The following section outlines the strategic goals and objectives. Each objective includes actionable strategies highlighted in italics and measures that NSF will further develop and assess in its annual performance plan.
On this page
Goal 1. Ensure American excellence and national security through investments in transformative research and innovation.
Objective 1.1. Uphold tenets of Gold Standard Science while enabling groundbreaking research and innovation.
Scientific progress and technological innovation form the foundation of America's economic strength and global leadership. Breakthroughs in science and technology have fueled prosperity, advanced national priorities and improved national security. With its mandate to support science and engineering, and its engagement with researchers nationwide, NSF is uniquely positioned to drive the next era of scientific discovery and innovation. While the private sector's share of total basic research funding is increasing,2 NSF will continue to play a unique role in supporting research at the cutting edge of discovery, including investing in bold ideas that may not attract private investment. NSF will also champion researchers to translate new knowledge into practice to address national priorities, grow the economy and improve Americans' lives. NSF will undertake these activities while upholding the highest standards of scientific integrity by adhering to the tenets of Gold Standard Science.
Strategy 1: Deliver benefits for the American people by prioritizing research funding that accelerates discovery and innovation. NSF will review and revise its funding opportunities to enhance impact, phasing out lower-priority opportunities and launching new ones to capitalize on emerging ideas.
Strategy 2: Enhance the impact of NSF research by establishing and advancing partnerships. NSF will partner with organizations and encourage awardees to build partnerships that achieve shared goals, tap into complementary expertise, leverage resources and create pathways for motivating research questions and pursuing real-world solutions.
Strategy 3: Uphold the highest standards of scientific integrity by implementing the administration's Executive Order on "Restoring Gold Standard Science.3" NSF will continue its legacy of scientific integrity to ensure research remains transparent, rigorous and impactful.
Measures:
- Number of patents citing NSF funding.
- Number of resources from NSF awards deposited in public access repositories in alignment with Gold Standard Science.
Objective 1.2. Advance the golden age of American innovation through the development of critical and emerging technologies, including artificial intelligence, quantum information science and biotechnology.4
NSF invests in research across all areas of science and technology, expanding human knowledge and unlocking new industries. As the fulcrum of America's unique innovation ecosystem, integrating government, academia and industry, NSF's investments have powered advances in manufacturing, autonomous vehicles, next-generation wireless networks and systems, novel computational platforms and precision agriculture. Critical technologies have substantial potential impact on the economy and the United States' role within the competitive international technology space. In the face of intense global competition, NSF is uniquely positioned to advance critical and emerging technologies,5 and will leverage proven partnerships with a range of investors, including private industry, nonprofits and other ventures, along with flexible funding mechanisms that enable a wider range of organizations to participate.
Strategy 1: Empower a wide range of organizations and individuals by strategically investing in critical and emerging technologies. NSF will develop and promote funding opportunities in critical and emerging technologies, including AI, quantum information science and biotechnology.
Strategy 2: Strengthen America's leadership in critical and emerging technologies by competitively positioning the nation's talent for new jobs and industries. NSF will invest in industry-inspired instructional materials, professional development for teachers and faculty, and internship opportunities that lead to new stackable credentials, degree programs and experiential opportunities to position the nation's talent in critical and emerging technologies.
Strategy 3: Advance innovation in critical and emerging technologies by establishing and fortifying partnerships with government, private and nonprofit sectors. NSF will leverage the expertise and resources of these sectors to drive research informed by real-world use cases and pilot market-ready solutions.
Measures:
- Number of startups in NSF's critical and emerging technology portfolio.
- Number and amount of investments from partnerships that advance critical and emerging technologies.
Objective 1.3. Support national security by safeguarding the nation's research enterprise.
U.S. investment in research has built a cutting-edge science and technology enterprise grounded in openness, transparency, reciprocity, collaboration and integrity. These principles are increasingly threatened by inappropriate foreign influence seeking to misappropriate U.S.-funded research due to the connections between national defense and technological innovations, and the globalization of the research enterprise.6 As the largest federal funder of basic research in the U.S., NSF is committed to safeguarding the integrity and security of science while preserving the openness and collaboration that drive discovery and innovation. NSF shares this responsibility with partners in the federal government, law enforcement and intelligence communities, as well as the broader U.S. and international research communities. Together, these partnerships will continue to develop and implement new research security policies and practices, ensuring that the United States remains a global leader.
Strategy 1: Safeguard the research community by promoting the use of research security information and tools to mitigate risks. NSF will extend the reach of the Safeguarding the Entire Community of the U.S. Research Ecosystem program,7 which provides research security-related information, tools, and other resources to the research community through its network of partners. NSF will also continue to promote publicly available research security training to deepen the understanding of research security concerns within the research community.
Strategy 2: Safeguard the integrity of NSF-funded research by identifying and mitigating malign foreign influence. NSF will expand its use of analytical tools to detect and adjudicate risks of undue foreign influence on potential awardees during the proposal review process and take actions to safeguard the integrity of federally funded research.
Measure:
- Proportion of NSF proposals for which a potential research security risk is identified.
Objective 1.4. Support discovery, innovation, and national security through impactful investments in research infrastructure.
Research infrastructure — including facilities, equipment, human capital and computational tools — enables cutting-edge discoveries and innovations that drive progress across disciplines. Yet the demand for operating time on existing infrastructure and for new capabilities continues to outpace supply.8 Developing a sustainable approach to supporting research infrastructure is crucial to maintaining U.S. leadership in science and engineering. NSF will prioritize research infrastructure investments to balance the operation and maintenance of existing research infrastructure with funding for new projects that advance national goals. NSF will continue to operate infrastructure in the Arctic and Antarctic, which will advance U.S. national security interests.
Strategy 1: Maintain American leadership in scientific discovery and innovation and address national security needs by targeting research infrastructure investments. NSF will target research infrastructure investments to meet evolving critical American science, innovation, and national security needs by focusing on impactful, high-priority research infrastructure and, where appropriate, phasing out lower priorities through disposition.
Strategy 2: Advance U.S. economic competitiveness by integrating nontraditional research infrastructure into NSF's portfolio. NSF's research infrastructure portfolio will incorporate nontraditional projects such as test beds and virtual laboratories by applying existing mechanisms for design, construction, and operations of major and mid-scale research infrastructure to support needs in key technology areas.
Strategy 3: Amplify NSF investment in research infrastructure through strategic, policy-aligned partnerships to meet critical national needs. NSF will strengthen the outcomes of its research infrastructure investments through partnerships to support the design, construction, and operation of projects with dual-use applications to further priorities such as national security, AI, quantum information science and other mission-critical needs.
Measure:
- Use of NSF research infrastructure.
Goal 2. Advance American leadership in science and technology by empowering STEM talent.
Objective 2.1. Support the growth of positions in critical and emerging technologies by developing the next-generation STEM workforce.
STEM-related fields employ 25% of the U.S. workforce, yet skill gaps and shortages persist in critical fields such as AI, quantum information science, advanced manufacturing and biotechnology.9 To maintain U.S. global supremacy in critical industries, federal investments must prioritize domestic talent development at all education and career levels across the country. NSF has a track record of supporting research, scholarships, internships, and other hands-on experiences proven to strengthen STEM pathways. To ensure that the United States remains at the forefront of science and technology, and that all Americans have the knowledge and skills to thrive, NSF will continue to pursue these evidence-based activities while rapidly developing and deploying innovative strategies.
Strategy 1: Prepare individuals for STEM careers in critical and emerging technologies by integrating formal and experiential learning opportunities. NSF will partner with business, industry, and two- and four-year colleges to design programs that blend formal and experiential learning to train and educate Americans at all education and career stages, especially in fields critical to economic and national security.
Strategy 2: Collaborate with industry to advance research-backed approaches that build skills and knowledge for successful careers. NSF will strengthen the STEM workforce by deploying and scaling research-backed approaches to attract, prepare, retain and advance Americans in STEM careers. NSF will work with industry and federal partners to create a coordinated workforce development system that enables current and future workers to meet evolving demands and lead in the future.
Strategy 3: Prepare the next generation of American STEM professionals by supporting research on innovation and technology-based teaching techniques. NSF will support American workers' transitions into critical, high-demand industries by investing in research to inform innovative approaches to build knowledge and skills through technologies like AI.
Measures:
- NSF support of trainees in critical and emerging technologies.
- Workers in STEM occupations as a percentage of the U.S. workforce.
Objective 2.2. Expand opportunities for discovery and innovation by building STEM capacity across regions and a range of organizations, including community colleges, nonprofits and businesses.
To maintain its leadership in STEM discovery and innovation, the U.S. must further develop human capital, organizational capabilities, and systemic connections. Strategic investments in organizations and regions over a period of time can foster competitive innovation ecosystems and generate economic growth that benefits local, state, national, and global research communities.10 Building on its history of cultivating capabilities, forging alliances, and sharing proven practices, NSF will prioritize engagement with organizations and jurisdictions seeking resources and partnerships.
Strategy 1: Expand geographic coverage of the STEM enterprise by awarding 20% of research funding in NSF Established Program to Stimulate Competitive Research (NSF EPSCoR) jurisdictions by 2029. NSF will build on past capacity investments through new NSF EPSCoR funding opportunities that emphasize jurisdictional-level STEM goals. NSF will extend effective practices to new partnerships and regional networks while integrating annual funding goals for EPSCoR jurisdictions across all NSF programs.
Strategy 2: Expand the STEM enterprise by creating opportunities for a range of organizations to access NSF resources. NSF will create multiple entry points through capacity-building programs ranging from workshops to structured initiatives. NSF will improve resource accessibility, reduce participation barriers by examining funding policies and processes, and use assessment tools that recognize the strengths of individual organizations rather than imposing uniform standards.
Strategy 3: Reinforce STEM capacity by developing resources and facilitating collaborative practices across the STEM enterprise. NSF will document and disseminate successful practices and guidance for translation and scaling, particularly from a range of organizations. NSF will also support the creation of platforms for knowledge sharing and mentorship, provide technical assistance, and support accessible resource libraries with templates, guides, and tools for organizations with limited capacity.
Measure:
- Percent of NSF research funding awarded in EPSCoR jurisdictions.
Goal 3. Accelerate NSF's impact by optimizing capability and modernizing operations.
Objective 3.1. Advance NSF's mission by ensuring the agility and capability of the agency's workforce.
To fulfill NSF's mission, the agency must ensure the strength of its workforce. Like other federal agencies, NSF must work to address human capital challenges such as skills gaps and staffing in mission-critical positions.11 In keeping with the administration's focus on reforming the federal hiring process,12 NSF will streamline human resources business processes to improve efficiency and effectiveness. Optimized, merit-based hiring practices will provide the agency with the talent needed to advance NSF's mission. A fully developed, reshaped workforce will build organizational capacity and enable the agility required to accomplish NSF's strategic, operational and performance objectives. NSF will partner with other federal agencies to share best practices for ensuring an efficient and high-performing workforce.
Strategy 1: Secure top talent by making merit-based hiring efficient and effective. NSF will leverage government-wide tools and data analytics to enable merit-based hiring decisions, improve the NSF hiring experience, and ensure that participants are satisfied with NSF's hiring process.
Strategy 2: Advance operational effectiveness by securing the skills needed to achieve the agency's objectives. NSF will reskill its workforce and expand experiential learning opportunities to address competency gaps and evolving needs.
Strategy 3: Strengthen performance management to promote high-caliber work. NSF will provide supervisors with performance management tools to effectively manage teams and reward high performers.
Measures:
- Average number of days to hire an NSF employee.
- NSF manager satisfaction with human resources functions (recruiting/hiring, training).
Objective 3.2. Ensure accountable agency operations through Gold Standard Science and maintain effective use of federal funds.
NSF's policies and processes aim to fund scientific discovery efficiently and effectively, but have, at times, created barriers and burdens for the research community.13 To better serve NSF staff and the broader scientific community, NSF will streamline its policies and procedures, in line with tenets of Gold Standard Science. More specifically, NSF will implement changes to its organizational structure and leverage technology to enhance operations in the proposal, merit review and award management life cycle. These changes will reduce administrative burdens and achieve resource efficiencies, while prioritizing the most impactful work to fund groundbreaking science and maintain global competitiveness.
Strategy 1: Reduce administrative burden by streamlining policies and processes. NSF will consolidate funding opportunities, streamline aspects of the proposal and award management system, and engage with the broad science and technology enterprise to foster understanding and collaboration around updated processes.
Strategy 2: Improve oversight of federal resources through enhanced accountability and transparency. NSF will improve its policies and procedures to increase accountability of its programs, resources, and risks, aligning with the executive orders on achieving cost efficiencies14 and improving oversight of federal grantmaking.15 NSF will also ensure all agency grant awards are consistent with NSF priorities and the national interest. NSF will strengthen procedures to ensure contractors are held accountable for results.
Strategy 3: Enhance operational efficiency by leveraging technologies and automation. NSF will leverage information technology systems, data, automation and AI to streamline operations and focus staff time on high-value work.
Measure:
- Administrative burden on NSF's recipient community.
Crosscutting strategy for partnerships
Partnerships offer opportunities to amplify economic and societal benefits of NSF's funding across the U.S. by accelerating discovery and the translation of research to practice. NSF is uniquely positioned to harness the strengths of higher education institutions, industry and nonprofits through partnerships and will leverage funding, complementary expertise and synergies across partners to advance the objectives in NSF's FY 2026-2030 Strategic Plan.
Measures:
- Number of external partners.
- External funding in direct partnerships.
- Number of NSF awards with NSF-catalyzed partners.
Agency priority goal
NSF has established a two-year agency priority goal (APG) in consultation with the U.S. Office of Management and Budget. The FY 2026-2027 APG will focus on ways to reduce administrative burden in alignment with Strategic Objective 3.2.
Goal leads:
- Chief Science Officer
- Head of Award Management
Impact statement: Streamline NSF's proposal and award management processes to reduce administrative burden on the science and technology (S&T) enterprise and ensure maximal impact of taxpayer dollars.
Achievement statement: By Sept. 30, 2027, streamline two functions of the proposal and award management process to reduce burden on the S&T community, and ensure more efficient use of and greater accountability for public funds.
In alignment with Office of Science and Technology Policy Director Michael Kratsios's goal to reduce administrative burdens on federally funded researchers,16 NSF will streamline its policies and procedures over fiscal years 2026 and 2027 of this APG. These efforts will allow NSF to better support the broader S&T community and ensure greater accountability for, and impact of, public funds. These efforts may include streamlining funding opportunities to remove repetitive and unnecessary language, reducing the documentation required during proposal submission to make it easier to apply, and partnering with other federal agencies to align requirements.
Appendix: Strategic learning goals and priority questions
The following strategic learning goals will frame NSF's efforts to build and use evidence to evaluate agency progress toward the strategic goals and objectives outlined in this plan. NSF's activities to answer these priority questions will result in evidence used to inform agency decisions related to policy, service delivery and operations. The strategic learning goals and FY 2027 priority questions are listed below:
1. How can NSF measure and assess the outcomes and impacts of its investments in U.S. research and innovation?
1.1 What data and methods can measure and track outcomes and impacts of NSF investments?
1.2 What are barriers to improving NSF's ability to apply evidence-based methods to detect and mitigate research security risks?
2. How can NSF measure and evaluate progress made through its investments to empower STEM talent?
3. How can NSF assess and increase its organizational capacity and effectiveness in modernizing its merit review process?
3.1 To what extent has NSF been effective in modernizing its merit review process and reducing burden on applicants?
Footnotes
[1] The President's Management Agenda was released Dec. 8, 2025.
[2] Analysis of Federal Funding for Research and Development in 2022: Basic Research | NSF - National Science Foundation.
[3] Executive Order 14303 Restoring Gold Standard Science.
[4] Critical and emerging technologies also include advanced manufacturing, advanced wireless, and microelectronics and semi-conductors, as outlined by the Office of Science and Technology Policy and Office of Management and Budget.
[5] NSF is the largest federal funder of artificial intelligence research and development.
[6] JASON Report, "Safeguarding the Research Enterprise."
[7] NSF-backed SECURE Center will support research security, international collaboration.
[8] For example, only one-third of time requested on the ALMA telescope is available: Factsheet | ALMA Observatory.
9 NSF, "Bridging the future: Defining and empowering the STEM workforce of tomorrow."
[10] NSF, "EPSCoR Report to Congress for FY 2024, p. 13."
[11] GAO, High Risk Series, "Heightened Attention Could Save Billions More and Improve Government Efficiency and Effectiveness" p.4.
[12] Executive Order 14170, "Reforming the Federal Hiring Process and Restoring Merit to Government Service."
[13] Federal Demonstration Partnership 2018 Faculty Workload Survey.
[14] Implementing the President's "Department of Government Efficiency" Cost Efficiency Initiative Executive Order.
[15] Improving Oversight of Federal Grantmaking Executive Order.
[16] Remarks by Director Kratsios at the National Academies of Sciences, May 19, 2025.