Established Program to Stimulate Competitive Research (EPSCoR): Workshop Opportunities
🏛 U.S. National Science Foundation (NSF)
✓ Free, no account · Source: Grants.gov · Last verified Jul 15, 2026
Can you apply?
This grant is for institutions of higher education and research organizations located in EPSCoR-eligible states and territories seeking to build research competitiveness and infrastructure. Eligible institutions typically include universities, colleges, and nonprofit research organizations that conduct research aligned with NSF's research priorities. The program supports workshop activities designed to strengthen research capacity, enhance researcher networking, and promote workforce development in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) fields. Applicants must be located in one of the designated EPSCoR-eligible jurisdictions, which includes 27 states plus Puerto Rico and other territories. Workshops may focus on research methodology, equipment use, grant-writing training, or professional development for researchers at various career stages.
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Program description
The Established Program to Stimulate Competitive Research (EPSCoR) is designed to fulfill the mandate of the National Science Foundation (NSF) to promote scientific progress nationwide. NSF EPSCoR facilitates the establishment of partnerships among academic institutions, government, industry, and non-profit sectors that are designed to promote sustainable improvements in an EPSCoR-eligible jurisdiction’s research infrastructure, Research and Development (R&D) capacity, and R&D competitiveness. Eligibility to participate in NSF EPSCoR funding opportunities, including the EPSCoR Workshop Opportunities program, is described on the EPSCoR website (see criteria for eligibility link).
EPSCoR welcomes proposals for workshops only from institutions within EPSCoR-eligible jurisdictions (i.e. states, territories, commonwealths). These workshops must focus on innovative ways to address multi-jurisdictional efforts on themes of regional or national importance with relevance to the goals and mission of NSF and EPSCoR.
Who can apply
Eligible applicants
How to apply
Application links
Required documents
- NSF Form SF-424 (Research and Related Activities)
- Project Narrative (including workshop objectives, activities, evaluation plan)
- Budget Justification with detailed cost breakdown
- Biographical sketches for key personnel
- Current and Pending Support documentation
- Letters of Commitment or Collaboration from partner institutions/organizations
- Data Management Plan (if applicable to proposed activities)
- Institutional endorsement or authorization letter
Program contact
- 👤 U.S. National Science Foundation
- 📧 grantsgovsupport@nsf.gov
- 📞 703-292-4203
Funding track record
Recent awards under CFDA 47.041 from the last 3 years — real organizations that won funding through this same program.
Top 10 Largest Recent Awards
-
$41,946,862
-
$39,155,237
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$38,277,956
-
$37,936,436
-
$36,940,111
-
$36,277,271
-
$36,183,087
-
$32,471,912
-
$32,414,114
-
$31,561,058
Top States by Funding
- TX 3 awards $90.6M
- CA 7 awards $85.0M
- IL 5 awards $83.9M
- AZ 2 awards $68.7M
- NC 2 awards $63.3M
Source: USAspending.gov — federal spending transparency. Data covers last 3 years.
Funding history
Annual funding for this program — Federal obligations (CFDA 47.041). How funding has trended year over year.
| 2024 | $752,230,000 | |
| 2025 | $727,730,000 | |
| 2026 est. | $181,990,000 |
FAQ
Who is eligible to apply for EPSCoR Workshop Opportunities?
Primarily institutions of higher education and nonprofit research organizations located in NSF-designated EPSCoR-eligible states and territories. You must verify your institution's eligibility through the NSF EPSCoR website.
What types of workshops can be funded?
Workshops that build research competitiveness, enhance STEM workforce development, facilitate researcher collaboration, provide training in research methodologies or grant writing, or support infrastructure development. Activities should align with NSF's research priorities.
Is there a specific application deadline?
This program operates on a rolling deadline, meaning applications can be submitted throughout the fiscal year. Check the NSF PAPPG for any administrative closure dates or program-specific cutoff notices.
How competitive is this funding?
Competition varies by solicitation round and available funding. Early submission is often advantageous given the rolling deadline. Quality of proposed outcomes and alignment with NSF priorities strengthen competitiveness.
What is the typical funding range?
Funding amounts vary depending on workshop scope and duration. Typical workshop grants range from $20,000 to $100,000+, though this varies by NSF directorate and specific solicitation guidelines. Check current funding opportunity details for exact ranges.
💡 Tips for applicants
- Verify your institution's EPSCoR eligibility before investing application effort—ineligible institutions cannot receive funding regardless of proposal quality.
- Design workshops with clear, measurable outcomes tied to building research capacity and competitiveness in your region or field.
- Emphasize partnerships and collaboration with other institutions, industry, or national labs to demonstrate broader impact and sustainability beyond the grant period.
- Include a realistic budget with justification for all costs, including speaker honoraria, venue, materials, and dissemination of workshop outcomes to the broader research community.
- Align your workshop activities explicitly with current NSF research priorities and directorate interests to increase competitiveness and demonstrate funder alignment.
⚠️ Common mistakes
Applications often fail to clearly connect workshop activities to building sustainable research capacity or demonstrating how outcomes will benefit the broader STEM community beyond participants. Additionally, many proposals underestimate the importance of pre-planning partnerships and letters of commitment, which reviewers expect to see as evidence of buy-in and sustainability. Finally, applications that lack specific, measurable learning objectives or fail to articulate how the workshop advances NSF's mission of increasing research competitiveness in underrepresented regions tend to score poorly in peer review.
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