Estab­lished Program to Stim­u­late Com­pet­i­tive Research (EPSCoR)

The U.S. National Science Foundation EPSCoR program pursues a mission to enhance the research competitiveness of targeted jurisdictions (state, territory or commonwealth) by strengthening science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) capacity and capability through a diverse portfolio of investments from talent development to local infrastructure. The EPSCoR program envisions its jurisdictions as recognized contributors to the national and global STEM research enterprise. The program seeks to:

• Catalyze the development of research capabilities and the creation of new knowledge that expands jurisdictions' contributions to scientific discovery, innovation, learning and knowledge-based prosperity.
• Establish sustainable STEM education, training and professional development pathways that advance jurisdiction-identified research areas and workforce development.
• Broaden direct participation of diverse individuals, institutions and organizations in the project's science and engineering research and education initiatives.
• Effect sustainable engagement of project participants and partners, the jurisdiction, the national research community and the general public through data-sharing, communication, outreach and dissemination.
• Impact research, education and economic development beyond the project at academic, government and private sector levels.

EPSCoR is part of NSF's STEM workforce portfolio.

Impacts and outcomes

From 2020 to 2025, EPSCoR’s targeted investments strengthened research capacity and advanced scientific innovation across jurisdictions nationwide. EPSCoR has catalyzed:

• Research capacity: EPSCoR supported approximately 25,000 individuals, including 8,800 researchers (263 early-career), and 16,200 graduate and undergraduate students.
• STEM education: EPSCoR engaged more than 12,200 K-12 teachers and over 200,000 K-12 students at outreach events.
• Economic development: EPSCoR jurisdictions have received 63 new patents and leveraged more than $2.4 billion in additional research funding from federal and other sources.

Learn more about EPSCoR's impact on the Impacts and Outcomes webpage.

View all EPSCoR funding opportunities >