The NSF CISE Directorate supports research and education projects that develop new knowledge in all aspects of computing, communications, and information science and engineering, as well as advanced cyberinfrastructure, through the following core programs:
Division of Computing and Communication Foundations (CCF):
- Algorithmic Foundations (AF) program;
- Communications and Information Foundations (CIF) program;
- Foundations of Emerging Technologies (FET) program; and
- Software and Hardware Foundations (SHF) program.
Division of Computer and Network Systems (CNS):
- Computer Systems Research (CSR) program; and
- Networking Technology and Systems (NeTS) program.
Division of Information and Intelligent Systems (IIS):
- Human-Centered Computing (HCC) program;
- Information Integration and Informatics (III) program; and
- Robust Intelligence (RI) program.
Office of Advanced Cyberinfrastructure (OAC):
- OAC Core Research (OAC Core) program;
Proposers are invited to submit proposals in several project classes, which are defined as follows:
- Small Projects -- up to $600,000 total budget with durations up to three years: projects in this class may be submitted to CCF, CNS, and IIS only;
- Medium Projects -- $600,001 to $1,200,000 total budget with durations up to four years: projects in this class may be submitted to CCF, CNS, and IIS only; and
- OAC Core Projects -- up to $600,000 total budget with durations up to three years: projects in this class may be submitted to OAC only.
A more complete description of these project classes can be found in Section II. Program Description of this document.
Submission Window Date(s):
- Proposals Accepted Anytime: SMALL Projects
- October 01 - October 23, 2024: MEDIUM Projects
- October 01- October 23, 2024: OAC Core Projects
Proposals may only be submitted by the following:
- Non-profit, non-academic organizations: Independent museums, observatories, research laboratories, professional societies and similar organizations located in the U.S. that are directly associated with educational or research activities.
- Institutions of Higher Education (IHEs) - Two- and four-year IHEs (including community colleges) accredited in, and having a campus located in the US, acting on behalf of their faculty members.
By the submission deadline, or for Small Projects, by the date of submission, any PI, co-PI, or other senior/key project personnel must hold either:
- a tenured or tenure-track position, or
- a primary, full-time, paid appointment in a research or teaching position
at a US-based campus of an organization eligible to submit to this solicitation (see above), with exceptions granted for family or medical leave, as determined by the submitting organization. Individuals with primary appointments at for-profit non-academic organizations or at overseas branch campuses of US IHEs are not eligible.
For the CISE: Core Programs, during any contiguous 12-month period, an individual may not participate as PI, co-PI, or Senior/Key Personnel in more than two proposals across all project classes. This limit was applied beginning with NSF 20-591, and will continue to apply to this solicitation and future versions of this solicitation, unless noted otherwise.
These eligibility constraints will be strictly enforced in order to treat everyone fairly and consistently. Any proposal that exceeds this limit at the time of submission for any PI, co-PI, or Senior/Key Personnel will be returned without review. No exceptions will be made. Proposals that are withdrawn prior to commencement of merit review, or those that are returned without review by NSF, will not count against this proposal limit. Proposers are strongly encouraged to verify the dates of prior submissions to CISE: Core Programs for all personnel on their teams to avoid their proposals being deemed non-compliant.
- Small Projects -- up to $600,000 total budget with durations up to three years: projects in this class may be submitted to CCF, CNS, and IIS only;
- Medium Projects -- $600,001 to $1,200,000 total budget with durations up to four years: projects in this class may be submitted to CCF, CNS, and IIS only; and
- OAC Core Projects -- up to $600,000 total budget with durations up to three years: projects in this class may be submitted to OAC only.