized and directed the 
expansion of NSF I-Corps Program to increase the economic 
competitiveness of the United States, enhance partnerships between 
academia and industry, develop an American STEM workforce that is 
globally competitive, and support female entrepreneurs and individuals 
from historically underrepresented groups in STEM through mentorship, 
education, and training.
    Under AICA, NSF has built and expanded the I-Corps Program through 
the National Innovation Network (NIN) model. NIN is a collection of NSF 
I-Corps Nodes and Sites that, together with NSF, implement the I-Corps 
program to grow and sustain the national innovation ecosystem. I-Corps 
Nodes are typically large, multi-institutional collaborations that 
deliver the NSF National I-Corps Teams training curriculum and recruit 
and train the National I-Corps instructors. I-Corps Sites are 
entrepreneurial centers located at individual colleges and universities 
that catalyze potential I-Corps teams within their local institutions. 
Together, the Nodes and Sites have served as the backbone of the NIN.
    In 2020, NSF published the Program Solicitation, NSF 20-529, to 
formalize the launching of the NSF I-Corps Hubs Program, which further 
expands and strengthens the NIN. The I-Corps Hubs are designed to 
support inclusive, regional communities of innovators, in that teams 
are encouraged to recruit diverse members at all levels. In addition, 
the I-Corps Hubs Program also provides new pathways for teams to 
qualify for the participation in the National I-Corps \M\ Teams 
program. Through the I-Corps Hubs solicitation, NSF seeks to evolve the 
current NIN structure, into a more integrated model capable of 
sustained operation at the scope and scale required to support the 
expansion of the NSF I-Corps Program as directed by AICA.
    Under AICA, NSF is directed to collect data and information 
pertaining to the characteristics, outputs, and outcomes from the teams 
as well as individuals funded by the NSF I-Corps\TM\ Program. The 
collection of this information will enable the evaluation of and 
reporting on the four themes as outlined in the FY 2021 NSF I-Corps 
Biennial Report to Congress:

1. Technology Translation
2. Entrepreneurial Training and Workforce Development
3. Economic Impact
4. Collaboration and Inclusion

    Recently, NSF published a new I-Corps Hubs Solicitation, NSF 22-
566, that supplants the now archived NSF 20-529. The new solicitation 
contains a set of modified grantee reporting requirements. In response 
to these modifications, NSF requests the revision of the previously 
cleared grantee reporting requirements under 3145-0258 to reflect the 
updates in NSF 22-566. NSF will modify the awards made under NSF 20-529 
to comply with the new reporting requirements outlined in NSF 22-566 
once this Paperwork Reduction Act request is approved by the OMB.
    Under the new reporting requirements outlined in NSF 22-566, each 
Hub is required to provide data and

[[Page 30283]]

documentation to demonstrate the progress of the six (6) required 
activities:

1. Team Expansion
2. I-Corps Training
3. Institutional Expansion of the Hub
4. Evaluation of Hubs
5. Entrepreneurial Research
6. Broadening Participation

    More concretely, each Hub is asked to report on the following:

1. Results from surveys that were designed to track the entrepreneurial 
progress of Program Participants
2. Results from a survey gauging the level of Participants' 
satisfaction with the Program (customer feedback)
3. Records on the Hub:
    a. Institution name
    b. Role (Lead or Partner)
    c. Year joined the Hub
4. Records on the personnel working at the Lead and Partner 
institutions within the Hub:
    a. Name
    b. Role (Director, Coordinator, Evaluation Lead, etc)
    c. Contact Information for each individual in 4.a
5. Records on cohorts of teams trained during a FY:
    a. Date
    b. Location
6. Records on the instructors by cohort:
    a. Instructor's name
    b. Instructor's affiliation
    c. A brief bio of the instructor
    d. Contact information
7. Records of all the teams and individuals participating in the 
Program
    a. Teams--
    i. Name of the Team
    ii. Participation Date
    iii. Mentor Assigned
    iv. Contact Information of the Mentor
    b. Participants--
    i. Team Name
    ii. Current occupation (faculty member, student, post-doc, or 
others)
    iii. Institution Affiliation
    iv. Location (State)
    v. Gender, Demographics, Disability, and Veteran Status
8. Outcomes of the team:
    a. I-Corps National Teams Program Pathway
    i. Whether the team has applied and/or been accepted into the NSF 
National I-Corps Program
    1. If applicable, the Team Number in the National Program
    b. Funding/Investment records, obtained from third-party 
subscription data, for the teams or startups that have participated in 
the Program

    The reporting requirements listed above are in addition to the data 
collected by the agency's annual report and final report requirements 
for the grantees. The information will help NSF report on NIN 
activities in the Biennial Report to Congress (as mandated by the 
AICA), and will provide managing Program Directors a means to monitor 
the progresses of these I-Corps Hubs. Finally, in compliance with the 
Evidence Act of 2019, information collected will be used to satisfy 
other Congressional requests, support the agency's policymaking and 
internal evaluation and assessment needs, and respond to inquiries from 
the public, NSF's external merit reviewers who serve as advisors, and 
NSF's Office of the Inspector General.
    Information collected will include the names of the participants, 
their affiliated organizations, email addresses, and home states. These 
personal identifiable information (PII) are collected primarily to 
track recipients in their roles in the I-Corps Teams, and to allow NSF 
to perform due diligence and quality control on the data provided by 
the grantees. In addition, other requested information includes the 
participants' self-reporting of: occupation, gender, demographics, 
disability status, and veteran status. This information is collected 
primarily for Congressional reporting purposes. These PII data will be 
accessed only by the I-Corps Hubs, the managing I-Corps Program 
Directors, NSF senior management, and supporting staff conducting 
analyses using the data as authorized by NSF. Any public reporting of 
data will be in aggregate form, and any personal identifiers will be 
removed.
    Use of the information: The information collected is primarily for 
the agency's AICA Reporting requirements, and other Congressional 
requests.
    Estimate burden on the public: Estimated to be no more than 240 
hours per award, per year, for the life of the award.
    Respondents: I-Corps Hubs Grantees (Each Hub reports one set of 
data on behalf of the Lead and partner institutions of that Hub).
    Estimated number of respondents: 5-9.
    Frequency: Twice per year for the first year, then once per year 
thereafter.

    Dated: May 13, 2022.
Suzanne H. Plimpton,
Reports Clearance Officer, National Science Foundation.
[FR Doc. 2022-10654 Filed 5-17-22; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 7555-01-P


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