National Science Foundation Unclaimed

Provides funding for startups to turn research into viable products, driving innovation.

Empowers researchers to tackle societal challenges through transdisciplinary technology development.

Catalyzes innovation ecosystems to drive economic growth and societal solutions.

Facilitates hands-on learning in emerging technologies for diverse audiences.

Supports the establishment and sustainability of open-source ecosystems to meet critical challenges.

Provides essential AI resources and tools to researchers for accelerated scientific discovery.

Accelerates AI research through collaboration and workforce development.

ERC promotes transformative engineering research and education through collaboration.

Facilitates transformative research through collaboration between industry and academia.

MRSEC fosters collaboration, innovation, and training in materials science through interdisciplinary research and partnerships.

Enables transformative research through collaborative partnerships in science and technology.

Facilitates open access to NSF-funded research outputs for public benefit.

Marketplaces that connect startups with non-dilutive funding, grants, contracts, and programmatic funding opportunities and support application discovery and submission.

Collaborative sponsored and contract research with industry and government, including joint development, applied research projects, and technology transfer.

Programs and events that strengthen local and regional startup ecosystems by connecting stakeholders, running job fairs and local events, and centralizing resources to support economic development.

Curriculum, gamified training, and experiential programs aligned to workforce outcomes and integrated with emerging technology learning.

Programs that support open-source ecosystem stewardship, public access to research outputs, and shared data and computing infrastructure for collaborative scientific research.

America's Seed Fund (SBIR/STTR)

NSF's America's Seed Fund (SBIR/STTR) provides funding to startups and small businesses to translate research into products and services, including biotech innovations. It supports SBIR and STTR programs that help early‑stage ideas move toward market‑ready solutions.

• Utilizes SBIR/STTR Framework
  Leverages established SBIR and STTR frameworks to maximize reach and impact on innovations.
• Funds Early-Stage Startups
  Provides essential funding to startups, accelerating their path from research to market implementation.
• Supports Biotech Innovations
  Empowers startups working on biotech solutions, enhancing the focus on healthcare advancements.
• No Equity Requirement
  Allows startups to retain full ownership and control of their intellectual property and business.

Convergence Accelerator

NSF's Convergence Accelerator funds transdisciplinary teams to co-design and co-create technology advances addressing societal and economic challenges. It provides milestone-driven funding of up to $5.75 million per award, along with mentorship, entrepreneurial resources, and access to commercialization expertise. The program emphasizes lab-to-market acceleration, deep technologies, innovation teams, strategic partnerships, and commercialization support.

• Guides Research Translation
  Helps convert innovative research into successful products, enhancing market viability.
• Provides Significant Funding
  Ensures access to substantial financial resources necessary for impactful research and development.
• Encourages Collaborative Innovation
  Fosters partnerships across disciplines for holistic problem-solving through innovative solutions.
• Facilitates Research Transition
  Utilizes early investments to reduce risks associated with emerging technologies, paving the way for market success.
• Supports Entrepreneurial Growth
  Equips teams with the necessary tools and support to successfully launch entrepreneurship ventures.
• Enhances Collaborative Networks
  Promotes synergies between sectors for comprehensive research approaches and shared resources.

NSF Regional Innovation Engines

NSF Regional Innovation Engines create regional coalitions to catalyze use‑inspired research, technology translation and workforce development. NSF may award up to $160 million to build regional innovation ecosystems that connect universities, industry, government and communities.

• Forge Key Partnerships
  Creates invaluable links between diverse sectors to stimulate collaborative advancements.
• Enhance Workforce Development
  Empowers local talent through targeted training and educational initiatives.
• Secure Significant Funding
  Provides robust financial support to kickstart and sustain innovation initiatives.
• Build Regional Networks
  Establishes collaborative environments that enhance local innovation capabilities.
• Accelerate Tech Transfer
  Facilitates the conversion of innovations into market-ready solutions for real-world impact.

Experiential Learning for Emerging and Novel Technologies (ExLENT)

ExLENT funds organizations to provide hands‑on experiential learning experiences in emerging technologies for diverse participants, preparing them with essential skills for careers in these fields. Eligible organizations can receive up to $1 million in funding.

• Facilitate Practical Learning
  Enables participants to engage with cutting-edge technologies through immersive, hands-on experiences that promote deeper understanding and skill development.
• Receive Up To $1 Million
  Provides substantial financial support to enhance educational programs in emerging technologies.
• Equip for Tech Careers
  Focuses on equipping learners with the skills necessary for success in rapidly evolving technology sectors.
• Engages Diverse Learners
  Aims to involve individuals from various backgrounds and demographics, enhancing inclusivity in technology education.

Pathways to Enable Open-Source Ecosystems (POSE)

POSE is an NSF program that harnesses distributed open-source development to address national, societal and economic challenges. It funds managing organizations to catalyze the creation and growth of open-source ecosystems built around mature products, with goals including security, privacy, continuous integration, governance and long-term sustainability.

• Provides Financial Support
  Enables organizations to secure funding essential for developing and scaling open-source projects.
• Ensures Longevity
  Establishes robust structures to maintain ecosystem functions and growth over time.
• Integrates Safe Practices
  Incorporates essential security measures and CI methodologies to protect and streamline development.
• Increases Participation
  Encourages diverse contributions from users and developers, enhancing project collaboration.
• Targets Key Issues
  Directs efforts towards significant problems that impact the nation, enhancing community resilience.

National AI Research Resource Pilot (NAIRR)

NAIRR is an NSF initiative to provide a national AI research resource pilot, delivering access to AI data, computing resources and tools to accelerate AI‑driven science and engineering.

• Provides Data and Resources
  Equips researchers with high-quality datasets and robust computing power to enhance AI research capabilities.
• Enables Advanced Experiments
  Facilitates groundbreaking AI research through comprehensive access to cutting-edge infrastructure.
• Enhances AI Workforce Skills
  Promotes educational initiatives to create a skilled workforce adept in AI technologies.
• Facilitates Collaboration
  Encourages partnership and sharing of resources within the AI research community to foster innovation.

National AI Research Institutes

NSF funds National AI Research Institutes to accelerate AI research, foster collaboration among universities, industry and government, and build a world‑class AI workforce.

• Enhances AI Skills
  Provides educational tools and resources to develop a skilled workforce ready for AI challenges.
• Fosters Partnerships
  Encourages joint initiatives and projects to leverage diverse expertise for greater impact in AI research.
• Promotes Collaborative Research
  Creates an interconnected network of research institutes to drive AI advancements across multiple disciplines.
• Builds AI Literacy
  Empowers individuals and businesses with the knowledge and tools needed to thrive in an AI-driven economy.
• Enhances Research Access
  Delivers integrated computational, data, and software resources necessary for cutting-edge AI research.

Engineering Research Centers (ERC)

Engineering Research Centers (ERC) fund high-risk, high-payoff engineering research through cross-sector partnerships, aiming to advance engineered systems and education.

• Enhances Research Through Collaboration
  Engaging stakeholders from various fields strengthens research outcomes and accelerates innovation.
• Supports Innovative Research
  Encouraging high-risk projects allows for groundbreaking advancements and solutions to complex engineering challenges.
• Prepares Future Engineers
  ERC focuses on curriculum development and educational initiatives to ensure a skilled workforce in engineering.
• Access to Cutting-edge Facilities
  Supports advanced research capabilities by offering essential tools and environments conducive to innovation.
• Fosters Diverse Expertise
  Bringing together diverse fields enhances comprehensive solutions to engineering problems.

Industry-University Cooperative Research Centers (IUCRC)

IUCRC programs catalyze pre-competitive research by enabling long-term collaboration between industry and universities, often with government involvement, to accelerate innovation.

• Drives Sustainable Research Initiatives
  These partnerships ensure ongoing research that is relevant to industry needs, contributing to workforce development and technological advancement.
• Enhances Collaborative Opportunities
  IUCRC promotes collaboration among universities, industries, and government, creating a robust research environment that fosters innovation.
• Supports Advancements Prior to Market
  IUCRC facilitates research that lays the groundwork for future innovations without the immediate pressure of commercial viability.
• Ensures Practical Application of Research
  IUCRC enhances the practical relevance of academic research by connecting it with industry needs and challenges.
• Access to Multiple Funding Programs
  Researchers can leverage various funding sources through IUCRC to enhance their projects and collaborate effectively.

Materials Research Science and Engineering Centers (MRSEC)

MRSEC supports university-based centers that collaborate with industry and other sectors on multidisciplinary materials research and education.

• Enhances Workforce Skills
  MRSEC develops training programs to prepare the next generation of materials scientists, ensuring they possess the skills needed to advance in the field.
• Promotes Cross-Disciplinary Innovation
  MRSEC centers undertake research that integrates knowledge from various disciplines, paving the way for breakthroughs in materials science.
• Facilitates Industrial Partnerships
  MRSEC collaborates with industry to translate research innovations into practical applications, enhancing product development and technological advancements.
• Supports Cutting-Edge Discoveries
  MRSEC's funding initiatives are directed towards pioneering research in materials with unique properties and potential applications in various industries.

Science and Technology Centers (STCs)

Science and Technology Centers conduct world-class research through partnerships among academia, national laboratories, industry, and other entities, domestically and internationally.

• Foster Collaboration Across Sectors
  These partnerships enhance the research value by integrating diverse expertise and resources, accelerating innovation in scientific and technological advancements.
• Conduct Advanced and Diverse Research
  Research at these centers spans various fields, leading to significant scientific breakthroughs that address both fundamental and applied questions.
• Promote International Research Initiatives
  The centers facilitate a global exchange of knowledge and resources, enabling researchers to tackle pressing challenges on a worldwide scale.
• Strengthen STEM Education
  These programs prepare the next generation of scientists and engineers, contributing to a knowledgeable workforce that meets future challenges.

NSF Public Access Repository (PAR)

NSF Public Access Repository provides open access to NSF‑funded publications; awardees deposit peer‑reviewed publications and conference papers to ensure public availability.

• Mandates Depositing Publications
  This feature ensures all peer-reviewed outputs from NSF-funded research are captured and made publicly accessible.
• Provides Open Access
  The repository enables free access to critical scientific and engineering research for the public and academic communities.
• Promotes Public Engagement
  By guaranteeing that research outputs are publicly available, this feature strengthens public engagement and trust in scientific endeavors.
• Enhances Research Integrity
  This feature supports researchers in developing data management plans, ensuring compliance with NSF requirements for data sharing.