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Dear Colleague Letter

Expanding Geographic and Institutional Diversity in Computer and Information Science and Engineering (CISE)

Encourages new proposals and supplemental funding requests from EPSCoR-eligible institutions to broaden geographic and demographic participation in computer and information science and engineering.
Encourages new proposals and supplemental funding requests from EPSCoR-eligible institutions to broaden geographic and demographic participation in computer and information science and engineering.

Dear Colleagues:

The National Science Foundation's (NSF) Directorate for Computer and Information Science and Engineering (CISE) welcomes submission of both new proposals and supplemental funding requests from Established Program to Stimulate Competitive Research (EPSCoR) eligible institutions to broaden geographic and demographic participation. Through this Dear Colleague Letter (DCL), NSF aims to promote CISE-funded activities that enable sustainable growth and competitiveness across EPSCoR jurisdictions. The goal is to increase the representation of NSF awards and funding to organizations across the twenty-eight (28) EPSCoR-eligible jurisdictions. Proposals from institutions across EPSCoR-eligible jurisdictions are welcome to submit to all CISE programs. Collaborative proposals between EPSCoR and non-EPSCoR institutions with EPSCoR institutions as lead and proposals from Minority Serving Institutions (MSIs) and Emerging Research Institutions (ERIs) in EPSCoR jurisdictions are particularly encouraged.

This DCL aims to reaffirm CISE’s commitment to bolster CISE-funded research that reaches diverse and talented communities across our country, in particular organizations located within EPSCoR jurisdictions. NSF recognizes the incredible potential and contributions of these institutions to the U.S. science and engineering ecosystem and encourages the science and engineering community’s active involvement in furthering discoveries that benefit all Americans. CISE firmly believes in the immense untapped potential within EPSCoR jurisdictions and through this DCL is actively seeking proposals and supplemental funding requests to enhance the participation of EPSCoR institutions in NSF-funded research. These contributions are pivotal in ensuring that research and innovation are not confined to geographical boundaries but are inclusive and collaborative across the nation.

This DCL encourages proposal submissions from EPSCoR-eligible institutions to any and all active CISE funding programs, with an aim to enhance engagement within the science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) enterprise, specifically associated with geographic location, and thereby enabling the jurisdiction’s national competitiveness. The DCL responds to Section 10325 (expanding geographic and institutional diversity in research) of the CHIPS and Science Act of 2022, which directs NSF to dedicate an increasing percentage of its budget to organizations across EPSCoR jurisdictions. Through this DCL, CISE aims to promote funded activities that enable sustainable growth in the competitiveness of EPSCoR jurisdictions, including:

  • research proposals to CISE core and cross-cutting programs;
  • infrastructure investments to build research capacity in EPSCoR jurisdictions;
  • scholarships, fellowships, and traineeships within new and existing programs to promote development of sustainable research and academic personnel;
  • partnerships with non-EPSCoR institutions that are led by EPSCoR institutions with the goal of building and/or expanding research, education, and workforce development capacity in EPSCoR jurisdictions; and
  • capacity building activities for ERIs and MSIs.

Examples of encouraged submissions may include, but are not limited to:

Proposers are encouraged to engage with institutional representatives to identify and submit to active CISE funding opportunities. Interested proposers should prepare and submit proposals in accordance with the instructions contained in the relevant funding opportunity and the NSF Proposal & Award Policies & Procedures Guide (PAPPG). Please refer to specific program descriptions, Dear Colleague Letters, and solicitations for program-specific deadlines for new proposals and supplemental funding requests

Investigators from eligible organizations are strongly encouraged to contact corresponding program staff to discuss prospective funding requests prior to submitting to NSF.

Questions should be directed to: cise-epscor@nsf.gov.

Thank you for your unwavering dedication to advancing science and ensuring that all jurisdictions have equal opportunities to contribute to the national scientific enterprise. We look forward to your proposals and the exciting possibilities they hold.

Sincerely,

Dilma Da Silva
Acting Assistant Director, NSF CISE

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