Cyber-Physical Systems

The National Science Foundation (NSF), through its Directorate for Computer and Information Science and Engineering (CISE), is preparing to launch the Future Computing Research (Future CoRe) funding opportunity. This initiative encompasses a broad array of programs designed to advance foundational and applied research in computing, communications, and information science. With a longstanding history of fostering innovation and academic inquiry, NSF plays a critical role in shaping the trajectory of technology development in the United States. The Future CoRe program consolidates and modernizes NSF’s approach to computing research by supporting a diverse range of subprograms across multiple focus areas. The goal of Future CoRe is to support forward-looking and high-impact research in the field of computing. The opportunity is structured to facilitate projects that expand the theoretical foundations of computing, develop new systems and technologies, and promote equitable access to computing education. The programs under this initiative include Algorithmic Foundations (AF), Communications and Information Foundations (CIF), Computer Systems Research (CSR), Computing Education Research (CER), Cyber-Physical System Foundations and Connected Communities (CPS), Foundations of Emerging Technologies (FET), Human-Centered Computing (HCC), Information Integration and Informatics (III), Networking Technology and Systems (NeTS), Robust Intelligence (RI), and Software and Hardware Foundations (SHF). Funding through Future CoRe is flexible and designed to support a variety of project sizes. While project durations and budgets are expected to align with the scope of work, NSF encourages budgets of $150,000 to $250,000 per year, with a total duration of three to four years. The maximum project budget is capped at $1,000,000 over four years, and projects should not exceed $300,000 in any single year. The overall estimated number of awards ranges from 400 to 600, subject to the availability of funds. This program accommodates a wide range of research topics and institutional capabilities, from smaller, exploratory efforts to larger, sustained investigations. To apply, all proposals must comply with the NSF Proposal & Award Policies & Procedures Guide (PAPPG) effective at the time of the relevant deadline. While applications are technically accepted at any time, NSF strongly encourages submission by target dates to align with review cycles. The upcoming target deadlines for full proposals are September 11, 2025, and February 5, 2026, which will recur annually on the second Thursday of September and the first Thursday of February, respectively. It is important for applicants to ensure their proposals are in full compliance with all requirements before submission; submitting early does not waive these obligations. The opportunity is open nationwide and applicable to a wide range of organizations and individuals, including academic institutions, nonprofits, and other research-focused entities. There are specific limitations on the number of proposals per individual: each person may serve as a PI, co-PI, or senior/key personnel on no more than two proposals across all Future CoRe programs within a 12-month period. This limitation does not apply to other NSF opportunities outside the Future CoRe umbrella. Violations of this rule will result in automatic return of the proposal without review. For support, each subprogram has a dedicated team that can be reached via email and phone. For example, the AF Program Team can be contacted at cise-af@nsf.gov or (703) 292-8910, while the CSR Program Team can be reached at cise-csr@nsf.gov or (703) 292-8950. Full contact details are provided for each program area. NSF’s research security policies and award conditions have recently been updated, including compliance with executive orders and federal guidelines, effective October 1, 2024, and proposers are encouraged to review these updates when preparing their submissions.