EPSCoR Research Infrastructure Improvement Program: Track-2 Focused EPSCoR Collaborations (RII Track-2 FEC)

The Experimental Program to Stimulate Competitive Research (EPSCoR) is designed to fulfill the mandate of the National Science Foundation (NSF) to promote scientific progress nationwide.  A jurisdiction is eligible to participate in EPSCoR programs if its level of NSF research support is equal to or less than 0.75 percent of the total NSF research and related activities budget for the most recent three-year period. Through this program, NSF establishes partnerships with government, higher education, and industry that are designed to effect sustainable improvements in a jurisdiction's research infrastructure, Research and Development (R&D) capacity, and hence, its R&D competitiveness.

RII Track-2 FEC builds inter-jurisdictional collaborative teams of EPSCoR investigators in themes consistent with NSF priorities.  Projects are investigator-driven and must involve a collaborative team of investigators from at least two EPSCoR jurisdictions.  The Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) research and education activities should specifically broaden participation through the inclusion and integration of different types of individuals, institutions, and sectors throughout the project. Proposals must describe a comprehensive and integrated vision to drive discovery and build sustainable STEM capacity that exemplifies diversity of all types (individual, institutional, geographic, and disciplinary).

A single proposal is submitted for a project.  Support for non-lead collaborating institutions should be requested as subawards.  Separately submitted collaboratives are not allowed.  Each participating EPSCoR jurisdiction must have at least one co-PI on the project.