The NSF-INTERN program provides supplement funding on existing NSF awards, to support a graduate student internship in industry or a governmental agency, including national labs.
The program looks like it would work best for placing students into national labs or other governmental organizations where is less IP concern than at a company (and where the university would probably be willing to waive all interest in IP).
- The INTERN program functions as a supplement for an existing NSF research award — hence it is applicable only to students whose advisor (or co-advisor) has NSF support,
- internships could be done during the summer or fall or spring,
- it is the responsibility of the student and advisor to identify a suitable host organization,
- the advisor then requests funding by submitting a supplemental proposal to NSF.
The NSF site provides full details.