Partnerships for Innovation: Accelerating Innovation Research (PFI:AIR) Survey

Survey Questions for PFI-AIR

ID #

Logic

Item

1

2

Only
asked if
member
of the
NSFfunded
project
team

How many publications
have you authored
based on technology or
advancements in the
underlying discovery
supported by the AIR
award?
To what extent has any
of the following
occurred as a result of
your participation in
the NSF PFI:AIR award?
TEACHING
• I developed a new
opportunity for
students to gain
innovation
experience
RESEARCH AND
LEADERSHIP
• I changed the way I
think about my
research
• I led a change
effort in my
department,
institution, or
organization (e.g.,
policy, curriculum)

Freq.

Response Scale

A.
B.
C.
D.

Yes
Some
No
Not applicable

Variable
type/Dat
a entry
format

Question
Item Source
Material

Outputs or
Outcomes
Addressed

Numerical
text box

NEW

Immediate
Outcomes:
Knowledge in the
technology
sector is
advanced

Matrix/Arra
y

EEC Impact
Interview
Protocol6; I-Corps
Indicators &
Monitoring
System3

Immediate
Outcomes:
Researchers
and/or students
use industry
knowledge in
other contexts

Survey Questions for PFI-AIR
•

I encouraged my
students to talk to
potential
customers about
their research or
technologies
CAREER
• I applied what I
learned from the
NSF-funded project
in other projects or
career endeavors
• I
advised/mentored
teams that are
interested in
commercializing
their research or
starting a venture
related to their
research
• I pursued new
career
opportunities
related to research
commercialization
and / or venture
development
ORGANIZATIONAL
BENEFITS
• Encouraged other
faculty to get
involved with
innovation projects

Survey Questions for PFI-AIR
•

3

Business
Creation

4

Business
Creation

5

Business
Creation

Only
asked if
member
of the
NSFfunded
project
team
Only
asked if
member
of the
NSFfunded
project
team and
company
has been
incorpora
ted
Only
asked if
member
of the
NSFfunded
project
team and
company

Lowered
institutional
barriers to
collaborations with
industry
To your knowledge,
has a company been
incorporated based on
technology advanced
by this PFI:AIR project?

What is the name of
this company?

When was [COMPANY
NAME] Initiated?

Annuall
y, if
answer
in
previou
s year
was No

Binary: Y/N

Kauffman Firm
Survey5; I-Corps
Indicators &
Monitoring
System3

Immediate
Outcomes: New
businesses
incorporated

This
may be
redund
ant
after
year 1

Text: open

Kauffman Firm
Survey5; I-Corps
Indicators &
Monitoring
System3

Immediate
Outcomes: New
businesses
incorporated

Kauffman Firm
Survey5; I-Corps
Indicators &
Monitoring
System3

Immediate
Outcomes: New
businesses
incorporated

1. Prior to participation in the NSFfunded project
2. During the NSF-funded project
3. After completing the NSF-funded
project
If known please provide the date of
company initiation. Text box

Multiple
choice
Text Box

Survey Questions for PFI-AIR

6

7

Technolog
y
Developm
ent

8

Technolog
y
Developm
ent

has been
incorpora
ted
Only
asked if
member
of the
NSFfunded
project
team and
company
has been
incorpora
ted

Only
asked if
commerci
alization
can be
attributed
to the
NSF-

How many employees
does [COMPANY
NAME] have?

Are there any
products, services, or
processes in the
market, market ready,
or awaiting regulatory
approval whose
commercialization you
can attribute (to some
degree) to your
participation in the
NSF-funded project?
[If yes] Please enter
the following
information about
products, services, or
processes to the best
of your knowledge

Numeric text box

Annual

Annual

Multiple textboxes – for each row:
Describe Product
Status
Number of units sold (if any)
Amount of sales in last fiscal year
Amount of sales since commercialization

Numeric
entry

PFI:AIR Indicators
& Logic Model

Immediate
Outcomes: New
businesses
incorporated

Binary: Y/N

SBIR Common
Questions;
PFI:BIC Logic
Model &
Indicators2;
PFI:AIR Logic
Model &
Indicators; ICorps Indicators
& Monitoring
System3
SBIR Common
Questions

Intermediate
Outcome:
Technology
advancement to
commercializatio
n

Multiple
textboxes –
for each
row:

Intermediate
Outcome:
Technology
advancement to
commercializatio
n

Survey Questions for PFI-AIR

Only
asked if
company
has been
incorpora
ted

Please list any external
collaborations that you
can attribute to your
participation in the AIR
program

May choose
option 1 or
2 ONLY;
then any of
the
subheadings
under that
option

SBIR Common
Questions;
PFI:AIR Indicators
& Logic Model

Intermediate
Outcome:
Technology
advancement to
commercializatio
n

Multiple
textboxes

I-Corps Indicators
& Monitoring
System3; EFRI
Indicators&
Monitoring
System4; PFI:BIC
Logic Model &
Indicators2;
PFI:AIR Logic
Model &
Indicators
PFI: AIR Logic
Model

Intermediate
Outcomes: New
and sustained
partnerships

EFRI Indicators &
Monitoring

Intermediate
Outcomes: New

Timing of
collaborations

Outputs:
Collaborat
ions

1) Technical Failure or Difficulty
a) Key personnel left company
b) Estimated costs too high
c) Ran out of money or other
resources
d) Intellectual Property Issues
e) Technology obsolete
2) Market Demand Difficulty
a) Market needs change
b) Costs too high (not cost
competitive in market place)
c) Business segment in recession
d) Market was not there to begin
with
Financial
contributions of
partner
organization

10

Primary issue affecting
market/commercializat
ion efforts:

Organization
Type

New
Research
Directions

Partner Name

9

funded
project
If
above=NO

1
2
11

12

New
Research

How many NEW 3rd
party investors were
attracted to the project
after the award was
made?
A. All
A. Have you been able
B. Only if
to identify new

Numerical
text box

•
•

Yes
No

Binary: y/n

Intermediate
Outcomes: New
and sustained
partnerships

Survey Questions for PFI-AIR
Directions

13

Outputs:
Licensing

A=
market
YES
opportunities?
C. Only if B. Have you pursued
B=YES
funding for these
new directions?
C. Were you
successful in
securing funding
for these new
directions?
Only
How many of the
asked if
following does [the
company
NSF-funded project
has been
TEAM
incorporat MEMBER/INSTITUTION
ed
] have that have been
issued under the AIR
award or related to the
AIR project (postfunding decision)?
Enter zero if none.

14

To your knowledge, has
the technology
developed in this AIR
project been licensed?

Outputs:
Workforce
Developm
ent

Students/
Postdocs
related to
this NSF

Numerical:
open for
each option

Kauffman Firm
Survey5; I-Corps
Indicators &
Monitoring
System3

Intermediate
Outcome:
Technology
advancement to
commercializatio
n

• Yes
•

Radio
buttons

PFI:AIR Indicators
& Logic Model

Intermediate
Outcome:
Technology is
licensed

Numerical
text boxes
for each.

NEW

Intermediate
Outcome:
Trainees pursue
careers in

•

No
• How many
students/postdocs
have you mentored
on this PFI:AIR

Research
Directions
identified

• Inventions Disclosed
• Licensing Agreements
• Provisional Patent Applications
• Full Patent Applications
• Patents Granted
• Patents in Use
• Inventions Producing Royalties
• Software Copyrights
• Company Trademarks
• Non-disclosure Agreements (NDA)
Materials Transfer Agreements (MTA)

•
15

System4; PFI:BIC
Logic Model &
Indicators2

To small business not related to
the PI/University
To small business spin off from
the PI
Larger established firm

Survey Questions for PFI-AIR
award

16

17

18

STEM
Workforce
Developm
ent

project?
• How many of your
students on the
PFI:AIR project have
graduated with a
master’s degree?
How many of your
students on the
PFI:AIR project have
graduated with a
PhD?
(FOR PIs) Please
describe the
innovation/entreprene
urship training these
students/post docs
received.
(FOR PIS) How many of
your former
students/trainees
supported by this
award have gone on to
careers in the
following:
In addition to your
PFI:AIR funding, have
you applied to other
federal agencies for
funding for technology
transfer or research
related to the AIR
technology? If yes,

practically
oriented
research

Text Box

A.
B.
C.
D.
E.
F.
G.
H.

Academic research in a STEM field
Private industry in a STEM field
Government
Research administration
Teaching
Communication
Start Up Firm (<3 years old)
Other

PFI:AIR Indicators
& Logic Model

Multiple
answers
with
structured
numerical
text-box fill
in for each

PFI:AIR Indicators
& Logic Model

Yes/No with
structured
text box to
list funding
agencies
and
structured
text box to

NEW

Intermediate
Outcome:
Trainees pursue
careers in
practically
oriented
research
Intermediate
Outcome:
Trainees pursue
careers in
practically
oriented
research
Intermediate
Outcome:
Culture shift
rewarding
innovation and
commercializatio
n

Survey Questions for PFI-AIR
which agencies?

19

How many new or
continuing awards
from other agencies or
institutions have
leveraged your AIR
award?

20

How many AIRsupported technologies
have successfully
translated to
commercial application
at this time? Please
describe the
application eg.
Standalone, part of an
existing item
(improvement), whole
new market.
Based on your
experience, does the
AIR partnership lead to
a shorter average
development cycle for
commercialization of
technology?

21

indicate
technology
transfer or
research
Numerical
Text box

PFI:AIR Indicators
& Logic Model

Numerical
Text box
and Open
Text

PFI:AIR Indicators
& Logic Model

Yes/No with
structured
text box for
comments

NEW

Intermediate
Outcome:
Culture shift
rewarding
innovation and
commercializatio
n
Intermediate
Outcome:
Technology
advancement to
commercializatio
n

Intermediate
Outcome:
Technology
advancement to
commercializatio
n

Survey Questions for PFI-AIR
[1]

NSF Engineering, “GARDE Satisfaction Survey.” 31-Jul-2013. OMB Control No: 3145-0157

[2]

NSF Engineering, “PFI:BIC Logic Model & Indicators.” 26-Jul-2013.

[3]

NCIIA, “I-Corps Indicators & Monitoring System.” 23-Oct-2013.

[4]

NSF Engineering, “EFRI Pilot Clearance.” 20-Mar-2014.

[5]

“Kauffman Firm Survey - Annotated Questionnaire.” Ewing Marion Kauffman Foundation.

[6]

NSF Engineering, “EEC Impact interview Protocol.” 02-Aug-2013.