Computer and Information Science and Engineering (CISE): Core Programs | 20 591

Opportunity Information: Apply for 20 591

The National Science Foundation (NSF) Computer and Information Science and Engineering (CISE): Core Programs opportunity is a broad, flagship grant program that funds research and education projects aimed at advancing the foundations and frontiers of computing, communications, information science, and related engineering fields. The central goal is to support work that creates new knowledge, methods, tools, and systems across core areas of computer science and engineering, while also strengthening the advanced cyberinfrastructure that modern research and technology depend on. This solicitation sits within NSF's standard discretionary grant-making activities for science and technology research and development (CFDA 47.070), and it is structured to accommodate a wide range of project scopes, from foundational theory to applied systems and human-centered computing.

CISE organizes the program through multiple units, each with its own set of topical programs. Within the Division of Computing and Communication Foundations (CCF), proposals align with core intellectual building blocks of computing and communications, including Algorithmic Foundations (AF) for algorithm design, analysis, complexity, and related theory; Communications and Information Foundations (CIF) for fundamental principles behind communication networks and information systems; Foundations of Emerging Technologies (FET) for early-stage, high-potential computing paradigms and new technological directions; and Software and Hardware Foundations (SHF) for the underlying principles that support reliable, secure, and high-performance software and hardware systems. The Division of Computer and Network Systems (CNS) supports systems-oriented research through the CNS Core program, which broadly covers computer systems, networking, distributed systems, cyber-physical systems, and related infrastructures. The Division of Information and Intelligent Systems (IIS) supports research at the intersection of information, intelligence, and people, including Human-Centered Computing (HCC), which focuses on how humans interact with computing systems and how systems can better support human goals (noting that HCC was formerly called the Cyber-Human Systems program); Information Integration and Informatics (III), which emphasizes how data and information are represented, integrated, managed, and used; and Robust Intelligence (RI), which supports work in AI and machine learning with an emphasis on reliability, robustness, and sound behavior in real-world settings. In addition, the Office of Advanced Cyberinfrastructure (OAC) offers OAC Core Research (OAC Core), targeting advances in cyberinfrastructure capabilities, such as computing platforms, data infrastructure, software ecosystems, and services that enable research at scale.

The solicitation invites proposals under defined project classes with clear budget and duration boundaries. Small Projects support focused efforts with a total budget of up to $500,000 for durations of up to three years, and they may be submitted to CCF, CNS, or IIS. Medium Projects support larger, more complex efforts with total budgets from $500,001 to $1,200,000 for durations of up to four years, and they may also be submitted to CCF, CNS, or IIS (but not to OAC under this class). For efforts specifically aligned to advanced cyberinfrastructure research under OAC, the program offers OAC Core Projects with budgets up to $500,000 and durations up to three years, and these are submitted to OAC only. The solicitation notes that additional details about these project classes are provided in the program description (Section II) of the full announcement.

From an administrative perspective, this opportunity is a grant mechanism issued by the National Science Foundation under a discretionary funding category. The posted opportunity information indicates an expected award volume on the order of hundreds of awards (listed as 600), reflecting the program's role as a major pipeline for investigator-driven computing research across the United States. The award ceiling is shown as 0 in the source data, which typically signals that award sizes are governed by the defined project class limits and programmatic considerations rather than a single universal cap. Eligibility is listed broadly as "Others (see text field entitled Additional Information on Eligibility for clarification)," meaning applicants must consult the full solicitation to confirm which organizations and applicants are permitted under NSF rules for this program.

Key dates in the source information include a creation date of July 29, 2020 and an original closing date of November 12, 2020, which indicates this particular posting corresponds to a specific solicitation cycle. Even so, the structure described (core programs across CCF, CNS, IIS, and OAC, plus the small and medium project classes and OAC core project class) captures the fundamental way CISE organizes and solicits proposals for a large portion of its research portfolio.

• The National Science Foundation in the science and technology and other research and development sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Computer and Information Science and Engineering (CISE): Core Programs" and is now available to receive applicants.
• Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 47.070.
• This funding opportunity was created on Jul 29, 2020.
• Applicants must submit their applications by Nov 12, 2020. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
• The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 600 candidate(s).
• Eligible applicants include: Others (see text field entitled Additional Information on Eligibility for clarification).

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