EPSCoR Research Infrastructure Improvement Program: EPSCoR Research Incubators for STEM Excellence
Can you apply?
This grant is for academic institutions and nonprofit research organizations in EPSCoR-eligible jurisdictions seeking to develop STEM research capacity and competitiveness.
Higher education institutions (PhD-granting or non-PhD-granting) accredited in the U.S., territories, or possessions may apply. Separate campuses within multi-campus systems with independent structures qualify as distinct applicants.
Nonprofit, non-degree-granting organizations with 501(c)(3) status may also apply. These include museums, science centers, observatories, and research laboratories with permanent administrative structures in the U.S.
E-RISE projects must address a clear research hypothesis or problem aligned with a jurisdiction's S&T Plan. Projects should build research capacity, develop skilled workforce, foster collaboration across institutions and sectors, integrate societal impacts, and include sustainability plans beyond the funding period.
This grant is for academic institutions and nonprofit research organizations in EPSCoR-eligible jurisdictions seeking to develop STEM research capacity and competitiveness.
Higher education institutions (PhD-granting or non-PhD-granting) accredited in the U.S., territories, or possessions may apply. Separate campuses within multi-campus systems with independent structures qualify as distinct applicants.
Nonprofit, non-degree-granting organizations with 501(c)(3) status may also apply. These include museums, science centers, observatories, and research laboratories with permanent administrative structures in the U.S.
E-RISE projects must address a clear research hypothesis or problem aligned with a jurisdiction's S&T Plan. Projects should build research capacity, develop skilled workforce, foster collaboration across institutions and sectors, integrate societal impacts, and include sustainability plans beyond the funding period.
Program description
The Established Program to Stimulate Competitive Research (EPSCoR) supports the mission of the U.S. National Science Foundation (NSF) by promoting nationwide scientific progress. Through this program, NSF fosters partnerships among academic institutions, government entities, industry, and non-profits. These collaborations aim to drive long-term improvements in research infrastructure, enhance R&D capacity, and boost the research competitiveness of eligible EPSCoR jurisdictions, including states, territories, and commonwealths.
A jurisdiction’s research ecosystem is the interconnected network of institutions, organizations, researchers, trainees, community stakeholders, and resources that contribute to the process of research and innovation that advances fundamental knowledge, generates use-inspired products, and ultimately cultivates beneficial societal impacts for a jurisdiction. E-RISE supports hypothesis-driven or problem-driven research and fosters the development of research teams and products in a scientific topical area that aligns with a jurisdiction’s research ecosystem and priorities, as detailed in the jurisdiction’s Science and Technology (S&T) Plan or drawn from other jurisdiction plans, reports, or publications prepared by appropriate authorities or bodies.E-RISE invitesinnovativeproposalswithin the chosen research area thatwillleadto development and implementation of sustainable broad networks of individuals, institutions, and organizations, and that will transform the science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) research capacity and competitiveness in a jurisdiction. E-RISE is particularly interested in proposals that justify exploring emerging or interdisciplinary research areas with high potential impact.
E-RISE projects must have a clearly articulated research goal that will lead to new knowledge by addressing a clear hypothesis or problem. The E-RISE projectshould promote (i) areas of research capacity-building within a chosen research topic; (ii) development of a skilled workforce that is relevant to the research topic, as well as the project and its outcomes; (iii) a culture of collaboration and engagement across different types of academic institutions and organizations, as well as non-academic sectors (e.g., industry and government); (iv) integration of the research with societal impacts; and (v) a clear sustainability plan to preserve the resulting research incubator’s team and products beyond E-RISE funding.
Who can apply
Eligible applicants
Details
This grant is for academic institutions and nonprofit research organizations in EPSCoR-eligible jurisdictions seeking to develop STEM research capacity and competitiveness.
Higher education institutions (PhD-granting or non-PhD-granting) accredited in the U.S., territories, or possessions may apply. Separate campuses within multi-campus systems with independent structures qualify as distinct applicants.
Nonprofit, non-degree-granting organizations with 501(c)(3) status may also apply. These include museums, science centers, observatories, and research laboratories with permanent administrative structures in the U.S.
E-RISE projects must address a clear research hypothesis or problem aligned with a jurisdiction's S&T Plan. Projects should build research capacity, develop skilled workforce, foster collaboration across institutions and sectors, integrate societal impacts, and include sustainability plans beyond the funding period.
How to apply
Application links
Required documents
- NSF Cover Sheet and Project Narrative
- Current and Pending Support
- Budget and Budget Justification
- Institutional Commitment Letters
- S&T Plan or strategic documents supporting research focus
- Organizational Research Administration Certification
- Facilities and Equipment description
Program contact
- 👤 U.S. National Science Foundation
- 📧 grantsgovsupport@nsf.gov
- 📞 703-292-4203
Funding track record
Recent awards under CFDA 47.083 from the last 3 years — real organizations that won funding through this same program.
Top 10 Largest Recent Awards
-
$48,079,625
-
$47,887,807
-
$46,238,841
-
$44,434,393
-
$35,687,036
-
$24,737,272
-
$23,999,998
-
$22,294,445
-
$22,222,678
-
$21,793,117
Top States by Funding
- MA 5 awards $138.4M
- NY 3 awards $85.9M
- PA 2 awards $81.9M
- MT 4 awards $64.0M
- GA 4 awards $55.5M
Source: USAspending.gov — federal spending transparency. Data covers last 3 years.
Funding history
Annual funding for this program — Federal obligations (CFDA 47.083). How funding has trended year over year.
| 2024 | $458,210,000 | |
| 2025 | $476,730,000 | |
| 2026 est. | $174,710,000 |
FAQ
Who is eligible to apply for E-RISE funding?
Higher education institutions and nonprofit research organizations in EPSCoR jurisdictions may apply. Your institution must be accredited and located in the U.S., territories, or possessions with an office of sponsored research.
What research topics are supported?
Projects addressing hypothesis-driven or problem-driven research in areas aligned with your jurisdiction's S&T Plan. E-RISE is particularly interested in emerging or interdisciplinary research with high potential impact.
How much funding is available per award?
Awards start at $8,000,000. The total funding pool is $31,500,000 for this program cycle.
What are the key project requirements?
Projects must build research capacity, develop workforce, foster multi-institutional collaboration, integrate societal impacts, and include a clear sustainability plan beyond the grant period.
Is cost-sharing required?
No cost-sharing or matching funds are required for this grant.
💡 Tips for applicants
- Align your research focus with your jurisdiction's S&T Plan or other strategic documents. Strong jurisdictional alignment significantly strengthens proposals.
- Emphasize sustainability and long-term ecosystem transformation. Reviewers want to see how the incubator will persist after E-RISE funding ends.
- Build diverse partnerships across sectors. Include non-academic partners like industry or government to demonstrate broad ecosystem engagement.
- Demonstrate workforce development strategies. Show how your project will train researchers and create career pathways in your chosen research area.
- Address societal impacts explicitly. Connect your research goal to clear benefits for communities and stakeholders beyond the research enterprise.
⚠️ Common mistakes
Proposing research misaligned with your jurisdiction's S&T Plan or strategic priorities. Failing to articulate a clear sustainability strategy after E-RISE funding ends. Overlooking integration of non-academic partnerships and societal impact in the research design.
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