ECosystem for Leading Innovation in Plasma Science and Engineering
The ECLIPSE program supports research in plasma science and engineering to address societal and technological needs through interdisciplinarity and innovation.
Funder: U.S. National Science Foundation
Due Dates: September 29, 2026
Funding Amounts: No specified minimum or maximum; award size and duration vary by proposal and related NSF program; no cost sharing required.
Summary: Supports translational research and workforce development at the interface of fundamental plasma science and technological innovation, addressing societal or technological needs.
Description
The ECosystem for Leading Innovation in Plasma Science and Engineering (ECLIPSE) program is designed to foster translational, multidisciplinary research at the intersection of fundamental plasma science and technological innovation. The program aims to build an inclusive ecosystem spanning multiple NSF Directorates, supporting research that addresses societal and technological challenges within the scope of science and engineering.
ECLIPSE targets projects that may not fit neatly into existing NSF program hierarchies, encouraging proposals that:
- Clearly articulate a fundamental scientific or engineering challenge in plasma science relevant to more than one NSF program.
- Provide a substantive discussion of how resolving this challenge addresses specific societal and/or technological needs.
Topical areas of interest include, but are not limited to:
- Plasma surface interactions (e.g., advanced manufacturing, catalysis)
- Atmospheric pressure plasmas and microplasmas (e.g., microelectronics, plasma agriculture, environmental remediation)
- Dusty plasmas (e.g., nanomaterials, aerosols, coatings)
- Novel plasma diagnostics and sensor development
- Computational modeling for complex plasma systems
- Plasmons in nano-photonics and nano-optics
- Chemical measurement science involving plasmas
- Fundamental plasma chemistry and mechanisms
The program strongly encourages proposals from and collaborations with Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs), Minority Serving Institutions (MSIs), and institutions in EPSCoR-eligible jurisdictions. Efforts to broaden participation of underrepresented groups in STEM are welcomed as Broader Impacts.
Proposals should be submitted to one of the related NSF programs, with “ECLIPSE:” at the beginning of the title, and must address both required criteria for ECLIPSE consideration.
