NSF-BSF Research Grants
NSF-BSF Research Grants support U.S. and Israeli investigators in collaborative scientific projects across NSF research programs, emphasizing scientific merit, broader impact, and meaningful partnership.
Funder: United States-Israel Binational Science Foundation
Due Dates: February 17, 2027 (EFRI—NSF) | February 23, 2027 (EFRI—BSF) | Rolling (Most programs) | Various dates (CDS&E, CBET)
Funding Amounts: Israeli teams: up to NIS 400,000/year (experimental) or NIS 330,000/year (theoretical/computer-based), usually 3 years; up to 50% increase for multiple Israeli groups
Summary: Joint NSF-BSF funding supports collaborative scientific research by U.S. and Israeli investigators across NSF research programs.
Key Information: Israeli scientists may submit two NSF-BSF applications per October–September year and participate in only two proposals/grants simultaneously.
Description
NSF-BSF Research Grants support collaborative scientific research by U.S. and Israeli investigators through a partnership between the U.S. National Science Foundation (NSF) and the United States-Israel Binational Science Foundation (BSF). Established through a 2012 memorandum of understanding, the partnership now encompasses all NSF grant-making directorates and all or most divisions within them. Joint proposals sit within the relevant NSF core research programs and are evaluated alongside regular proposals in the same discipline.
NSF funds U.S. investigators from its regular resources, without a separate allocation for these collaborations. BSF funds Israeli investigators through dedicated annual allocations from the Israeli Committee for Planning and Budgeting. These funds are separate from the endowment supporting traditional BSF Research Grants. The joint research plan must explain the Israeli collaborator’s role and why that contribution is important.
