Atom | Engineering Design and Systems Engineering

Due Dates: Proposals accepted anytime

Funding Amounts: No specified ceiling; typical NSF awards range from 1–5 years and vary by project scope.

Summary: Supports fundamental, multidisciplinary research advancing design and systems science for engineered artifacts, including devices, processes, and systems.

Key Information: Proposals must follow the current NSF Proposal & Award Policies & Procedures Guide (PAPPG).

Description

The National Science Foundation's Engineering Design and Systems Engineering (EDSE) program funds fundamental research that advances design science and/or systems science, with a focus on the creation of new knowledge about the design of engineered artifacts. These artifacts include devices, products, processes, platforms, materials, organizations, systems, and systems of systems.

The program views design as a system, considering designers, their methods, the artifacts, and the environment as subjects of rigorous scientific inquiry. Interactions among these elements are also central to the program's interests.

EDSE strongly encourages multidisciplinary proposals and well-defined collaborations between experts in design/systems science and other domains, such as social, behavioral, computational, and natural sciences. Proposals should be grounded in theory, demonstrate potential to improve design, and include a plan for rigorous assessment of research methods across all involved domains.

Research areas of interest include, but are not limited to:

Design representation
Design optimization
Design validation
Mechanism design
Robotics and intelligent system design
Design of engineered materials systems
Design cognition
Design collaboration
Data science and artificial intelligence in design
Design in under-resourced communities
Immersive design
Design at extreme scales and in extreme environments

Prospective investigators are encouraged to discuss their research ideas with the Program Director before preparing and submitting a proposal.

Due Dates

Proposals are accepted at any time; there are no fixed deadlines.

Funding Amount

No explicit maximum or minimum award amount is specified.
Typical NSF awards in this area range from 1 to 5 years in duration.
Funding levels depend on project scope and merit.

Eligibility

Open to a wide range of applicants, including:
- Academic institutions (colleges and universities)
- Nonprofit organizations
- For-profit organizations
- Unrestricted, subject to NSF's general eligibility requirements
International collaborations may be included, but primary support is for U.S.-based organizations.

Application Process

Proposals must be submitted in accordance with the current NSF Proposal & Award Policies & Procedures Guide (PAPPG).
Submission is through Research.gov or Grants.gov.
Proposals should clearly articulate the theoretical foundation, multidisciplinary approach, and rigorous assessment plan.
It is strongly recommended to contact the Program Director to discuss project fit before submission.

Additional Information

NSF awards made on or after October 1, 2024, are subject to updated award conditions in line with revised federal guidance.
No cost-sharing or matching is required.
Proposals may be submitted at any time; early consultation with the Program Director is encouraged.
Browse previously funded projects for examples of successful applications.

External Links

Contact Information

Name	Email	Phone	Organization
Harrison Kim	EDSE@nsf.gov	(703) 292-7328	ENG/CMMI (NSF)
NSF General	info@nsf.gov	1-703-292-5111	National Science Foundation