NSF Focused Research Group – $150-$500k per year – Due 9-8-21

The purpose of the Focused Research Group activity is to support collaborative groups employing innovative methods to solve specific, major research challenges in the mathematical sciences. A major challenge is an outstanding problem of significant importance that requires the focused and synergistic efforts of a collaborative group to solve, and whose solution will have wide impacts in the mathematical sciences and potentially in other areas. Groups may include, in addition to statisticians and mathematicians, researchers from other science and engineering disciplines appropriate for the proposed research. Risky projects are welcome. Interdisciplinary projects are welcome. Projects should be timely, limited in duration to up to three years, and substantial in their scope and impact for the mathematical sciences. Funded projects that show substantial progress in their first two years may be recommended for a creativity extension for up to an additional two years.

Award Information
– Anticipated Type of Award: Standard Grant or Continuing Grant
– Estimated Number of Awards: 5 to 10
– Approximately 5-10 awards annually.
– Anticipated Funding Amount: $10,000,000
– Approximately $10,000,000 will be available for this activity annually, subject to availability of funds.
Eligibility Information

Who May Submit Proposals:
The categories of proposers eligible to submit proposals to the National Science Foundation are identified in the NSF Proposal & Award Policies & Procedures Guide (PAPPG), Chapter I.E. Unaffiliated individuals are not eligible to submit proposals in response to this solicitation.

– Who May Serve as PI: There are no restrictions or limits.
– Limit on Number of Proposals per Organization: There are no restrictions or limits.
– Limit on Number of Proposals per PI or Co-PI: 1
Because of the level of commitment expected from senior personnel, none can be part of more than one Focused Research Group proposal or award at a time as a PI or co-PI.

Proposals involving investigators from more than one institution are allowed and should be submitted as separately submitted collaborative proposals. See the NSF Proposal & Award Policies & Procedures Guide (PAPPG) for guidance on the simultaneous submission of proposals from different organizations.

AWARD INFORMATION
Under this solicitation, proposals may be submitted for any funding amount from $150,000 up to $500,000 per year, for up to three years. The budget must be commensurate with the project and thoroughly justified in the proposal. DMS expects to fund approximately five to ten awards annually, depending on the quality of submissions and the availability of funds. The anticipated date of awards is April of each year. In cases of exceptional progress shown in the first two years and high likelihood of further developments, DMS expects to recommend creativity extensions for
up to two additional years.

FOR MORE INFORMATION VISIT: https://www.nsf.gov/pubs/2016/nsf16577/nsf16577.pdf