Research and education in science and engineering benefit immensely from international cooperation. The U.S. National Science Foundation enables and encourages U.S. scientists, engineers and their institutions to enhance their research and education programs through international cooperation.
NSF also provides opportunities for future generations of U.S. scientists and engineers to gain the experience and outlook they need to be productive and collaborative in an international research and education environment.
Below are examples of current international collaboration opportunities. For information on other opportunities, please contact the NSF Program Director for a particular country.
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All countries
Special opportunity: International collaboration supplements in quantum information science and engineering research
Invites requests for supplemental funding from existing quantum information science and engineering research awardees to add a new, or strengthen an existing, international dimension to their award.
While collaboration with Australia, Canada, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Japan, the Netherlands, South Korea, Sweden, Switzerland and the United Kingdom is of particular interest, requests for international supplements to collaborate with other countries will also be considered.
Brazil
The NSF Directorate for Geosciences (NSF GEO)National Science Foundation (NSF) and the State of São Paulo Research Foundation (FAPESP) are pleased to support an NSF/GEO-FAPESP Lead Agency Opportunity. Through this Lead Agency model, NSF GEO and FAPESP support collaborative geoscience partnerships between researchers in the U.S. and the Brazilian state of São Paulo, promoting research excellence and international collaboration through a streamlined submission and merit review process under the lead agency.
Canada
NSF and NSERC Collaborative Research Opportunities in Artificial Intelligence and Quantum Science
NSF, the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada (NSERC), and the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council of Canada (SSHRC) support collaborative international research through bilateral activities and multilateral arrangements.
Finland
Special Guidelines for Submitting Collaborative Proposals under U.S. National Science Foundation (NSF) and The Academy of Finland (AoF) Collaborative Research Opportunities
Encourages collaborative U.S.-Finland research proposals in the areas of artificial intelligence and/or wireless communication technologies.
Germany
NSF supports collaborative international research through bilateral activities and multilateral arrangements with the German Research Foundation (DFG) and the German Federal Ministry of Education and Research.
The following opportunities offer support for collaborations between researchers in the U.S. and Germany:
- Collaborative Research in Computational Neuroscience supports collaborative research projects and the sharing of data and other resources for the study of computational neuroscience.
- Designing Materials to Revolutionize and Engineer our Future supports materials design and development through the integration of experiments, computation and data-driven methods, while fostering interdisciplinary collaboration and training the next generation of the materials research and development workforce.
- Security, Privacy, and Trust in Cyberspace (SaTC 2.0) supports interdisciplinary research and education to develop a secure, resilient and trustworthy global cyber ecosystem by addressing vulnerabilities, improving trust in cyber systems and cultivating a well-trained cybersecurity workforce.
- NSF-DFG Lead Agency Opportunity in Chemistry and Chemical Process and Transport Systems supports U.S.-Germany research collaborations at the intersection of the participating NSF programs and DFG units.
The participating NSF directorates, divisions and programs for NSF 25-537 are:- NSF Directorate for Engineering
NSF Division of Chemical, Bioengineering, Environmental and Transport Systems: - NSF Directorate for Mathematical and Physical Sciences
- NSF Directorate for Engineering
NSF Division of Molecular and Cellular Biosciences
- The NSF-DFG Lead Agency Opportunity in Molecular and Cellular Biology invites U.S.-Germany collaborative proposals for biological research at molecular, subcellular or cellular scales.
NSF Division of Civil, Mechanical and Manufacturing Innovation
- The Opportunity for Collaborations in Advanced Manufacturing invites U.S.-Germany collaborative proposals for advanced manufacturing research.
NSF Division of Physics
- The NSF and DFG Opportunity for Collaborations in Physics encourages collaborative U.S.-German research proposals in the areas of physics supported by the NSF Division of Physics.
Ireland
United States-Ireland-Northern Ireland R&D Partnership
The United States, Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland have a longstanding partnership to increase the level of collaborative research and development among researchers across the three jurisdictions that will generate innovation and lead to improvements in society.
Israel
U.S.-Israel Binational Science Foundation (BSF) Collaboration/NSF-BSF
NSF and the U.S.-Israel Binational Science Foundation (BSF) have signed a memorandum of understanding on research cooperation to encourage collaboration between U.S. and Israeli research communities.
Proposals will be accepted to the following directorates, divisions and programs. Contact emails are listed within the relevant solicitation or program description unless provided in the listings below:
Crosscutting programs involve the participation of multiple NSF directorates and may involve additional agencies within the U.S. government or other science and engineering funding agencies worldwide.
CRCNS involves the NSF directorates of Biological Sciences (NSF BIO), Computer and Information Science and Engineering (NSF CISE), Engineering (NSF ENG), Mathematical and Physical Sciences (NSF MPS), Social, Behavioral and Economic Sciences (NSF SBE) and Office of International Science and Engineering (NSF OISE).
For proposals up to a total of $600,000 only for a duration of up to four years. CPS involves NSF CISE and NSF ENG.
Contact email: Robotics@nsf.gov.
MFAI involves the NSF directorates of CISE, ENG, MPS and SBE.
Note: Before submitting an application, U.S. principal investigators should check with the program directors listed in the solicitation because not all divisions that participate in MFB also participate in the NSF-BSF binational program.
Contact email: mfb@nsf.gov.
For proposals up to a total of $600,000 only for a duration of up to four years. SaTC involves the NSF directorates of CISE, ENG, MPS and SBE.
Contact email: satc@nsf.gov.
SCH involves the NSF directorates of CISE, ENG, MPS and SBE.
Contact email: SCH_correspondence@nsf.gov.
CDS&E involves the NSF directorates of CISE, ENG, GEO and MPS.
Biocomputing through EnGINeering Organoid Intelligence (BEGIN OI) - Involves the NSF directorates of BIO, CISE, ENG, MPS and SBE.
Contact email: NSFBIO-BSF@nsf.gov
Proposals may be submitted to the following solicitations in the NSF Directorate for Biological Sciences:
NSF CISE accepts submissions to its Core Programs for proposals up to a total of $600,000 for a duration of up to four years.
Division of Computing and Communication Foundations:
Division of Computer and Network Systems:
Division of Information and Intelligent Systems:
Division of Chemical, Bioengineering, Environmental and Transport Systems:
- Biosensing
- Cellular and Biochemical Engineering
- Combustion and Fire Systems
- Disability and Rehabilitation Engineering
- Electrochemical Systems
- Engineering of Biomedical Systems
- Environmental Engineering
- Environmental Sustainability
- Fluid Dynamics
- Interfacial Engineering
- Nanoscale Interactions
- Particulate and Multiphase Processes
- Process Systems, Reaction Engineering and Molecular Thermodynamics
- Thermal Transport Processes
Division of Civil, Mechanical and Manufacturing Innovation:
- Advanced Manufacturing
- Biomechanics and Mechanobiology
- Civil Infrastructure Systems
- Dynamics, Control and Systems Diagnostics
- Engineering Design and System Engineering
- Engineering for Civil Infrastructure
- Humans, Disasters, and the Built Environment
- Manufacturing Systems Integration
- Mechanics of Materials and Structures
- Mind, Machine and Motor Nexus
- Operations Engineering
Division of Electrical, Communications and Cyber Systems:
Contact email for all NSF GEO programs: GEO-BSF@nsf.gov.
GEO program descriptions or solicitations under the following divisions are participating in the NSF-BSF lead agency opportunity.
Division of Astronomical Sciences:
Contact email: Hans Krimm, hkrimm@nsf.gov.
Division of Materials Research:
- Biomaterials
- Ceramics
- Condensed Matter and Materials Theory
- Condensed Matter Physics
- Electronic and Photonic Materials
- Metals and Metallic Nanostructures
- Polymers
- Solid State and Materials Chemistry
- Topical Materials Research Programs
Division of Mathematical Sciences (DMS):
Contact email for DMS programs: dms-bsf@nsf.gov.
- Algebra and Number Theory
- Analysis
- Applied Mathematics
- Combinatorics
- Computational Mathematics
- Foundations
- Geometric Analysis
- Mathematical Biology
- Probability
- Statistics
- Topology
Division of Physics:
Division of Chemistry:
Disciplinary Research Programs
For program contacts, please access NSF 22-605.
- Chemical Catalysis
- Chemical Measurement and Imaging
- Chemical Structure, Dynamics, and Mechanisms B
- Chemical Synthesis
- Environmental Chemical Sciences
- Macromolecular, Supramolecular, and Nanochemistry
Disciplinary Research Programs: No Deadline Pilot
For program contacts, please access NSF 22-606.
Division of Behavioral and Cognitive Sciences:
- Cognitive Neuroscience
- Developmental Sciences
- Human-Environment and Geographical Sciences
- Linguistics (participating in the NSF-BSF opportunity as a pilot)
- Perception, Action, and Cognition
- Science of Learning and Augmented Intelligence
- Social Psychology
Division of Social and Economic Sciences:
Contact email: K. Andrew (Andy) DeSoto, kadesoto@nsf.gov.
- Decision, Risk and Management Sciences (Decision Science only)
- Economics
- Sociology
Contact email: OISE-BSF@nsf.gov.
NSF OISE helps to coordinate the overall engagement between NSF and BSF.
Office of Director/Office of International Science and Engineering
Contact email: OISE-BSF@nsf.gov .
OISE helps to coordinate the overall engagement between NSF and BSF.
Romania
NSF and the Romanian Executive Agency for Higher Education, Research, Development and Innovation Funding (UEFISCDI) Lead Agency Opportunity in the Mathematical and Physical Sciences
Encourages international collaboration in mathematical and physical sciences by enabling U.S. and Romanian researchers to submit a single proposal for joint review, thus streamlining the research process. Download the NSF-UEFISCDI expression of interest form.
Proposals will be accepted to the following programs within the NSF Directorate for Mathematical and Physical Sciences:
- Chemical Catalysis
- Chemical Measurement and Imaging
- Chemical Mechanism, Function, and Properties
- Chemical Structure and Dynamics Program
- Chemical Synthesis
- Chemical Theory, Models, and Computational Methods
- Chemistry of Life Processes
- Environmental Chemistry Sciences
- Macromolecular, Supramolecular and Nanochemistry
Switzerland
NSF-Swiss NSF Lead Agency Opportunity
Invites U.S.-Swiss collaborations at the intersection of the Swiss National Science Foundation's three research divisions and participating NSF programs. Please note that some NSF programs will not participate in the program. Please review the information below for information about program participation.
For participating programs, download the NSF-Swiss NSF expression of interest form.
Questions about this DCL and expressions of interest may be directed to SwissNSF-Collaboration@nsf.gov.
Atmospheric and Geospace Sciences
Earth Sciences:
- Chemical Evolution of the Solid Earth and Volcanology
- Life and Environments Through Time
- Structure and Physics of the Solid Earth
- Water, Landscape and Critical Zone Processes
Ocean Sciences:
NSF Office of Polar Programs:
Division of Astronomical Sciences:
NSF MPS – Math Science:
- Algebra and Number Theory
- Analysis
- Applied Mathematics
- Combinatorics
- Computational Mathematics
- Foundations
- Geometric Analysis
- Mathematical Biology
- Probability
- Statistics
- Topology
MPS - Physics (modified):
- Atomic, Molecular and Optical Physics - Experiment
- Atomic, Molecular and Optical Physics - Theory
- Elementary Particle Physics - Experiment
- Gravitational Physics - Experiments and Data Analysis
- Gravitational Physics - Theory
- LIGO Research Support
- Nuclear Physics - Experiment
- Nuclear Physics - Theory
- Particle Astrophysics - Experiment
- Physics of Living Systems
- Plasma Physics
- Quantum Information Science
- NSF SBE and all previously participating SBE programs are pausing participation and will not consider applications at this time.
United Kingdom
NSF and U.K. Research & Innovation (UKRI) have a long history of collaborating through bilateral activities and multilateral arrangements that foster and support collaborative U.S.-U.K. international research.
The following NSF directorates offer specific opportunities for collaborations between NSF and UKRI:
- U.S.-UK Research Collaboration under the NSF-UKRI/Engineering and Physical Science Research Council Lead Agency Opportunity: Supports collaborative U.S.–U.K. research across several domains supported by the NSF Directorate for Computer and Information Science and Engineering and the Engineering and Physical Science Research Council of UKRI.
- A list of participating programs in CISE is found below. The Expression of Interest form is found at: NSF-UKRI/EPSRC EOI form.
- Computing and AI Foundations
Please note: Only small proposals addressing artificial intelligence and quantum information science will be considered at this time. - Cyber, Physical, and Intelligent Systems
Please note: Only small proposals will be considered at this time.
- U.S.-UK Research Collaboration under the NSF-UKRI/Engineering and Physical Science Research Council Lead Agency Opportunity: Supports collaborative U.S.–U.K. research across several domains supported by the NSF Directorate for Engineering and the Engineering and Physical Science Research Council of UKRI.
- A list of participating programs in ENG is found below and the Expression of Interest form is found at: NSF-UKRI/EPSRC EOI form.
- Chemical Bioengineering and Transport Systems core programs
- Civil, Mechanical, and Manufacturing Innovation core programs
- Electrical, Communications, and Computing Systems core programs
- NSF/GEO - UK Natural Environment Research Council (NERC) Lead Agency Opportunity: Invites collaborative U.S.–U.K. research proposals to programs in the areas of atmospheric and geospace sciences, Earth sciences and ocean sciences.
- U.S.-UK Research Collaboration under the NSF-UKRI/Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council Lead Agency Opportunity: Supports collaborative U.S.–U.K. research across several domains supported by the NSF Directorate for Mathematical and Physical Science and the Engineering and Physical Science Research Council of UKRI.
- A list of participating programs in MPS is found below .The Expression of Interest form is found at: NSF-UKRI EOI Form
- Chemistry
- NSF-UKRI/EPSRC Lead Agency Opportunity on Understanding and Exploiting Quantum Information in Chemical Systems
OISE contacts by region
- Africa (Sub-Saharan): anesa@nsf.gov
- Americas (including Canada, the Caribbean, Mexico, South and Central America): amer@nsf.gov
- East and South Asia and Pacific: eap@nsf.gov
- Europe and Eurasia (including European Commission and Central Asia): ee@nsf.gov
- Middle East and North Africa: menainfo@nsf.gov