NSF initiates funding opportunity jointly with the U.S. Navy to prioritize strengthening national security and national defense
The U.S. National Science Foundation, in partnership with the U.S. Naval Surface Warfare Center, Dahlgren Division (NSWCDD), has issued a Dear Colleague Letter (DCL) seeking proposals to advance a broad research, development, test and evaluation portfolio with an emphasis on warfare systems development and integration.
The funding opportunity is offered through the new Translation to Practice (NSF TTP) program, led by the NSF Directorate for Technology, Innovation and Partnerships (NSF TIP). The NSF TTP program aims to invest in use-inspired research, translational activities and partnerships that turn scientific discoveries into real-world solutions. Researchers can participate in a wide range of translational activities, including but not limited to preparing and testing prototypes, protecting intellectual property, launching commercial activities, participating in open-source ecosystems, developing research standards, forming partnerships, and/or facilitating licensing and/or industry adoption.
"Together, NSF and the U.S. Navy are working to advance national security research and strengthen our national defense," said Erwin Gianchandani, NSF assistant director for NSF TIP. "At the core of that work is accelerating the critical research and ideas that can help keep our country safe, secure and globally competitive."
The DCL requests that submitted proposals should align with NSWCDD research initiatives and work towards developing, testing, evaluating, integrating, enhancing and/or sustaining complex naval warfare systems, including:
- Intelligent automation systems which lie at the intersection of autonomy, artificial intelligence, and unmanned systems.
- Software and cyber engineering.
- Digital engineering, including advancement in live, virtual, and constructive capabilities and digital transformation.
- Hypersonic weapons advancement and information superiority, which includes advanced sensors and electromagnetics, integrated combat systems, advanced integrated fire control and battle management aid development.
Additionally, the TTP program will consider proposals that are responsive to the core competencies and interests of NSWCDD across all three tracks of the program solicitation. The three TTP program tracks are:
- Explore funds adventurous, "high-risk" use-inspired activities, bridging the gap between fundamental scientific curiosity and a practical desire to address real-world problems. Proposers must have a current NSF award and be interested in transitioning the foundational research to "use-inspired" activities.
- Translate funds translating prior research results into technological innovations with promising commercial, economic and/or societal impacts. This track starts with use-inspired research and further matures ideas, iterates and improves solutions, ensures scalability and accessibility and lowers the barriers to effective translation.
- Partner funds complex, multi-disciplinary, multi-organizational teams pursuing translational development projects. Strategic partnerships with stakeholders beyond their universities and research organizations are the essential ingredients for success and may include industry, government entities at all levels, philanthropies or other groups associated with large-scale productization and distribution.
To learn more about this funding opportunity, view the full DCL.
About NSF TIP
The NSF Directorate for Technology, Innovation and Partnerships (NSF TIP) seeks to engage all Americans in accelerating critical and emerging technologies to advance U.S. competitiveness. The directorate partners across sectors to advance three primary focus areas — accelerating technology translation and development, fostering regional innovation and economic growth and preparing the American workforce for better-quality, higher-wage jobs. For more information about NSF TIP, visit nsf.gov/tip/latest.