Advanced Manufacturing

The Advanced Manufacturing (AM) program, managed by the National Science Foundation (NSF) within the Directorate for Engineering (ENG) and the Division of Civil, Mechanical and Manufacturing Innovation (ENG/CMMI), supports foundational research to reinvigorate and strengthen the U.S. manufacturing sector. Its core mission is to stimulate transformative advances that will promote national prosperity, bolster workforce development, and secure leadership in global manufacturing. By backing novel and interdisciplinary research that reimagines manufacturing systems, methods, and practices, the program directly aligns with broader national priorities concerning economic revitalization and security. This funding opportunity calls for proposals that pursue fundamental investigations into a wide range of advanced manufacturing topics. These may include but are not limited to manufacturing systems, materials processing, machines, and cross-scale manufacturing. The program encourages research that transcends traditional domain boundaries. Scholars and practitioners working in cybermanufacturing systems, materials engineering and processing, manufacturing equipment, and nanomanufacturing are particularly encouraged to submit convergent and interdisciplinary proposals. Projects that introduce manufacturing concepts to new application areas or leverage non-traditional approaches to solve pressing manufacturing problems are especially welcome. One of the distinctive aspects of the AM program is its openness to a variety of project sizes, as long as the proposed budget and scope are commensurate with the project's objectives. NSF does not impose a fixed award ceiling or floor, and investigators are strongly encouraged to reach out to the program directors with their ideas ahead of submission. This proactive engagement is aimed at ensuring alignment with program goals and understanding the review criteria. There is no fixed submission deadline for this opportunity. Full proposals may be submitted at any time via Research.gov or Grants.gov. All applications must follow the guidelines in the NSF Proposal & Award Policies & Procedures Guide (PAPPG) applicable at the time of submission. Importantly, proposals submitted to other funding mechanisms (e.g., CAREER, EAGER, RAPID) must comply with their respective deadline policies. Although there are no pre-application gating steps such as letters of intent or concept papers required for general AM proposals, NSF advises PIs to contact program officers prior to submitting proposals for EAGER or RAPID mechanisms, supplements, or workshops. Evaluation of proposals submitted to the AM program will follow NSF’s standard merit review criteria. Reviewers will assess intellectual merit and broader impacts, as well as the degree to which the project contributes to revitalizing U.S. manufacturing. Additional factors may include interdisciplinarity, potential for convergence across domains, and alignment with national strategic priorities. The review process is managed by the ENG/CMMI division, and PIs may consult with several listed program directors via the shared email address [email protected] or by phone. The AM program accepts proposals on a rolling basis and is classified as recurring. While no specific cycles are enumerated, the lack of a submission deadline and the expectation for long-term manufacturing research imply that the program is part of NSF's ongoing commitment. The analysis date of February 9, 2026, indicates that the program is currently active and accepting proposals.