EPSCoR Research Infrastructure Improvement Program: EPSCoR Collaborations for Optimizing Research Ecosystems

EPSCoR Research Infrastructure Improvement Program: EPSCoR Collaborations for Optimizing Research Ecosystems

The Established Program to Stimulate Competitive Research (EPSCoR) supports the U.S. National Science Foundation (NSF) mission by promoting nationwide scientific progress. Through this program, NSF fosters partnerships among academic institutions, government entities, industry, and non-profits. These collaborations aim to drive long-term improvements in research infrastructure, enhance R&D capacity, and boost the research competitiveness of eligible EPSCoR jurisdictions, including states, territories, and commonwealths. A jurisdiction’s research ecosystem is the interconnected network of organizations, researchers, trainees, community stakeholders, and resources that contribute to the process of research and innovation that advances fundamental knowledge, generates use-inspired products, and ultimately cultivates beneficial impacts for a jurisdiction. E-CORE supports jurisdictions in building significant and sustainable research capacity and research infrastructure for targeted areas of focus, hereinafter referred to as “cores,” that underlie a jurisdiction's research ecosystem. Based on the evidence-based and self-identified needs of a jurisdiction, the types of cores supported by E-CORE may include (but are not limited to) development, enhancement, and/or ensuring the sustainability of: research administration; research facilities and infrastructure (including cyberinfrastructure); STEM education (K-12) pathways; higher education pathways; early career investigator pathways; broadening participation; workforce development; national and global partnerships; community engagement and outreach; technology transfer; economic development; and use-inspired research pathways. E-CORE projects must be designed to support the sustainability of the research infrastructure cores beyond the award period. Projects will also support the development and growth of new jurisdiction-wide connections, and the leveraging of existing jurisdiction-wide connections, to d

Details

• Agency: U.S. National Science Foundation
• Opportunity #: 25-523
• Total Funding: $37,500,000
• Instrument: grant

Eligibility

*Who May Submit Proposals: Proposals may only be submitted by the following: - Institutions of higher education (PhD- and non-PhD-granting) that are accredited and operate a campus within the United States, its territories, or possessions, may submit proposals on behalf of their faculty. Distinct academic campuses within multi-campus systems (e.g., campuses that award their own degrees and have independent administrative structures, admissions policies, and alumni associations) qualify as separate submission-eligible institutions. Campuses that plan to submit a proposal through the Sponsored Projects Office of other campuses or organizations should contact NSF EPSCoR to discuss eligibility as early as possible and at least six weeks before submitting such a proposal. Non-profit, non-degree-granting domestic U.S. organizations, acting on behalf of their employees, that include (but are not limited to) independent museums and science centers, observatories, research laboratories, profess