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

NSF CISE: Core Programs - FAQs

What is the NSF CISE: Core Programs opportunity?

The NSF Computer and Information Science and Engineering (CISE): Core Programs opportunity is a broad, flagship grant program that supports research and education projects designed to advance computing, communications, information science, and related engineering fields. It aims to fund work that creates new knowledge, methods, tools, and systems across core areas of computer science and engineering, and it also supports advances in the cyberinfrastructure that modern research and technology depend on.

What is the central goal of this solicitation?

The central goal is to support investigator-driven work that pushes the foundations and frontiers of computing and information technology. This includes foundational theory, applied systems, human-centered computing, and research that strengthens advanced cyberinfrastructure capabilities.

What NSF funding category does this opportunity fall under?

This opportunity is a grant mechanism issued by the National Science Foundation under a discretionary funding category for science and technology research and development. It is listed under CFDA 47.070.

What kinds of activities does the program fund?

Based on the program description provided, the solicitation funds research and education projects across computing and information science. Supported work may include development of new theories, algorithms, systems, tools, methods, and platforms, as well as improvements to cyberinfrastructure (for example, computing platforms, data infrastructure, software ecosystems, and services that enable research at scale).

How is the CISE Core Programs solicitation organized?

CISE organizes the program through multiple units (divisions and an office), each with topical programs. The main units described are the Division of Computing and Communication Foundations (CCF), the Division of Computer and Network Systems (CNS), the Division of Information and Intelligent Systems (IIS), and the Office of Advanced Cyberinfrastructure (OAC).

What programs are available within the Division of Computing and Communication Foundations (CCF)?

Within CCF, proposals align to core intellectual building blocks of computing and communications through these programs:

• Algorithmic Foundations (AF): Algorithm design, analysis, complexity, and related theory.
• Communications and Information Foundations (CIF): Fundamental principles behind communication networks and information systems.
• Foundations of Emerging Technologies (FET): Early-stage, high-potential computing paradigms and new technological directions.
• Software and Hardware Foundations (SHF): Principles supporting reliable, secure, and high-performance software and hardware systems.

What does the Division of Computer and Network Systems (CNS) support?

The CNS Core program supports systems-oriented research. As described, this broadly covers computer systems, networking, distributed systems, cyber-physical systems, and related infrastructures.

What programs are included in the Division of Information and Intelligent Systems (IIS)?

IIS supports research at the intersection of information, intelligence, and people, including:

• Human-Centered Computing (HCC): Research on how humans interact with computing systems and how systems can better support human goals. The solicitation notes HCC was formerly called the Cyber-Human Systems program.
• Information Integration and Informatics (III): How data and information are represented, integrated, managed, and used.
• Robust Intelligence (RI): AI and machine learning emphasizing reliability, robustness, and sound behavior in real-world settings.

What does the Office of Advanced Cyberinfrastructure (OAC) fund under this solicitation?

OAC offers OAC Core Research (OAC Core), which targets advances in cyberinfrastructure capabilities. Examples noted include computing platforms, data infrastructure, software ecosystems, and services that enable research at scale.

What project classes are available, and what are their budget and duration limits?

The solicitation invites proposals under defined project classes with specific budget and duration boundaries:

• Small Projects: Total budget up to $500,000; duration up to three years.
• Medium Projects: Total budget from $500,001 to $1,200,000; duration up to four years.
• OAC Core Projects: Total budget up to $500,000; duration up to three years (for efforts aligned to advanced cyberinfrastructure research under OAC).

Which NSF units accept Small Project proposals under this opportunity?

Small Projects may be submitted to CCF, CNS, or IIS.

Which NSF units accept Medium Project proposals under this opportunity?

Medium Projects may be submitted to CCF, CNS, or IIS. The solicitation notes that Medium Projects are not submitted to OAC under this class.

Where do OAC Core Projects get submitted?

OAC Core Projects are submitted to OAC only.

Is there a single universal maximum award amount for the entire program?

The posted opportunity information shows an award ceiling of 0, which typically indicates there is not a single universal cap in the source data. Instead, award sizes are governed by the project class limits (such as the Small, Medium, and OAC Core project boundaries) and programmatic considerations.

How many awards are expected under this opportunity?

The posted opportunity information indicates an expected award volume on the order of hundreds of awards, listed as 600. This reflects the program's role as a major pipeline for investigator-driven computing research.

Who is eligible to apply?

Eligibility is listed broadly as "Others (see text field entitled Additional Information on Eligibility for clarification)." This means applicants should consult the full solicitation to confirm which organizations and applicants are permitted under NSF rules for this program.

What is the timeline information shown for this opportunity?

The source information lists a creation date of July 29, 2020 and an original closing date of November 12, 2020. This indicates the posting corresponds to a specific solicitation cycle.

Does the description still provide useful guidance if the listed closing date has passed?

Yes, in the sense that the description captures the fundamental way CISE organizes and solicits proposals across CCF, CNS, IIS, and OAC, including the small and medium project classes and the OAC core project class. However, the specific dates provided indicate that this posting reflects a particular cycle.

Where can applicants find additional details about the project classes?

The solicitation notes that additional details about the project classes are provided in the program description (Section II) of the full announcement.