Centers of Research Excellence in Science and Technology FY03 (CREST)

CREST supports improvement of the research and research training capabilities at the most productive minority serving institutions by promoting the production of new knowledge, enhancing the national research competitiveness of individual faculty, building the intellectual and physical research and education infrastructure through partnerships with world-class research organizations, supporting innovation in the integration of research and education, and fostering participation in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) disciplines by a diverse student population. CREST projects also enhance the effectiveness of related science and engineering activities within the project's area of research focus. 

The CREST program has three components:

• Research Infrastructure Improvement (RII) awards; 
• Supplements to CREST RII awards to enhance collaboration with major non-CREST research centers of excellence; 
• Co-funding of proposals submitted to NSF's non-center, non-CREST research programs by CREST PIs and others certified by CREST institutions (including non-CREST faculty at CREST institutions and non-CREST faculty at non-CREST institutions interested in collaborating with CREST or CREST-associated faculty). The eligibility and program description sections of this solicitation provide additional detail on CREST co-funding.