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Engineering Research Initiation

Federal funding opportunity 24-590 from U.S. National Science Foundation.

Apply on Grants.gov →Application closes October 9, 2026

Posted
July 17, 2026
Closes
October 9, 2026
Award floor
$200,000
Program funding
$11,000,000
Cost sharing
No
Instrument
Grant
Assistance listing
47.041
Category
Science and Technology and other Research and Development
Archives
October 16, 2027

Program funding history

Awards made under Assistance Listing 47.041 across FY2024–FY2026, from public federal spending records.

FY2024 obligated
$757M
FY2025 obligated
$744.2M
FY2026 (to date) obligated
$224.8M
Awards in window
6,346

Top recipients: Regents of the University of Michigan, Purdue University, Georgia Tech Research Corp, North Carolina State University, Trustees of the University of Pennsylvania, the

Source: USAspending.gov · refreshed August 2026

Synopsis

The NSF Directorate for Engineering (ENG) seeks to build engineering research capacity across the nation by investing in new academic investigators who have yet to receive sufficient research funding from Federal Agencies. The Engineering Research Initiation (ERI) program will support new investigators as they initiate their research programs and advance in their careers as researchers, educators, and innovators. This funding opportunity aims to broaden the base of investigators involved in engineering research and therefore is limited to investigators that are not affiliated with “very high research activity” R1 institutions (according to the Carnegie Classificationhttps://carnegieclassifications.iu.edu/).

Who can apply

*Who May Submit Proposals: Proposals may only be submitted by the following: - <span class="TextRun Highlight SCXW158288404 BCX0" lang="EN-US" xml:lang="EN-US" data-contrast="none"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW158288404 BCX0">In line with the program goals, ERI welcomes the submission of proposals to this funding opportunity from Institutions of Higher Education (IHEs) not currently classified as a Doctoral University with &ldquo;Very High Research Activity&rdquo; (R1 institutions) according to the 2021 Carnegie Classification:<a class="sharedcomments-hyperlink" title="https://carnegieclassifications.acenet.edu/" tabindex="0" href="https://carnegieclassifications.acenet.edu/" rel="noreferrer" target="_blank" data-hyperlink="{&quot;url&quot;:&quot;https://carnegieclassifications.acenet.edu/&quot;}">https://carnegieclassifications.acenet.edu/</a></span><span class="NormalTextRun CommentHighlightPipeRest SCXW158288404 BCX0">. These include two- and four-year IHEs (including community colleges) accredited in, and having a campus </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW158288404 BCX0">located</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW158288404 BCX0"> in the US, acting on behalf of their faculty members. Eligibility is based on Classification on the date of proposal submission deadline. </span></span><span class="TextRun SCXW158288404 BCX0" lang="EN-US" xml:lang="EN-US" data-contrast="none"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW158288404 BCX0">NSF encourages</span></span><span class="TextRun Highlight SCXW158288404 BCX0" lang="EN-US" xml:lang="EN-US" data-contrast="none"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW158288404 BCX0">su</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW158288404 BCX0">b</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW158288404 BCX0">m</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW158288404 BCX0">issions from</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW158288404 BCX0">Primarily Undergraduate Institutions (PUIs)</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW158288404 BCX0"> and two-year colleges</span></span><span…

How to apply

Applications go through the official government listing. Grants Radar links you straight to the source — applying is free.

View on Grants.gov   Full announcement

Agency contact: U.S. National Science Foundation · [email protected] · 703-292-4203

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