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U.S. National Science Foundation

Expeditions in Computing

Open · Opportunity 20-544 · Assistance Listing 47.070

Key facts

Deadline
Due Mar 31, 2027 · 175 days left
Award size
From $15M
Total available
$60M · about 4 awards
Cost share / match ?
Not required · Work out your budget and match
Who can apply
Other (see eligibility)
Where
Anywhere in the U.S., including Tennessee

Before you apply: federal grants require an active SAM.gov registration (Unique Entity ID) and a Grants.gov account. Registration is free but can take weeks, so start now, not when the deadline is close. Grant-ready checklist

How this fits you

  • Available in Tennessee (nationwide program)
  • No cost share required
  • Tennessee recipients since 2023: 21

Tell us who you are to see whether you're eligible.

More from U.S. National Science Foundation

Read the official notice View on Grants.gov Add deadline to my calendar Sign in to save

About this grant

The far-reaching impact and rate of innovation in the computer and information science and engineering fields has been remarkable, generating economic prosperity and enhancing the quality of life for people throughout the world. More than a decade ago, the National Science Foundation’s (NSF) Directorate for Computer and Information Science and Engineering (CISE) established the Expeditions in Computing (Expeditions) program to build on past successes and provide the CISE research and education community with the opportunity to pursue ambitious, fundamental research agendas that promise to define the future of computing and information. In planning Expeditions projects, investigators are strongly encouraged to come together within or across departments or institutions to combine their creative talents in the identification of compelling, transformative research agendas that look ahead by at least a decade and promise disruptive innovations in computer and information science and engineering for many years to come. Now funded at levels up to $15,000,000 for seven years, Expeditions projects represent some of the largest single investments currently made by the CISE directorate. Together with the Science and Technology Centers and the National Artificial Intelligence Research Institutes that CISE supports, Expeditions projects form the centerpiece of the directorate's center-scale award portfolio. With awards funded at levels that promote the formation of large research teams, CISE recognizes that concurrent research advances in multiple fields or sub-fields are often necessary to stimulate deep and enduring outcomes. The awards made in this program will complement research areas supported by other CISE programs, which target particular computer and information science and engineering fields. Additionally, CISE offers Innovation Transition (InTrans) awards for teams nearing the end of their Expeditions as well as Secure and Trustworthy Cyberspace (SaTC) and Cyber-Physical Systems (CPS) Frontier projects. The goal of InTransis to continue the long-term vision and objectives of CISE’s center-scale projects. Through InTrans awards, CISE will provide limited funds to match industry support.

Eligibility (from the notice)

*Who May Submit Proposals: Proposals may only be submitted by the following: - Institutions of Higher Education (IHEs)accredited in, and having a campus located in the U.S.,with undergraduate, masters, and doctoral programs in computer and information science and engineering fields may submit proposals as lead or collaborative institutions. Subawardees may include two-and four-year U.S. IHEs,non-profit non-academic organizationssuch as independent museums, institutes, observatories, professional societies and similar organizations located in the U.S. that are directly associated with education or research activities in the computer and information science and engineering fields. Other organizations such as national laboratories, for-profit organizations and organizations in other countries may participate in the proposed activities if they have independent sources of support; they will not be supported by NSF.

Should we apply? (2-minute check) Ask a partner for a letter

Your schedule, working back from the deadline

  1. Oct7
    Check that your SAM.gov registration is active (or start it now)
    Grants.gov: allow up to 10 business days for SAM registration, weeks or months if information isn't verified. It must be renewed every year. Grants.gov
  2. Mar10
    Ask partners for letters of support or commitment
    Suggested: partners need time to write and sign letters.
  3. Mar24
    Finish a complete draft for a final review
    University grant offices require final versions about 5 business days before the sponsor deadline. Emory Office of Sponsored Programs
  4. Mar29
    Submit
    Grants.gov: submit at least 24–48 hours before the deadline: uploads fail, systems slow down, errors need fixing. Grants.gov blog
  5. Mar31
    Deadline
    From the funder.

Save this grant to put these dates in your tracker and private calendar.

Who in Tennessee has won this program

21 awards to Tennessee recipients in 4 counties since federal FY2023. Largest shown:

Past Tennessee recipients
RecipientWhereAmountFY
University Of TennesseeKnoxville, Knox County$9M2026
Vanderbilt UniversityNashville, Davidson County$3.2M2022
University Of MemphisMemphis, Shelby County$2.6M2019
Vanderbilt UniversityNashville, Davidson County$2.2M2023
University Of TennesseeKnoxville, Knox County$2.1M2023
University Of TennesseeKnoxville, Knox County$2M2024
University Of TennesseeKnoxville, Knox County$2M2020
University Of TennesseeKnoxville, Knox County$1.7M2025
Vanderbilt UniversityNashville, Davidson County$1.7M2022
Vanderbilt UniversityNashville, Davidson County$1.6M2026
University Of TennesseeKnoxville, Knox County$1.2M2020
Vanderbilt UniversityNashville, Davidson County$1.2M2025

Source: USAspending.gov. Past awards show who this program funds; they don't guarantee future awards.

About the program (47.070)

Computer and Information Science and Engineering — (CISE)

How applications are judged

Not Applicable.

Matching requirements

This program has no statutory formula. Matching requirements are not applicable to this assistance listing. MOE requirements are not applicable to this assistance listing.

Examples of funded projects

Not Applicable.

Program listing on SAM.gov

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