The National Science Foundation, through the Directorate for Technology, Innovation and Partnerships, is collaborating with the German Federal Agency for Disruptive Innovation, or SPRIND, to enhance technological advancements in key areas.
The NSF said Friday a memorandum of understanding was signed between the NSF TIP and SPRIND during the latter’s fifth-anniversary celebration in Leipzig, Germany.
The transatlantic partnership will leverage the SPRIND Challenge model to streamline the process of selecting and conducting translational research and establish the foundation for new industries. Through the MOU, U.S. and European innovation ecosystems will come together to support unconventional problem-solving approaches and turn research into tangible applications and products.
Erwin Gianchandani, NSF assistant director for TIP, said the partnership enables the sharing of talents, ways of thinking, policy environments, facilities and markets between the two nations.
“Our historic partnership with SPRIND offers a transformative new approach to accelerating the development and translation of breakthrough technologies for maximum national, societal and geostrategic impacts,” said Gianchandani, adding, “Our partnership with SPRIND will help us find new ways to advance TIP’s mission as codified in the ‘CHIPS and Science Act of 2022’ and ultimately contribute to the U.S. economy.”
Rafael Laguna, founding director of SPRIND, stated that the agency was established in 2019 to bridge the gap between research and commercial viability.
“Inspired by DARPA and adapted to our mission to help innovators until the project can stand on its own, we developed comprehensive tools to finance new technologies at a stage when private investors are not yet ready to take on the financial risk,” commented Laguna.
