Computer and Information Science and Engineering : Core Programs, Large Projects

Funding Agency:
National Science Foundation

The NSF CISE Directorate supports research and education projects that develop new knowledge in all aspects of computing, communications, and information science and engineering through core programs. The core programs for the participating CISE divisions include:

  •   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 and Network Systems (CSR) program;
    • 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

This solicitation invites proposals on bold new ideas tackling ambitious and fundamental research problems within scope of one or more of the participating CISE divisions core programs listed above, and that are well suited to a large-scale integrated collaborative effort. Teams should consist of two or more investigators (PI, co-PI(s), or other Senior Personnel) with complementary expertise. Investigators are strongly encouraged to come together within or across disciplines and/or institutions and combine their creative talents to identify compelling, transformative research agendas where the impact of the results will exceed that of the sum of each of their individual contributions. Investigators are especially encouraged to seek out partnerships in a wide class of institutions that together produce innovative approaches to the proposed research.   

Proposals that are focused on research infrastructure are not appropriate for this solicitation.

Proposers are invited to submit proposals with total budgets from $3,000,000 to $5,000,000 and durations up to five years. 

 

Submission Window Date(s): September 16 2024 - September 30, 2024

Agency Website

Eligibility Requirements

Proposals may only be submitted by the following:

  • 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. Special Instructions for International Branch Campuses of US IHEs: If the proposal includes funding to be provided to an international branch campus of a US institution of higher education (including through use of subawards and consultant arrangements), the proposer must explain the benefit(s) to the project of performance at the international branch campus, and justify why the project activities cannot be performed at the US campus.
  • Non-profit, non-academic organizations: Independent museums, observatories, research labs, professional societies and similar organizations in the U.S. associated with educational or research activities.

At the time of submission, any PI, co-PI, or other senior 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.

An individual may participate as PI, co-PI, or Senior Personnel in no more than one Core Programs, Large Projects proposal submitted to each deadline window, for a maximum of three over the course of the entire program. Note that limits on participation apply only to this solicitation, and do not carry over from other solicitations that have limits.

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 Personnel will be returned without review. No exceptions will be made.

Proposals submitted in response to this solicitation may not duplicate or be substantially similar to other proposals concurrently under consideration by NSF.

Amount

$5,000,000

Amount Description

Estimated Number of Awards: 4

Approximately 4 awards will be made in each competition, pending availability of funds and quality of proposals received (continuing grants)

Anticipated Funding Amount: $20,000,000

Estimated program budget, number of awards, and average award size/duration are subject to the availability of funds and quality of proposal received.

Funding Type

Grant

Eligibility

Faculty

Category

Engineering and Physical Sciences
Interdisciplinary
Social Sciences

External Deadline

September 30, 2024