NSF Grant Opportunities for Academic Liaison with Industry (GOALI)

The National Science Foundation GOALI initiative aims to synergize university-industry partnerships by making funds available to support an eclectic mix of industry-university linkages. Special interest is focused on affording the opportunity for:

• Faculty, postdoctoral fellows and students to conduct research and gain experience with production processes in an industrial setting.
• Industrial scientists and engineers to bring industry’s perspective and integrative skills to academe.
• Interdisciplinary university-industry teams to conduct long-term projects.

Click here for NSF GOALI Program Information

Highlights of GOALI Program:

The GOALI initiative targets:

• High-risk/high-gain research with a focus on fundamental topics that would not have been undertaken by industry.
• New approaches to solving generic problems.
• Development of innovative collaborative industry-university educational programs.
• Direct transfer of new knowledge between academe and industry.

Program Details:

• The GOALI program emphasizes improving industry-university research linkages in the design and implementation of products and processes. The research should strengthen the fundamental scientific and engineering foundations on which new design and production practices and methods may be based.
• The length of support requested should be appropriate to the purpose and vary, for example, from two months for a visit to industry to a several weeks or months every few years for a full research proposal or educational program.
• A co-investigator or co-advisor from industry is required in a collaborative project or industrial fellowship/traineeship.
• Persons interested in requesting funds under GOALI should communicate with an NSF program director in the directorate in their area of interest for guidance on proposal submission.

Submitting Proposals:

• The proposal must describe the research approach and a detailed plan of the industry-university collaboration including the tasks for both partners. The purpose of the eventual visit(s) in industry or academe must be explained. In the last year of the project, the principal investigator must plan at least two industrial seminars, one of which should be within the collaborating industrial unit.
• Before submitting a GOALI proposal:
  1. Identify the specific NSF program that handles the type of research that you are planning to propose or that best matches your discipline area.
  2. Contact that disciplinary program officer and ask:
     • if the disciplinary program would consider GOALI funding (GOALI only provide partial funds), and
     • what the proposal submission dates are for that program.
• Academic and industry partners must agree in advance as to how intellectual property rights will be handled.
• Industry-university agreement letters on intellectual property should be provided as supplementary documentation.
• Full proposals are only accepted within specific periods established by the directorates and their participating programs for unsolicited proposals. Check the NSF website or with the program office for acceptable submission periods.
• Only one proposal to NSF will be accepted per PI per fiscal year for GOALI consideration.

Budget:

• NSF funds are for university research/educational activities.
• Industry contributions and the technological relevance of the research are essential evaluation criteria for these projects and will be considered in NSF award decisions.
• Cost Sharing is not required under this solicitation.

Merit Review Criteria:

• National Science Board approved criteria apply.

Reporting Requirements:

• Standard NSF reporting requirements apply.