NSF Convergence Accelerator (C-Accel)
NSF CONVERGENCE ACCELERATOR OVERVIEW
The NSF Convergence Accelerator is a brand-new structure that is unique for NSF and the federal government. This video explains what the Convergence Accelerator is about and what has been accomplished with the 2019 cohort of teams.
ANNOUNCEMENTS
Announcement on NSF 20-565 - PROPOSAL SUBMISSION - When submitting preliminary proposals to NSF 20-565, go to research.gov, sign in to your account, hover over "Prepare & Submit Proposals" then click "Prepare Proposals in FastLane." Once in FastLane, click on "Proposal Functions" then on "Proposal Preparation," then click "Prepare Proposal." When you update the cover page to add the solicitation 20-565, make sure you select "OIA - Office of Integrative Activities" in the Divisions section and "Convergence Accelerator Resrch" in the Program section. Be sure to select the check box indicating "preliminary proposal" on the "remainder" portion of the cover page. Finally, per the solicitation, please be sure to enter either Track C or Track D in your preliminary proposal title and $2 in the requested amount box.
If you have any proposal submission questions, please reach out to either your institution's Sponsored Research Office or to FastLane help at 1-800-673-6188.
Announcement on NSF 20-565 - NEW SOLICITATION - The NSF Convergence Accelerator is excited to announce the release of the 2020 Phase I and II Program Solicitation (NSF 20-565). For the slides and recordings of the two informational webinars we recently hosted, use the "click here" hyperlinks below.
The 2020 NSF Convergence Accelerator consists of two tracks as follows: Quantum Technology (Track C) and AI-Driven Innovation via Data and Model Sharing (Track D). NSF 20-565 contains detailed descriptions of these two tracks and NSF’s expectations of your submissions.
- The submission of a Preliminary Proposal (PP) is required. There is no limit to the number of PPs you can submit. The PPs are due May 11, 2020.
- Based on the review of the Preliminary Proposal (PP), Phase I proposals will be invited, and submission is by invitation only and will be due July 10, 2020. Phase I awards are expected to occur in September 2020 and awardees will participate in Cohort activities for nine months.
- Phase I teams will participate in the Convergence Accelerator curriculum, which pushes them to identify and expand partnerships with end-users, other stakeholders, and other teams, allowing them to refine their plans for Phase II. All Phase II proposals must be built upon a foundation developed by one or more Phase I awards. Phase II proposals will occur in Spring 2021.
April 16, 2020 Webinar: for the video recording, transcript, and closed captioning from this event, click here.
April 20, 2020 Webinar: for the video recording, transcript, and closed captioning from this event, click here.
For the slides presented during these webinars, click here.
Announcement on DCL 20-061 - DEADLINE EXTENSION - The Request for Information on Future Topics and conference proposals associated with DCL 20-061 have been extended to Friday, May 29, 2020. For more information, go to the Request for Information on Future Topics section below.
REQUEST FOR INFORMATION ON FUTURE TOPICS
(DEADLINE FOR NSF 20-061 EXTENDED TO MAY 29, 2020)
The purpose of this RFI and call for future topics conference proposals is to seek input from global industry, institutions of higher education (IHEs), non-profits, government entities, and other interested parties on potential NSF Convergence Accelerator tracks for FY 2021.
NSF 20-061 Request for Information on Future Topics for the NSF Convergence Accelerator Dear Colleague Letter
Topic submissions due via SurveyMonkey by May 29, 2020.
Workshop and conference requests for FY20 funding due by May 29, 2020.
General instructions for conference proposals may be found in the NSF Proposal & Award Policies & Procedures Guide, chapter II.E.7
SERVING AS A REVIEWER AND C-ACCEL UPDATES
Are you interested in serving as a reviewer for future proposals? Would you like to stay informed and receive direct updates from our team? If so, fill out the SurveyMonkey and we'll be in touch. https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/CAccel.
Specifically interested in reviewing proposals for Track C: Quantum Technology or Track D: AI-Driven Innovation via Data and Model Sharing? If so, fill out this SurveyMonkey: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/CAccelReviewers.
ACTIVE FUNDING OPPORTUNITIES
Our current active solicitations include 20-555 and 20-565. NSF DCL 20-061, listed above, is also open.
WHAT IS A CONVERGENCE ACCELERATOR?
NSF’s Convergence Accelerator effort is a new capability within NSF to accelerate use-inspired, convergence research in areas of national importance via partnerships between academic and non-academic stakeholders. The C-Accel effort provides a home for this research and advances ideas from concept to deliverables.
Key Characteristics:
- Use-inspired and application oriented
- Fed by basic research & discovery
- Adopts a convergent approach
- Integrated teams including industry, academics, not-for-profits, government entities, and others
- Fixed term, with a focus on deliverables
- Intensive education and mentorship
- Proactively and intentionally managed
BACKGROUND
NSF’s Convergence Accelerator Pilot issued its first set of awards in September 2019. The Convergence Accelerator is a new capability within NSF to accelerate use-inspired, convergence research in areas of national importance that supports two of the Big Ideas and seeks to engage partnerships – notably public-private partnerships. The initial set of pilot awards are focused on two of the Big Ideas: Harnessing the Data Revolution (Track A) and Future of Work at the Human-Technology Frontier (Track B). A total of 43 new awards in both tracks, totaling $39 million, support projects across the country that are identifying new ways to apply Big Data to science and engineering and create technologies that can enhance the lives of American workers.
The NSF Convergence Accelerator pilot started out with a singular vision: identify areas of research where investment in convergent approaches – those bringing together people from across disciplines, united to solve problems – have the potential to translate to high-benefit results and advance ideas from concept to deliverables. The Convergence Accelerator seeks to expand and refine NSF’s efforts to support fundamental scientific exploration by creating partnerships that could potentially include stakeholders from industry, foundations, government, nonprofits and other sectors. The first set of awards made through the Convergence Accelerator will leverage multidisciplinary research and lay the groundwork for public-private partnerships with industry, including Fortune 100 companies.
To view a listing of the awards, please see the following links:
ADDITIONAL RESOURCES
Is your organization new to submitting to NSF? If so, check out our supplementary guidance on submitting proposals to the NSF Convergence Accelerator by clicking here.
Information from past webinars may be found below:
- A Webinar on C-Accel Solicitation 20-565 was held on April 16, 2020. Click to view the PowerPoint and video (transcript and closed captioning available as well via the video link).
- A Webinar on C-Accel Solicitation 20-565 was held on April 16, 2020. Click to view the PowerPoint and video (transcript and closed captioning available as well via the video link).
- A Webinar on C-Accel was held on March 27, 2019. Click to view the Video, Powerpoint and Transcript from the event.
- A 2nd Webinar on C-Accel was held on April 3, 2019. Click to view the Video and Transcript from the event.
- A 3rd Webinar on C-Accel was held on April 9, 2019. Click to view the Video and Transcript from the event.
- A Webinar on C-Accel - Invited Full Proposals was held on May 14, 2019. Click to view the Video, PowerPoint and Transcript.
- A Webinar on C-Accel - Invited Full Proposals was held on May 21, 2019. Click to view the Video and Transcript.
Frequently Asked Questions for NSF 19-050 Convergence Accelerator Pilot
Frequently Asked Questions for NSF 20-555 Convergence Accelerator Solicitation
CONTACT INFORMATION; C-Accel@nsf.gov
| W. Douglas Maughan | Office Head | dmaughan@nsf.gov | Phone: 703-292-2497 | |
| Chaitanya Baru | Senior Advisor | cbaru@nsf.gov | Phone: 703-292-2473 | |
| Lara Campbell | Program Director | lcampbel@nsf.gov | Phone: 703-292-7049 | |
| Nakhiah Goulbourne | Program Director | ngoulbou@nsf.gov | Phone: 703-292-7715 | |
| Ibrahim Mohedas | AAAS Fellow | imohedas@nsf.gov | Phone: 703-292-4329 | |
| Linda Molnar | Program Director | lmolnar@nsf.gov | Phone: 703-292-8316 | |
| Michael Pozmantier | Program Director | mpozmant@nsf.gov | Phone: 703-292-4475 | |
| Talitha Washington | Program Director | twashing@nsf.gov | Phone: 703-292-4640 | |
| Pradeep Fulay | Expert | pfulay@nsf.gov | Phone: 703-292-2445 | |
| Cody Bowles | Program Analyst | cobowles@nsf.gov | Phone: 703-292-2271 |