EMERGING FRONTIERS IN RESEARCH AND INNOVATION (EFRI): Wave-Based Computing (WBC) ( EFRI-WBC)

Synopsis

The Emerging Frontiers in Research and Innovation (EFRI) program serves a critical role in helping the NSF Directorate for Engineering focus on important emerging areas in a timely way. The EFRI program invests in potentially transformative ideas that offer the opportunity for significant shifts in foundational engineering knowledge. EFRI-funded research must have strong potential for long-term impact on strategic technology priorities and/or national science and technology (S&T) missions identified in the Administration's Fiscal Year (FY) 2028 Research and Development (R&D) Budget Priorities Memorandum. Such impacts need not be fully realized within the duration of the research period; however, proposers are expected to articulate how a proposal is use-inspired and may lay the foundations for stated priorities. This EFRI solicitation leverages a portfolio of both two-year EArly-concept Grants for Exploratory Research (EAGER) awards and larger four-year awards in response to Science: A New Golden Age, which calls for a more flexible set of funding mechanisms that match the scientific challenges they seek to address.

The EFRI Wave-Based Computing (WBC) solicitation will support foundational and transformative research to advance the development of computing approaches that harness the principles of wave dynamics.

The EFRI WBC solicitation will support two tracks.

Track 1: Exploratory approaches may be funded through EArly-concept Grants for Exploratory Research (EAGER) awards.
Track 2: Larger, multidisciplinary projects may be funded through four-year awards of up to $2,000,000.

The EFRI WBC program encourages collaboration with industry. Proposers may consider using a formal mechanism, such as NSF Grant Opportunities for Academic Liaison with Industry (GOALI).

Program contacts

Name	Email	Phone
Sohi Rastegar Office Head, ENG/EFMA	EFRI2027-2028@nsf.gov	(703) 292-8305
Alias Smith	EFRI2027-2028@nsf.gov	(703) 292-8367
Topic Lead: Nadia A. El-Masry Program Director, ENG/EEC	EFRI2027-2028@nsf.gov	(703) 292-4975
Topic Lead: Ananth Dodabalapur Program Director, ENG/ECCS	EFRI2027-2028@nsf.gov	(703) 292-8012
Hailiang Liu Program Director, MPS/DMS	EFRI2027-2028@nsf.gov	(703) 292-2436
Peter S. Atherton Program Director, TIP/TI	EFRI2027-2028@nsf.gov	(703) 292-8772
Louise R. Howe Program Director, ENG/EFMA	EFRI2027-2028@nsf.gov	(703) 292-2548

Awards made through this program

Browse projects funded by this program

Map of recent awards made through this program

Upcoming due dates

Full proposal

2027

February 11 2027 - Deadline date

Due by 5pm submitting organization's local time

Each prospective PI who intends to submit a proposal to the EFRI Wave-Based Computing solicitation must submit a two-page research concept outline via email to EFRI2027-2028@nsf.gov by November 19, 2026 (5 p.m. submitter's local time) for proposal submission for the FY 2027 cycle or by November 16, 2027 (5 p.m. submitter's local time) for proposal submission for the FY 2028 cycle. Concept outlines are required for both tracks.

Proposal submission must be accompanied by an E-mail from the cognizant NSF program officer inviting submission of a full proposal. This invitation will be based on prior evaluation of the Concept Outline submitted by the prospective PI. Failure to submit a Concept Outline and receive approval for proposal submission will render prospective PIs ineligible to submit a proposal.

Program guidelines

Award information

$15,000,000 per fiscal year; pending the availability of funds

Estimated number of awards

15 to 30

Up to fifteen awards each in FY 2027 and FY 2028 are anticipated depending upon availability of funds and the type, scale, and variety of proposals submitted. Two types of proposals will be accepted in response to this solicitation.

Track 1: Wave-Based Computing–Exploratory Research (WBC-ER). EAGER proposals may request $100,000 to $400,000 for up to two years.

Track 2: Wave-Based Computing–Multidisciplinary Research (WBC-MR). Teams involving three or more investigators may submit a proposal requesting up to $2,000,000 for a project of four-year duration.

Proposals may only be submitted by certain types of PIs. Please see solicitation for details.

Limit on number of proposals per PI or Co-PI

An individual may participate as PI or co-PI on a maximum of one proposal submitted to this solicitation in a single fiscal year. The submitting organization is responsible for ensuring this limit is met.

If an individual is listed as PI and/or co-PI on more than one proposal submitted to this solicitation in the same fiscal year, all proposals in excess of the limit for any person will be returned without review. Proposals will be returned in the reverse order received, based on the proposal submission time stamp on the Cover Sheet.

Review full program guidelines and learn how to submit a proposal in the latest solicitation. Read the solicitation NSF 26-524

EMERGING FRONTIERS IN RESEARCH AND INNOVATION (EFRI): Wave-Based Computing (WBC) ( EFRI-WBC)

View guidelines

Important information for proposers and award recipients

Synopsis

Program contacts

Awards made through this program

EMERGING FRONTIERS IN RESEARCH AND INNOVATION (EFRI): Wave-Based Computing (WBC) ( EFRI-WBC)

View guidelines

Important information for proposers and award recipients

Synopsis

Program contacts

Awards made through this program

Organization(s)