Funding Opportunity: NSF Convergence Accelerator

Solicitation Key Dates:   

  • Letter of Intent (required): May 31, 2022 
  • Full Proposal Deadline: July 20, 2022    
    *Full proposals are due at 5 p.m. submitter’s local time  

ABOUT THE CONVERGENCE ACCELERATOR    

Research is often driven by a compelling societal or scientific challenge; however, it may take the researcher community years to develop a solution. To deliver tangible solutions that have a nationwide societal impact and at a more accelerated pace, the NSF Convergence Accelerator brings together multiple disciplines, expertise, and cross-cutting partnerships to develop solutions through a convergence research approach and innovation processes.       

To learn about future opportunities with the Convergence Accelerator, visit: beta.nsf.gov/funding/initiatives/convergence-accelerator  

NEW NSF CONVERGENCE ACCELERATOR FUNDING OPPORTUNITY

The NSF Convergence Accelerator has issued a new funding opportunity for three new research track topics aligned to the 2022 cohort. Researchers and innovators have two submission pathways to submit their proposals: Solicitation, NSF-22-583 and Broad Agency Announcement (BAA), NSFBAA-CA22-02.    

The funding opportunity track focuses include:   

  • Track H: Enhancing Opportunities for Persons with Disabilities  

This track will converge a wide range of disciplines to include social sciences, behavioral sciences, engineering, computer science, ethics, and economics to develop use-inspired solutions to enhance the quality of life, employment access, and opportunities for persons with disabilities (PWDs). 

  • Track I: Sustainable Materials for Global Challenges  

This track will converge advances in fundamental materials science with materials design and manufacturing methods with the goal to couple their end-use and full life-cycle considerations for environmentally and economically sustainable materials and products that address global challenges. 

The Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation (CSIRO), an Australian Government agency, is partnering with the NSF Convergence Accelerator on Track I. Australian researchers have the opportunity to be on multidisciplinary teams that submit proposals aligned to Track I.   

  • Track J: Food & Nutrition Security  

This track will converge a wide range of disciplines to address intertwined challenges in supporting population health, combating climate change, and addressing the nutritional needs of the most vulnerable by empowering youth, women, and disadvantaged communities. 

Participating in the NSF Convergence Accelerator   

Selected teams begin in phase 1, participating in an accelerated 12-month planning effort, with grant funding up to $750,000. Phase 1 teams participate in the program’s innovation curriculum designed to strengthen each team’s convergence approach and to further develop the solution concepts. At the end of phase 1, teams participate in a formal NSF pitch and proposal evaluation. Selected teams advance to phase 2 to continue developing sustainable, impactful solutions. Teams are eligible to receive up to $5 million of funding during phase 2.    

FUNDING OPPORTUNITY DETAILS

Who can Apply:    

Researchers and innovators from academia, industry, government, nonprofit, and other organizations are encouraged to submit a letter of intent (required) and full proposal.      

Funding Opportunity:  

Submit your proposal using one of the submission pathways: Solicitation, NSF-22-583 and the Broad Agency Announcement (BAA), NSFBAA-CA22-02     

INFORMATIONAL WEBINARS
Join an NSF Convergence Accelerator webinarto learn about the program and the current funding opportunity. During the webinars, participants will learn about the program’s model and fundamentals, including the program’s phased approach and innovation processes used to accelerate basic research into practice; and the solicitation opportunity and the research track focuses, required Convergence Accelerator fundamentals, and important submission information. The goal of these webinars is to bring awareness of this exciting opportunity to develop use-inspired solutions to have a positive impact on national and societal challenges.    

  • May 4, 2022, from 1 – 3 p.m. ET  
  • May 5, 2022, from 3 – 5 p.m. ET    

Webinar Registration:http://nsfconvergenceaccelerator.eventbrite.com/

After registering a confirmation email containing the meeting information, including how to join will be provided.       

Questions:Convergence-Accelerator@nsf.gov

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Note: The information above was obtained from an NSF email announcement issued on 5/4/22 at 8:17 a.m. See the official NSF website for the most up-to-date information and any changes that may have occurred since the time of this posting.