Call for Proposals: Fall 2025 Nanotechnology Entrepreneurship Challenge (NTEC)
NTEC 2025 is supported by participating sites of the NSF-funded National Nanotechnology Coordinated Infrastructure (NNCI). Student-led teams can receive funding or in-kind facility access and mentorship to develop nano-enabled innovations for global sustainability challenges. NTEC awards:
- Provide resources to help students use nanotechnology to solve real-world problems in society
- Encourage innovation and entrepreneurship through student-led teams involved in sites of the NSF-funded National Nanotechnology Coordinated Infrastructure
- Educate students on the technology transfer process and programs like NSF I-Corps
- Encourage commercialization of original ideas OR IP available for license through NNCI sites
Awards
- Multiple awards of up to $1,000 USD are available.
- Teams receive mentorship through the Virtual NNCI NTEC Accelerator Program.
- Awards are used for instrument time at participating NNCI sites and qualifying travel.
- The top 3 NTEC teams are eligible for additional funding and travel support to pitch their ideas at the TechConnect World Innovation Conference & Expo in Raleigh, NC, March 10-12, 2026.
Key Dates
- Sep. 22, 2025 – Applications Due
- Oct. 9, 2025 – Program Kickoff / Awardees Announced Publicly
- Oct. 9th to Nov. 20th – NTEC Virtual Accelerator (mentorship, weekly webinar)
- Dec. 4th 2PM ET – NTEC Virtual Showcase (top 3 teams selected)
- Mar. 10-12, 2026 – NTEC Finals on March 11th at TechConnect, Raleigh, NC
Eligibility
- Teams must be student (undergrad, grad, community college) or post-doc led.
- An NNCI-affiliated mentor (staff or faculty) is required.
- Team leads must be currently enrolled at or affiliated with an NNCI site. Teams associated with other networks, like the DOE Nanoscale Science Research Centers (NSRCs), are eligible to apply.
Students and post-docs interested in applying should complete the NTEC Online Application Form by NOON on September 22nd, 2025. We’ll notify awardees within 10-14 days of applying.
Questions: Contact Dr. Matthew Hull
Below is a recording from an information session for NTEC.