[Federal Register Volume 80, Number 233 (Friday, December 4, 2015)]
[Notices]
[Pages 75881-75882]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2015-30653]


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NATIONAL SCIENCE FOUNDATION


Agency Information Collection Activities; Comment Request; 
Evaluation of the National Science Foundation (NSF) Innovation Corps 
(I-Corps) Team Program, Survey of Comparable Projects' Principal 
Investigators; Proposed Information Collection Request

AGENCY: National Science Foundation.

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: The National Science Foundation (NSF) is announcing plans to 
request establishment and clearance of this collection. In accordance 
with the requirement of Section 3506(c)(2)(A) of the Paperwork 
Reduction Act of 1995 (Pub. L. 104-13), we are providing opportunity 
for public comment on this action. After obtaining and considering 
public comment, NSF will prepare the submission requesting that OMB 
approve clearance of this collection for no longer than three years.
    A copy of the proposed information collection request (ICR) can be 
obtained by contacting the office listed below in the ADDRESSES section 
of this notice.

DATES: Submit comments before February 2, 2016.

ADDRESSES: Suzanne H. Plimpton, Reports Clearance Officer, National 
Science Foundation, 4201 Wilson Boulevard, Suite 1265, Arlington, 
Virginia 22230 or send email to [email protected]. Copies of the 
submission may be obtained by calling (703) 292-7556.
    Comments: Comments are invited on: (a) Whether the proposed 
collection of information is necessary for the proper performance of 
the functions of the Agency, including whether the information shall 
have practical utility; (b) the accuracy of the Agency's estimate of 
the burden of the proposed collection of information; (c) ways to 
enhance the quality, utility, and clarity of the information on 
respondents, including through the use of automated collection 
techniques or other forms of information technology; and (d) ways to 
minimize the burden of the collection of information on respondents, 
including through the use of automated collection techniques or other 
forms of information technology.
    Please submit one copy of your comments by only one method. All 
submissions received must include the agency name and collection name 
identified above for this information collection. Commenters are 
strongly encouraged to transmit their comments electronically via 
email. Comments, including any personal information provided become a 
matter of public record. They will be summarized and/or included in the 
request for Office of Management and Budget approval of the information 
collection request.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Suzanne H. Plimpton, Reports Clearance 
Officer, National Science Foundation, 4201 Wilson Boulevard, Suite 
1265, Arlington, Virginia 22230 or send email to [email protected]. 
Copies of the submission may be obtained by calling (703) 292-7556. 
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).

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 
    Title of Collection: Innovation Corps (I-Corps) Team Program Survey 
of PIs in Comparable non-I-Corps Projects.
    OMB Number: 3145--NEW.
    Type of request: Intent to establish an information collection.

Abstract

    The Innovation Corps (I-Corps) program was established in 2011 as 
part of NSF's efforts to encourage a culture of innovation among 
recipients of research grants. The program provides support and 
guidance to selected grantees on how to pursue commercial applications 
of their research. The I-Corps Teams program uses a lean startup 
approach to encourage scientists to think like entrepreneurs through 
intensive workshop training and ongoing support. The program focuses on 
teams comprised of a principal investigator, entrepreneurial lead, and 
mentor that work together to explore commercialization for their 
research-derived products.
    NSF is supporting the evaluation of the program that includes a 
rigorous

[[Page 75882]]

longitudinal outcome/impact evaluation of the I-Corps Team Program 
using a quasi-experimental design to understand I-Corps impact on teams 
that go through the program and its impact on team members and academic 
culture.
    The Office of Management and Budget has previously provided 
clearance for 3 data collection efforts associated with the I-Corps 
workshops targeting I-Corps grantees. These refer to: (1) A pre-course 
survey (2) a post-course survey and (3) a longitudinal survey of 
principal investigators in the program. This request builds on this 
previously approved information collection for NSF's Engineering IIP 
Program Monitoring Clearance (OMB Control No. 3145-0238).
    This information collection request relates to (1) a proposed 
survey of principal investigators (PIs) in comparable Non-I-Corps NSF 
projects and (2) In-depth interviews with 10 I-Corps and 10 comparable 
non-I-Corps teams.
    The survey will begin with an initial screening module to identify 
PIs who have received support for projects with commercial potential 
and who have desire to act on that potential but have not received an 
I-Corps grant. PIs with non-Corps NSF-funded projects awarded between 
2009 and 2013 will be surveyed. PIs who reported active interest in 
commercial potential for their research projects will be asked to 
complete an additional module adapted from the I-Corps Longitudinal 
Data Collection already approved by OMB for I-Corps team members. The 
longitudinal survey collects information on project outputs and 
outcomes related to commercialization of research-based products. PIs 
not interested in the commercial potential of their research will stop 
the survey after completing the screening module.
    In addition to the comparison between the I-Corps teams and a 
comparable group based on survey results, the study also includes in-
depth interviews to gain an understanding of the influence of 
participation in the I-Corps program on PIs and other team members as 
well as to compare the impact of the I-Corps program on industry 
collaborations and other networking activities. Half of all in-depth 
interviews will be conducted over the phone while the other half will 
take place during site visits to the home institutions of the teams 
selected for the study.
    Affected Public: Non-I-Corps Grant recipients of NSF Programs 
common in the background of I-Corps Teams Program PIs for the survey 
and 10 I-Corps and 10 non-I-Corps research teams and networks.
    Total Respondents: 9,000 (survey) 160 (in-depth interviews). 
Frequency: One-time collection.
    Total responses: 7,200 (screener module), 720 (modified 
longitudinal survey module) and 160 (in-depth interviews). Average Time 
per response: 5 minutes (screener module), 15 minutes (modified 
longitudinal survey module) and 60 minutes (in-depth interview).
    Estimated Total Burden Hours: 940 hours.

    Dated: December 1, 2015.
Suzanne H. Plimpton,
Reports Clearance Officer, National Science Foundation.
[FR Doc. 2015-30653 Filed 12-3-15; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 7555-01-P