Infrastructure Innovation for Biological Research

The Infrastructure Innovation for Biological Research (Innovation) program is administered by the National Science Foundation (NSF), an independent federal agency dedicated to promoting scientific progress and innovation in the United States. This specific funding opportunity falls under the Directorate for Biological Sciences, specifically through the Division of Biological Infrastructure. NSF aims to support and enable the development of novel or significantly enhanced research infrastructure that facilitates advanced biological research across various scientific domains. This program seeks to catalyze innovative research by funding the development of novel tools, techniques, and methods broadly applicable within the biological sciences. It targets infrastructure innovations in three primary areas: Bioinformatics, Instrumentation, and Research Methods. Funded projects must aim to either develop new infrastructure, significantly redesign existing tools, or adapt current infrastructure in transformative ways. The overarching objective is to improve the capacity of researchers to analyze, measure, and manipulate biological systems, contributing to fundamental biological discovery. Funding is structured through standard or continuing grants or cooperative agreements. Approximately $16 to $18 million is available annually, with an expected 20 to 40 awards depending on proposal merit and budget distributions. Proposals are accepted on a rolling basis, meaning there is no fixed deadline, providing applicants with flexible submission timing. However, the size and complexity of each project should be proportionate to the requested funding and demonstrate a broader impact on the research community. Eligible applicants include accredited U.S. institutions of higher education and nonprofit, non-academic organizations like independent research labs and museums. There are no restrictions on the number of proposals an organization or individual can submit. Full proposals must be submitted through Research.gov or Grants.gov, adhering to the NSF Proposal & Award Policies & Procedures Guide (PAPPG). While letters of intent and preliminary proposals are not required, proposals must include a comprehensive development plan, project management strategy, broader impact statement, data management plan, and for applicable projects, a Safe and Inclusive Fieldwork (SAIF) Plan. Proposals are evaluated on intellectual merit and broader impacts, as outlined by the NSF's merit review criteria. Reviewers assess the innovation's responsiveness to current biological research needs, its potential for transformative impact, dissemination strategy, and the quality of project management and risk assessment. A competitive application should also include efforts to broaden participation in STEM, involving underrepresented groups and institutions, such as Minority-Serving Institutions and primarily undergraduate institutions. For more information or to ask questions about proposal submission, prospective applicants can contact the relevant program officers via the provided emails or phone numbers for each thematic area. Additionally, general questions can be directed to NSF’s Help Desk. This solicitation remains open-ended, reflecting NSF’s ongoing commitment to advancing research infrastructure and supporting a diverse and inclusive scientific community.