The U.S. National Science Foundation Emerging Frontiers in Research and Innovation (EFRI) program provides critical, strategic support of fundamental discovery at the frontiers of engineering research and education.
EFRI funds interdisciplinary projects to:
- Advance fundamental or applied research across all science and engineering disciplines.
- Catalyze new industries or capabilities that enable U.S. leadership in engineering and cutting-edge technologies.
- Address pressing national and societal challenges in innovative ways.
What we support
The EFRI program invests in proposals with potentially transformative ideas that represent an opportunity for a significant shift in fundamental engineering knowledge with strong potential for societal impacts. The program supports research areas that do not fit within the scope of an existing NSF program and are often at the intersection of multiple fields.
The program seeks proposals that:
- Hold the potential for transformative outcomes benefiting society.
- Address a national need or grand societal challenge.
- Involve a multi- or interdisciplinary research approach.
- Include a community poised to respond.
- Offer a clear leadership role for engineering.
The EFRI program relies on continual input from the engineering community to help identify, evaluate and prioritize emerging topic areas. Opportunities for input include:
- Workshops.
- Advisory committee meetings.
- Technical meetings.
- Professional societies.
- Proposals and awards.
- NSF committees of visitors.
- Periodic calls for EFRI topic ideas.
Related funding
EFRI: Biocomputing through EnGINeering Organoid Intelligence (BEGIN OI)
Supports foundational and transformative research to advance the design, engineering and fabrication of organoid systems that are capable of processing information dynamically while interfacing with nonliving systems.
Planning Grants to Broaden Participation in the Emerging Frontiers in Research and Innovation Program
Invites proposals for planning grants that support the development of research projects and teams that are responsive to NSF’s Emerging Frontiers in Research and Innovation Program.