NSF-BSF Research Grants
NSF-BSF Research Grants support U.S. and Israeli scientists in collaborative disciplinary and interdisciplinary research, bringing their contributions together across a broad range of scientific programs.
Funder: United States-Israel Binational Science Foundation
Due Dates: November 16, 2026 (Astronomy, NSF) | November 22, 2026 (Astronomy, BSF) | February 17, 2027 (EFRI, NSF) | February 23, 2027 (EFRI, BSF) | Rolling (selected programs) | Various dates (CDS&E, Physics, Mathematics, CBET)
Funding Amounts: Israeli side: up to 400,000 NIS/year (experimental) or 330,000 NIS/year (theoretical/computer-based), usually 3 years and occasionally up to 5; up to 50% more for multiple Israeli groups. U.S. terms are determined by NSF.
Summary: Supports collaborative research by U.S. and Israeli scientists through NSF disciplinary and interdisciplinary programs.
Key Information: Israeli scientists may submit two NSF-BSF applications per October–September year and participate in only two NSF-BSF proposals/grants simultaneously.
Description
NSF-BSF Research Grants are jointly run by the United States-Israel Binational Science Foundation (BSF) and the U.S. National Science Foundation (NSF). Established through a 2012 cooperation agreement, the partnership spans all NSF grant-making directorates and all or most divisions within them. It supports collaborative U.S.-Israeli research through disciplinary core programs and interdisciplinary opportunities, including biological sciences, computing, engineering, mathematics, physical sciences, and geosciences.
Joint proposals compete alongside regular NSF proposals in the same discipline, rather than through a separate NSF allocation for international collaboration. NSF funds the U.S. researchers from its regular resources, while BSF supports Israeli researchers through dedicated Israeli Committee for Planning and Budgeting allocations. These funds are separate from the endowment supporting the traditional BSF Research Grants program.
