The NSF Trailblazer Engineering Impact Award funds innovative engineering research in areas like AI, bioengineering, and robotics to address national needs and foster new industries or capabilities.
Funder: U.S. National Science Foundation
Due Dates: July 24, 2026 (Full Proposal)
Funding Amounts: $15,000,000 total program funding; award size not specified.
Summary: Supports individual investigators pursuing innovative, high-impact engineering research in emerging or national priority areas.
Key Information: Only single-PI proposals are allowed; overlapping projects are not eligible.
This program supports individual investigators who propose novel research projects with the potential to creatively address new areas of fundamental or applied engineering research. The aim is to catalyze the development of new industries, enhance U.S. leadership in engineering, or make significant progress toward national needs or grand challenges. Priority areas include, but are not limited to, artificial intelligence (AI), bioengineering, quantum engineering, robotics, and nuclear engineering. Projects must represent a new research direction for the investigator, distinct from their current or previous work. Awardees will join an NSF TRAILBLAZER cohort and are expected to participate in annual meetings and potentially other program activities.