EMERGING FRONTIERS IN RESEARCH AND INNOVATION (EFRI-2026/27): Wave-Based Computing (EFRI-WBC)
This grant funds innovative research on wave-based computing, offering both exploratory and large-scale awards to advance foundational engineering and national technology priorities.
Funder: U.S. National Science Foundation
Due Dates: November 19, 2026 (FY 2027 concept outline) | February 11, 2027 (FY 2027 full proposal) | November 16, 2027 (FY 2028 concept outline) | February 10, 2028 (FY 2028 full proposal)
Funding Amounts: Track 1: $100,000–$400,000 for up to two years | Track 2: up to $2,000,000 over four years
Summary: Supports transformative, use-inspired research on computing technologies that harness wave dynamics to improve computational power and energy efficiency.
Key Information: Both tracks require a concept outline and program officer permission before submitting a full proposal.
Description
NSF’s Emerging Frontiers in Research and Innovation Wave-Based Computing program supports foundational research on the design, engineering, and fabrication of technologies that use wave interactions for computation, signal processing, and information transmission. Administered through the Office of Emerging Frontiers and Multidisciplinary Activities, it seeks significant shifts in engineering knowledge and more powerful, energy-efficient computing, including accelerators that work alongside digital computers.
Projects must show strong potential for long-term impact on strategic technology priorities or national science and technology missions identified in the Administration’s FY 2028 Research and Development Budget Priorities Memorandum. Proposers must explain how their work is use-inspired, although impacts need not be realized during the award. The program spans physical principles, information processing with waves, and proof-of-concept testbeds. Industry collaboration is strongly encouraged, including through NSF’s GOALI mechanism.
