CFDA#
47.041; 47.049; 47.050; 47.070; 47.074; 47.075; 47.076; 47.079; 47.083
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Funder Type
Federal Government
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IT Classification
B - Readily funds technology as part of an award
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Authority
National Science Foundation (NSF)
Summary
The mission of EPSCoR is to enhance research competitiveness of targeted jurisdictions (states, territories, commonwealth) by strengthening STEM capacity and capability. EPSCoR goals are to:
- Catalyze the development of research capabilities and the creation of new knowledge that expands jurisdictions' contributions to scientific discovery, innovation, learning, and knowledge-based prosperity;
- Establish sustainable Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) education, training, and professional development pathways that advance jurisdiction-identified research areas and workforce development;
- Broaden direct participation of demographically-diverse individuals, institutions, and organizations in the project's science and engineering research and education initiatives;
- Effect engagement in STEM at national and global levels; and
- Impact research, education, and economic development beyond the project at academic, government, and private sector levels.
RII Track-2 FEC builds inter-jurisdictional collaborative teams of EPSCoR investigators in scientific focus areas consistent with NSF priorities. Projects are investigator-driven and must include researchers from at least two RII- eligible jurisdictions with complementary expertise and resources necessary to tackle those projects, which neither party could address as well or rapidly alone. The Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) research and education activities should seek to broaden participation through the strategic inclusion and integration of different types of individuals, institutions, and sectors throughout the project. Proposals must describe a comprehensive and integrated vision to drive discovery and build sustainable STEM capacity that exemplifies the diversity of all types (individual, institutional, geographic, and disciplinary). The development of diverse early-career faculty is a critical component of this sustainable STEM capacity.
In FY 2023 and 24, RII Track-2 FEC proposals must be aligned with the following focus area: "advancing climate change research and resilience capacity to expand opportunities for disproportionately affected communities."
History of Funding
Previously awarded grantees can be seen at https://www.nsf.gov/awardsearch/advancedSearchResult?ProgEleCode=7217&BooleanElement=Any&BooleanRef=Any&ActiveAwards=true&#results.
Additional Information
Over the long term, RII Track-2 FEC investments are expected to result in sustained improvements in research competitiveness, so that EPSCoR investigators can more successfully pursue significant opportunities of national and international importance in science and engineering research and education. Non-EPSCoR and international collaborations may be included, but no EPSCoR funds should be directed to these institutions.
The primary driver for Research Infrastructure Improvement Track-2: Focused EPSCoR Collaborations (RII Track-2 FEC) investments is the need to build STEM-driven, interjurisdictional research collaborations that have the potential to be nationally and internationally competitive. The project description must include a strong rationale for the collaboration and demonstrate that the partnership is designed to facilitate discovery and innovation in the focus area, which neither party could address as well or rapidly alone. RII Track-2 FEC proposals are unique in their integration of researchers into collaborative teams, and must develop a diverse, well-prepared, STEM-enabled workforce necessary to sustain research competitiveness. The recruitment and/or development of early-career faculty who are traditionally underrepresented in STEM fields as well as the involvement of traditionally underrepresented groups at all levels of this project, including at the postdoctoral researcher, student, and K-12, are critical in achieving this goal and must be an integral component of the proposed project. To ensure maximum impact of available programmatic funds, requests for RII Track-2 FEC funding must:
- Add significantly to the research capacity of the participating jurisdictions in the designated focus area;
- Contribute to the advancement of research and innovation in the proposal's focus area;
- Illustrate how the participating jurisdictions' research capacities will be positively impacted by the collaborative effort;
- Outline clear plans for the recruitment and/or development of early-career faculty who are underrepresented in the chosen STEM field;
- Engage the full diversity of the participating jurisdictions' resources including two- and four-year colleges, Minority-serving institutions, and local and state industry in STEM workforce development;
- Engage and collaborate with social and economic scientists to understand and assess the societal implications of emerging, innovative and disruptive technologies towards climate resilience on impacted communities; and
- Present a detailed plan to demonstrate the potential for economic impact of the endeavor and present a sustainability plan for obtaining subsequent, sustained non-EPSCoR funding from federal, jurisdictional, or private sector sources.
Central to the success of the proposal is the clear demonstration that the collaboration is well-positioned to produce outcomes that cannot be obtained through the efforts of a team in a single jurisdiction working alone. The proposal must clearly identify the roles and contributions of each partner in the project, the anticipated increases in research capacity and competitiveness, the projected workforce development and educational outcomes, and the benefits to the jurisdictions, nation, and society. It is expected that these collaborations be balanced, with participating jurisdictions each contributing to and benefiting from projects at levels that are appropriate to their capabilities.
Eligibility Details
Research Infrastructure Improvement Program Track-2 (RII Track-2) eligibility is based on a jurisdiction's most recent five-year history of research funds awarded by NSF relative to the Foundation's total research budget for that same period subject to certain exclusions. A jurisdiction is eligible to participate in NSF EPSCoR if their most recent 5-year level of total NSF funding is equal to or less than 0.75% of the total NSF budget. Jurisdictions above 0.75% but less than 0.80% are allowed to remain EPSCoR-eligible for up to 5 years, which can be found here: https://nsf-gov-resources.nsf.gov/2022-06/EPSCoR%20Eligibility%20Table%20Fiscal%20Year%202023.pdf
Eligible organizations include:
- Institutions of higher education (PhD-granting and non-PhD-granting); and
- Nonprofit , non-degree granting, domestic U.S. organizations
Deadline Details
Letters of Intent are required and must be submitted on December 20, 2022 by 5:00 PM local time of proposer. Full Proposals must be submitted on January 24, 2023 by 5:00 PM local time of proposer.
Award Details
Between $10,000,000 and $15,000,000 is anticipated to be available in total funding for FY23 and FY 24 to fund up to 10 awards. The RII Track-2 FEC award amount is based on the number of eligible jurisdictions participating in the project. If organizations from two RII-eligible EPSCoR jurisdictions collaborate on a proposal, the award amount may not exceed $1 million per year for up to four years ($4 million maximum total). If organizations from three or more RII-eligible EPSCoR jurisdictions collaborate on a proposal, the award amount may not exceed $1.5 million per year for up to four years ($6 million maximum total). Cost match not required.
Program budget, number of awards and average award size/duration are subject to the quality of proposals and availability of funds.
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