Description

The U.S. National Science Foundation’s Directorate for Engineering administers this opportunity through its Division of Civil, Mechanical and Manufacturing Innovation. It supports foundational engineering research in manufacturing processes and supply networks, resilient civil infrastructure, intelligent and human-interactive dynamic systems, and the deformation and failure of engineered and biological materials. Projects may fit within one program or span multiple programs.

NSF particularly welcomes intellectually ambitious and potentially transformative research, including interdisciplinary work that challenges prevailing paradigms, develops new theories or methods, or creates research tools and datasets. Both incremental advances and bold, high-risk inquiries are within scope. Proposals need not promise a near-term product, deployment, commercial outcome, or later-stage development. Emerging technologies such as AI, advanced computation, and automation should be scientifically justified rather than incidental.