The U.S. National Science Foundation is accepting proposals under NSF 25-543, Computer and Information Science and Engineering: Future Computing Research (Future CoRe). The program supports foundational and interdisciplinary research across computing, communications, information science and engineering, including algorithmic foundations, communications and information foundations, computer systems, computing education research, cyber-physical systems and connected communities, emerging technologies, human-centered computing, information integration and informatics, networking, robust intelligence, and software and hardware foundations.
Submission Timing
Proposals are accepted anytime. NSF strongly encourages submission by its recurring target dates so proposals can be considered in the corresponding review cycle. The next target date after the September 2026 cycle is February 4, 2027, followed by the second Thursday in September annually thereafter.
Award Size and Duration
Projects may request up to $1,000,000 for a period of up to four years. Typical projects are approximately $150,000 to $250,000 per year for three to four years, and NSF discourages requests above $300,000 in any single year. NSF anticipates up to approximately $280 million per year supporting as many as 600 awards, subject to availability of funds.
Voluntary committed cost sharing is prohibited.
Eligibility
Eligible prime applicants are accredited U.S. two-year and four-year institutions of higher education, qualifying U.S. nonprofit non-academic organizations directly associated with educational or research activities, and federally recognized Tribal Nations. For-profit companies are not eligible prime applicants under this solicitation.
There is no organization-wide proposal limit. An individual may not serve as PI, co-PI, or Senior/Key Personnel on more than two Future CoRe proposals submitted within any consecutive 12-month period.
Submission
Proposals may be submitted through Research.gov or Grants.gov in accordance with the solicitation and the NSF Proposal & Award Policies & Procedures Guide in effect at submission.
Atlas Fit
This is a strong national opportunity for eligible universities, research nonprofits, and Tribal Nations pursuing advanced computing, data, AI, cyber-physical systems, human-centered technology, computing education, or related interdisciplinary research. Healthcare, education, workforce, and community applications may fit when the core intellectual contribution is responsive to the applicable CISE program. Dr. Miltie is not an eligible direct prime applicant. Preferred posture: Partner-Led, with organization-specific applicant execution routed to the appropriate state education or research pathway.