Opportunity Information: Apply for 23 588
The NSF EPSCoR Research Incubators for STEM Excellence Research Infrastructure Improvement (E-RISE RII) opportunity is a competitive grant program designed to strengthen long-term research capacity in EPSCoR-eligible jurisdictions, meaning certain U.S. states, territories, and commonwealths that historically receive a smaller share of federal R and D funding. The central goal is not just to fund a single research project, but to build durable, jurisdiction-wide research infrastructure and collaboration networks that measurably improve STEM competitiveness over time. In practical terms, NSF is looking for proposals that can spark an organized "incubator" around a well-defined scientific topic that matches priorities already laid out in the jurisdiction's approved Science and Technology (S and T) Plan, and then convert that incubator into a sustainable engine for future research, workforce training, and broader impacts after NSF funding ends.
E-RISE RII emphasizes team-based incubation and network-building rather than isolated work at one campus or lab. Successful projects are expected to develop and implement broad partnerships that cut across institutions and sectors, including universities, non-profits, industry, and government entities, in ways that transform a jurisdiction's research ecosystem in the selected field. The program expects a clear plan to (1) build research capacity in the chosen topic area, (2) develop a skilled workforce aligned with the research and its outcomes, (3) advance diversity, equity, access, and inclusion by engaging different types of academic institutions and non-academic partners, (4) connect the research to societal impacts on a defined timeline (timebound), and (5) show a realistic sustainability pathway so the team, collaborations, and research products continue beyond the E-RISE RII award period. That sustainability point is core: NSF is effectively asking how the incubator will keep operating, attracting funding, producing outputs, and retaining talent once this specific grant ends.
Eligibility is limited to organizations located in EPSCoR-eligible jurisdictions, and there are important restrictions tied to other EPSCoR awards within the jurisdiction. In general, submitting institutions or organizations must meet EPSCoR eligibility criteria and must not be in a collaborating role on a current or potentially pending EPSCoR RII Track-1 award, unless that Track-1 award is in its final year. There are also constraints related to jurisdictions that have an awarded or pending EPSCoR E-CORE RII proposal from an eligible entity within the jurisdiction. The intent behind these restrictions is to manage overlap across EPSCoR investments and to ensure E-RISE RII funds are targeted to jurisdictions and organizations positioned to benefit from this specific incubator model.
Organizations that may submit include accredited U.S. institutions of higher education (both PhD-granting and non-PhD-granting) with a campus in the United States or its territories/possessions, qualifying non-profit non-degree-granting U.S. organizations with 501(c)(3) status (such as museums, science centers, observatories, research labs, and professional societies with a permanent U.S. administrative presence), and Tribal Governments, including federally recognized tribes and also Indigenous communities not recognized under the Federally Recognized Indian Tribe List Act framework as described in the notice. A key structural expectation is that proposals should be multi-institutional or multi-organizational: a lead institution submits, but the project should include one or more collaborating partners, and the overall collaboration should reflect an inclusive, jurisdiction-wide network in the chosen research area rather than a narrow partnership that benefits only one organization.
NSF also signals priorities about who should be meaningfully included in the partnership. While not strictly mandatory in the excerpt, it is encouraged that the lead institution or at least one partner be an Emerging Research Institution (generally, an institution of higher education with established programs and less than $50 million in federal research expenditures) and/or a Minority-Serving Institution such as an HBCU, HSI, TCU, or other institution recognized by the U.S. Department of Education as enrolling significant percentages of students from underrepresented populations. This emphasis aligns with the program's broader goal of expanding access to research opportunity and building inclusive research capacity across different institution types, not only at the most research-intensive campuses in a jurisdiction.
From the funding opportunity details provided, the agency is the National Science Foundation under CFDA 47.083, the instrument is a grant, the opportunity number is 23-588, and the activity category is science and technology and other research and development. The listed award ceiling is $11,500,000, indicating NSF anticipates large, multi-partner, infrastructure-and-capacity-focused projects rather than small pilot studies. The original closing date shown is 2024-08-13. Overall, the program is best understood as a jurisdiction-level capacity-building investment: NSF is funding coordinated research incubators that can unify stakeholders around a strategic STEM topic, produce workforce and societal impact outcomes, broaden participation across institutions and sectors, and create a credible runway to sustained competitiveness after the award period.Apply for 23 588
- The National Science Foundation in the science and technology and other research and development sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "EPSCoR Research Incubators for STEM Excellence Research Infrastructure Improvement" and is now available to receive applicants.
- Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 47.083.
- This funding opportunity was created on 2023-05-13.
- Applicants must submit their applications by 2024-08-13. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
- Each selected applicant is eligible to receive up to $11,500,000.00 in funding.
- Eligible applicants include: Others.
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NSF EPSCoR E-RISE RII (Opportunity 23-588) FAQs
What is the NSF EPSCoR E-RISE RII program?
The NSF EPSCoR Research Incubators for STEM Excellence Research Infrastructure Improvement (E-RISE RII) program is a competitive grant opportunity designed to strengthen long-term research capacity in EPSCoR-eligible jurisdictions. It is intended to build durable, jurisdiction-wide research infrastructure and collaboration networks that improve STEM competitiveness over time, not just fund a single stand-alone research project.
What does NSF mean by a "research incubator" in E-RISE RII?
In this program, an incubator is an organized, team-based effort built around a well-defined scientific topic. The incubator is expected to bring together partners across the jurisdiction and mature into a sustainable engine for future research activity, workforce development, and broader impacts that continues after the NSF award ends.
What is the main goal of E-RISE RII?
The central goal is to strengthen long-term, jurisdiction-wide research capacity in an EPSCoR-eligible jurisdiction by building research infrastructure and networks that measurably improve competitiveness in a chosen STEM area over time.
Is E-RISE RII meant to fund one research project or something broader?
It is meant to fund something broader than a single research project. NSF is looking for proposals that build lasting research capacity, partnerships, and infrastructure, and that create a sustainable pathway for continued activity and growth after the award period.
How should the project topic be selected?
The scientific topic should be well-defined and must match priorities already laid out in the jurisdiction's approved Science and Technology (S and T) Plan. The topic is expected to serve as the anchor for jurisdiction-wide collaboration and capacity-building.
What kinds of partnerships does E-RISE RII expect?
E-RISE RII emphasizes team-based incubation and network-building rather than isolated work at a single campus or lab. Successful projects are expected to form broad partnerships across institutions and sectors, including universities, non-profits, industry, and government entities, in ways that transform the jurisdiction's research ecosystem in the selected field.
Does the proposal need to be multi-institutional or multi-organizational?
Yes. A key expectation is that proposals should be multi-institutional or multi-organizational. A lead institution submits the proposal, but the project should include one or more collaborating partners and reflect an inclusive, jurisdiction-wide network rather than a narrow partnership that benefits only one organization.
Who is eligible to submit an E-RISE RII proposal?
Eligibility is limited to organizations located in EPSCoR-eligible jurisdictions and that meet EPSCoR eligibility criteria. Organizations that may submit include accredited U.S. institutions of higher education (PhD-granting and non-PhD-granting) with a campus in the United States or its territories/possessions, qualifying non-profit non-degree-granting U.S. organizations with 501(c)(3) status and a permanent U.S. administrative presence, and Tribal Governments (including federally recognized tribes and also certain Indigenous communities described in the notice).
What types of higher education institutions can apply?
Both PhD-granting and non-PhD-granting accredited U.S. institutions of higher education may submit, as long as they have a campus in the United States or its territories/possessions and are located in an EPSCoR-eligible jurisdiction.
Can a non-profit organization apply?
Yes, qualifying non-profit, non-degree-granting U.S. organizations with 501(c)(3) status may submit. Examples given include museums, science centers, observatories, research labs, and professional societies, provided they have a permanent U.S. administrative presence and are located in an EPSCoR-eligible jurisdiction.
Can Tribal Governments apply?
Yes. Tribal Governments may submit, including federally recognized tribes and also Indigenous communities not recognized under the Federally Recognized Indian Tribe List Act framework, as described in the notice.
What is an EPSCoR-eligible jurisdiction?
EPSCoR-eligible jurisdictions are certain U.S. states, territories, and commonwealths that historically receive a smaller share of federal research and development funding. This opportunity is limited to organizations located in those jurisdictions.
Are there restrictions related to other EPSCoR awards (like RII Track-1)?
Yes. There are important restrictions tied to other EPSCoR awards within the jurisdiction. In general, submitting institutions or organizations must not be in a collaborating role on a current or potentially pending EPSCoR RII Track-1 award, unless that Track-1 award is in its final year. These restrictions are intended to manage overlap across EPSCoR investments.
Are there restrictions related to EPSCoR E-CORE RII proposals?
Yes. The opportunity description notes constraints related to jurisdictions that have an awarded or pending EPSCoR E-CORE RII proposal from an eligible entity within the jurisdiction. The intent is to limit overlap and ensure E-RISE RII funds are targeted appropriately.
Why does NSF emphasize sustainability after the award ends?
Sustainability is described as core to E-RISE RII. NSF is effectively asking how the incubator will continue operating after this funding ends: how it will keep attracting funding, producing research and other outputs, retaining talent, and maintaining the collaborations and infrastructure built during the award.
What are the major planning elements NSF expects in an E-RISE RII proposal?
The program expects a clear plan to: (1) build research capacity in the chosen topic area, (2) develop a skilled workforce aligned with the research and outcomes, (3) advance diversity, equity, access, and inclusion through engagement across different types of institutions and partners, (4) connect research to societal impacts on a defined (timebound) timeline, and (5) present a realistic sustainability pathway beyond the award period.
How does E-RISE RII address workforce development?
Workforce development is explicitly called out as an expectation. Projects should include a plan to develop a skilled workforce aligned with the selected research area and its outcomes, as part of building long-term competitiveness in the jurisdiction.
How does E-RISE RII address diversity, equity, access, and inclusion (DEAI)?
DEAI is built into the program expectations through engaging different types of academic institutions and non-academic partners and building inclusive, jurisdiction-wide networks. The emphasis is on broadening participation and expanding access to research opportunity across institution types and sectors.
Does the program require societal impacts to be timebound?
Yes. The opportunity description states that projects should connect the research to societal impacts on a defined timeline (timebound), indicating NSF expects planned impact pathways with clear timing rather than open-ended aspirations.
Are Emerging Research Institutions (ERIs) and Minority-Serving Institutions (MSIs) required as partners?
The excerpt describes this as encouraged rather than strictly mandatory. NSF signals that it is encouraged for the lead institution or at least one partner to be an Emerging Research Institution (generally an institution of higher education with established programs and less than $50 million in federal research expenditures) and/or a Minority-Serving Institution such as an HBCU, HSI, TCU, or another institution recognized by the U.S. Department of Education as serving significant percentages of underrepresented students.
What is the benefit of including an ERI and/or MSI in the partnership?
Including ERIs and/or MSIs aligns with the program's broader goal of expanding access to research opportunity and building inclusive research capacity across different institution types, rather than concentrating growth only at the most research-intensive campuses in a jurisdiction.
Which federal agency is offering this opportunity?
The agency is the National Science Foundation (NSF).
What is the opportunity number for this funding notice?
The opportunity number is 23-588.
What is the assistance listing / CFDA number provided?
The CFDA (assistance listing) number provided is 47.083.
What type of award instrument is used?
The instrument listed is a grant.
What activity category does this opportunity fall under?
The activity category is listed as science and technology and other research and development.
What is the maximum award amount (award ceiling)?
The listed award ceiling is $11,500,000, indicating NSF anticipates large, multi-partner projects focused on infrastructure and long-term capacity building.
When is the closing date shown for this opportunity?
The original closing date shown is 2024-08-13.
What kinds of outcomes is NSF trying to achieve with E-RISE RII?
NSF is aiming to fund coordinated incubators that unify stakeholders around a strategic STEM topic, strengthen research infrastructure and collaboration networks, produce workforce and societal impact outcomes, broaden participation across institutions and sectors, and create a credible runway to sustained competitiveness after the award period.
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