What Science Foundation Arizona does

Science Foundation Arizona (SFAz) is a 501(c)(3) public-private non-profit organization founded in 2006 and headquartered at 201 East Washington Street in Phoenix, Arizona. The foundation operates as a grant-making and program coordination entity whose function is to diversify and strengthen Arizona's economy by supporting mission-driven research and STEM education. SFAz does not develop proprietary technology; instead, it channels funding and program management capabilities into three priority technology sectors: advanced mobility (connected, automated, and zero-emission vehicles), semiconductors, and cybersecurity. Since 2007, the organization has awarded more than 150 individual grants totaling over $110 million, and its STEM education initiatives have reached hundreds of thousands of students across the state.

The foundation's portfolio is delivered through layered partnerships with the Arizona Commerce Authority (ACA) and other institutional stakeholders. Core programs include the Advanced Mobility Initiative (with the Institute of Automated Mobility, AV-TEP, ZEV-CMS, and the AAWDA workforce development program), the National Semiconductor Economic Roadmap (NSER), and the Arizona Small Business Boot Camp cybersecurity program. The organization was created through a coalition of Greater Phoenix Leadership, Southern Arizona Leadership, and the Flagstaff 40, which collectively provide it with cross-regional stakeholder reach across Arizona's major metropolitan areas.

SFAz generates revenue through grants and partnerships with public and private sector entities rather than through commercial sales or pricing models. Its go-to-market is relationship-driven and partnership-based, with the strategic ACA partnership serving as the principal operational backbone for program delivery, industry-education coordination, and external funding pursuit. With a staff of 11-50 employees, the organization operates with a small administrative footprint relative to the capital it deploys to grantees across the state.

Name

Science Foundation Arizona

Legal name

Science Foundation Arizona

Website

https://sfaz.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2006

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Science Foundation Arizona is a 501(c)(3) public-private non-profit founded in 2006 that diversifies Arizona's economy by funding and coordinating mission-driven research and STEM education in advanced mobility, semiconductors, and cybersecurity, in partnership with the Arizona Commerce Authority.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Research Funding and Economic Development Grants

NAICS

Grantmaking Foundations (813211)

akta.pro primary industry

Research & Science Grantmaking Foundations (BPAGAKAI)

akta.pro secondary industry

Education Grantmaking Foundations (BPAGAKAK)

Keywords

• Research funding
• STEM education
• Economic development
• Innovation grants
• Public-private partnership

Headquarters

HQ city

Phoenix

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Others

Revenue model

1. Grant Funding: Science Foundation Arizona generates revenue through grants and partnerships with public and private sector entities. The foundation awards funding to support mission-driven research across Arizona's priority technology sectors.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels3 records

Core offering

Science Foundation Arizona is a 501(c)(3) public-private non-profit organization that supports mission-driven research to diversify and strengthen Arizona's economy. It awards grants and manages programs across three priority technology sectors—advanced mobility, semiconductors, and cybersecurity—in strategic partnership with the Arizona Commerce Authority. Since 2007, SFAz has awarded more than 150 individual grants totaling over $110 million and operated STEM education initiatives reaching hundreds of thousands of students.

Product overview

Science Foundation Arizona is a 501(c)(3) public-private non-profit organization that functions as a grant-making and program management entity rather than a product company. Its portfolio consists of mission-driven research programs and strategic initiatives across three key sectors: Advanced Mobility (including AV-TEP Mission, ZEV-CMS Mission, and AAWDA workforce development), Semiconductor industry advancement via the National Semiconductor Economic Roadmap (NSER), and Cybersecurity through the Arizona Small Business Boot Camp partnership. The organization also operates STEM education initiatives that have impacted hundreds of thousands of students. Since 2007, SFAz has awarded more than 150 individual grants totaling more than $110 million.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Advanced Mobility Initiative Research funding and program management initiative focused on connected, automated, and zero-emission vehicle technologies, delivered in partnership with the ACA's Institute of Automated Mobility. Targeted at research institutions, universities, and companies working on next-generation mobility.
• AV-TEP Mission (Automated Vehicle – Testing and Evaluation Process) Mission dedicated to testing and evaluation of automated vehicles. Managed jointly with the Arizona Commerce Authority's Institute of Automated Mobility for the benefit of automotive researchers, manufacturers, and policy stakeholders.
• ZEV-CMS Mission (Zero-Emission Vehicle – Crash Management System) Mission focused on developing crash management and safety systems for zero-emission vehicles, delivered with the Arizona Commerce Authority's Institute of Automated Mobility. Serves automotive safety researchers and zero-emission vehicle manufacturers.
• AAWDA (Advanced Automotive Workforce Development in Arizona) Workforce development program building talent pipelines for Arizona's advanced automotive industry. Targeted at educational institutions, students, and automotive employers in the state.
• National Semiconductor Economic Roadmap (NSER) Strategic initiative co-led with the Arizona Commerce Authority to advance U.S. semiconductor competitiveness by coordinating industry ecosystem development and attracting semiconductor companies to Arizona. Targeted at semiconductor manufacturers and technology companies.
• Arizona Small Business Boot Camp (Cybersecurity) Cybersecurity education, research, and support program delivered through the Arizona Commerce Authority's Arizona Small Business Boot Camp. Provides webinars and resources to help Arizona small businesses improve their security posture.
• STEM Initiatives STEM education initiatives that integrate STEM learning with the future of business, reaching hundreds of thousands of Arizona students since 2007. Targeted at K-12 and higher education institutions and students across Arizona.

Quantifiable outcome

• More than 150 individual grants awarded totaling more than $110 million since 2007
• +1 more outcomes

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Seven partnerships are on record, tiered core, minor and founding.

• Arizona Commerce AuthoritycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerStrategic partnership between Science Foundation Arizona and the Arizona Commerce Authority to accelerate industry-education collaboration and pursue external funding opportunities. Together the organizations work to energize next-gen talent while growing and attracting industries of the future. SFAz and ACA partner on multiple initiatives including advanced mobility programs, semiconductor roadmap development, and cybersecurity education.
• Institute of Automated MobilitycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSFAz partners with ACA's Institute of Automated Mobility to enable advanced mobility through impactful research in connected, automated, and zero-emission vehicles. This includes development of AV-TEP (Automated Vehicle – Testing and Evaluation Process), ZEV-CMS (Zero-Emission Vehicle – Crash Management System), and AAWDA (Advanced Automotive Workforce Development in Arizona).
• National Semiconductor Economic Roadmap (NSER)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSFAz has partnered with ACA on the National Semiconductor Economic Roadmap (NSER) initiative to advance U.S. semiconductor competitiveness. Arizona is home to globally recognized semiconductor manufacturers, and this partnership aims to attract companies from around the world to develop technological breakthroughs.
• Arizona Small Business Boot CampminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerSFAz partners with ACA's Arizona Small Business Boot Camp to provide cybersecurity education, research, and support resources to local Arizona businesses. This includes providing cybersecurity webinars and resources to help small businesses improve their security posture.
• Greater Phoenix LeadershipfoundingStrategic or Co-development PartnerFounding organization that collaborated to create Science Foundation Arizona in 2006. Greater Phoenix Leadership represents major Phoenix-area business leaders and institutions.
• Southern Arizona LeadershipfoundingStrategic or Co-development PartnerFounding organization that collaborated to create Science Foundation Arizona in 2006. Southern Arizona Leadership represents major Southern Arizona business leaders and institutions.
• Flagstaff 40foundingStrategic or Co-development PartnerFounding organization that collaborated to create Science Foundation Arizona in 2006. Flagstaff 40 represents Northern Arizona business leaders and institutions.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Broad incumbents

• SRI International: Independent nonprofit research institute that performs contract R&D across physical and life sciences, engineering, and policy. Comparable to SFAz in nonprofit science-research orientation, though SRI operates at significantly greater scale and performs R&D directly rather than solely funding it.
• Battelle Memorial Institute: Large nonprofit science and technology organization that manages major federal research facilities and applies R&D to industrial, national security, and education challenges. Operates at much greater scale than SFAz but shares the nonprofit, mission-driven science advancement model.

Others

• Council on Competitiveness: Nonprofit, nonpartisan policy organization that brings together business, university, and government leaders to drive U.S. innovation and economic competitiveness. Comparable in its focus on catalyzing mission-driven research, STEM talent pipelines, and public-private collaboration — overlapping themes with SFAz's work.
• American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS): The world's largest general scientific society, advancing science policy, STEM education, and scientific collaboration. Comparable to SFAz in its dual focus on advancing science research and STEM education, though operating at national/international scale.

Direct peers

• Alfred P. Sloan Foundation: Major private foundation that funds original research and education in science, technology, engineering, economics, and mathematics. Comparable to SFAz in its science research grantmaking model and emphasis on STEM talent development, though at much greater scale.
• Oklahoma Center for the Advancement of Science and Technology (OCAST): State-level science and technology funding organization with a comparable mission of supporting mission-driven research and technology-based economic development. OCAST operates under a similar structure to SFAz, making it the most directly comparable peer in terms of state-level science grantmaking.
• Kavli Foundation: Private foundation that supports scientific research through grants to universities and research institutes in astrophysics, nanoscience, neuroscience, and theoretical physics. Comparable to SFAz as a science research grantmaking foundation advancing frontier research.
• Research Corporation for Science Advancement: Private foundation dedicated to funding early-career scientific research and advancing science in service of society. Comparable to SFAz in being a science-focused grantmaking foundation supporting mission-driven research, though operating nationally rather than state-by-state.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat3 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights5 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/sciencefoundaz
• YouTubeyoutube.com/user/AZcommerce
• Facebookfacebook.com/azcommerce
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/science-foundation-of-az
• Instagraminstagram.com/azcommerce

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about Science Foundation Arizona