School of Engineering
Auster Center for Applied Innovation and Research

NSF Translation to Practice (NSF TTP)

Funding to Move Your Research From the Lab to the World

NSF TTP provides substantial funding for Tufts researchers ready to take their discoveries beyond the laboratory—through exploration, development, or strategic collaboration. The Auster Center helps you build a competitive proposal and can serve as a named collaborator or senior personnel.

Funding to Move Your Research From the Lab to the World

NSF TTP provides substantial funding for Tufts researchers ready to take their discoveries beyond the laboratory—through exploration, development, or strategic collaboration. The Auster Center helps you build a competitive proposal and can serve as a named collaborator or senior personnel.

What Is NSF TTP?

The NSF Translation to Practice program funds use-inspired research and translational activities that turn scientific discoveries into real-world solutions. Administered by NSF's Directorate for Technology, Innovation and Partnerships (TIP), TTP supports researchers across all STEM fields who are ready to pursue the practical impact of their work—gaining market insights, launching commercial applications, or facilitating industry and government adoption.

NSF anticipates funding 29 awards totaling $30 million through this program. Proposals are accepted from researchers at all stages of translation, with three distinct tracks designed to meet you where you are.

The Three TTP Tracks

TTP-Explore:
Start Where You Are

For researchers with an active NSF award who want to begin exploring real-world applications of their work. TTP-E extends your current award period by up to two years to pursue high-risk, use-inspired research and initial translational activities that were not covered by your original award.

  • Funding: Up to $600,000
  • Duration: Up to 24 months (extension of existing award)
  • Eligibility: Must have an active, eligible NSF research award
  • Deadline: Rolling — submit anytime after Program Officer approval

TTP-Translate:
Mature Your Innovation

For researchers with use-inspired research ready to be developed into a practical application. TTP-T is a new award—prior NSF funding is not required—that matures your idea, iterates and improves the solution, and lowers barriers to effective translation. All TTP-T recipients participate in NSF I-Corps training.

  • Funding: Up to $1,200,000
  • Duration: Up to 36 months
  • Eligibility: No prior NSF funding required
  • Deadlines: January 20 | May 19 | September 15 (annually)

TTP-Partner:
Scale With Strategic Partners

For researchers whose translational work requires one or more strategic partnerships for technology development and deployment. TTP-P requires an NSF-Catalyzed Partnership with an organization outside higher education—industry, government, philanthropy, or other—and that partner must appear as co-PI or senior personnel on the proposal. Prior NSF funding is not required.

  • Funding: Up to $2,000,000
  • Duration: Up to 48 months
  • Eligibility: Requires NSF-Catalyzed Partnership; no prior NSF funding required
  • Deadlines: January 20 | May 19 | September 15 (annually)

How the Auster Center Helps You Compete

NSF TTP proposals are evaluated on two criteria: the intellectual merit of the research and the strength of the translation strategy. The second criterion is where most proposals fall short—and where the Auster Center adds the most value.

We work with Tufts researchers to build TTP proposals that reviewers find credible and competitive:

Translation Pathway Development

We help you identify and articulate a realistic, specific pathway from your research to real-world deployment—whether through licensing, industry partnership, startup formation, open-source development, or policy adoption. Vague "potential applications" do not win TTP awards. Evidence of a thought-through pathway does.

Market Need Validation

Through NSF I-Corps training and customer discovery support, we help you validate that a genuine market need exists for your innovation—and document that validation in language NSF reviewers respond to.

Partnership Identification and Facilitation

For TTP-Partner proposals, we can help identify and facilitate introductions to potential NSF-Catalyzed Partners across industry, government, and community sectors. The right partner, introduced early, is often the difference between a competitive TTP-P proposal and one that isn't.

Proposal Narrative Support

We help frame your translation strategy, strengthen your commercialization narrative, and ensure your proposal communicates the full potential of your research in terms that TTP reviewers are looking for.

Auster Center Researchers as Senior Personnel

In appropriate cases, Auster Center faculty and researchers can be included on your TTP proposal as senior personnel or in an advisory capacity—bringing documented translation expertise, active initiatives, and established cross-sector partnerships to your proposal. This strengthens your application and supports the Center's mission of sustained translational engagement with Tufts research.

Next Steps for Your TTP Proposal

TTP-E proposals may be submitted on a rolling basis—but only after receiving email approval from your relevant NSF Program Officer. Start early. TTP-T and TTP-P proposals follow three annual deadlines. In all cases, the earlier you engage the Auster Center in your process, the stronger your proposal.

Not sure which track fits your research?

Explore Translation Pathways

Ready to Pursue NSF TTP Funding?

Whether you are at the exploration stage or ready to bring a partner to the table, we want to hear about your research. Let's talk before your next submission.

Schedule a Conversation

Ready to Pursue NSF TTP Funding?

Whether you are at the exploration stage or ready to bring a partner to the table, we want to hear about your research. Let's talk before your next submission.

Schedule a Conversation

View full NSF TTP solicitation (NSF 25-540)