Expeditions in Computing

The National Science Foundation (NSF), an independent federal agency dedicated to advancing science and engineering in the United States, manages a diverse portfolio of funding opportunities. Among these is the “Expeditions in Computing” program, formally titled “NSF 20-544: Expeditions in Computing (Expeditions),” offered through the Directorate for Computer and Information Science and Engineering (CISE). This directorate comprises several divisions including Computing and Communication Foundations, Computer and Network Systems, Information and Intelligent Systems, and the Office of Advanced Cyberinfrastructure. The Expeditions program is a flagship initiative that supports ambitious, long-term research agendas with the potential to define the future of computing and information. The program aims to catalyze transformative research at the frontiers of computing. It funds projects that address deep scientific questions or complex technical challenges, ideally ones that require multi-disciplinary collaboration. These projects must also demonstrate the potential to significantly impact science, education, and society. Each proposal must present a compelling case for its transformative potential and show how the collaborative efforts of the team will produce results that exceed the sum of individual contributions. The NSF supports these projects with funding of up to $15 million over a period of seven years, acknowledging that such expansive research agendas require time and scale. Expeditions proposals are submitted in two stages. Submission of a preliminary proposal is mandatory and required to be considered for full proposal submission, which is by invitation only. Preliminary proposals are accepted every other year, with the most recent deadline having been June 20, 2024, and the next one scheduled for June 22, 2026. Corresponding full proposals are due the following year, with the next full proposal deadline set for July 9, 2025. Proposals must be submitted through Research.gov or Grants.gov, adhering to NSF’s Proposal & Award Policies & Procedures Guide (PAPPG). No letters of intent are required, and inclusion of voluntary cost-sharing is prohibited. Eligible applicants include accredited U.S.-based institutions of higher education that offer undergraduate through doctoral-level programs in computing and information science and engineering. Nonprofit non-academic organizations such as independent museums and research institutes may be included as subawardees if they are directly associated with research or education in these fields. Other entities such as for-profit organizations, national laboratories, and international institutions may participate, but they must provide their own funding sources and will not receive direct NSF support. Each individual may participate in only one proposal per competition, either at the preliminary or full proposal stage, as PI, co-PI, or senior personnel. The Expeditions program places special emphasis on Broadening Participation in Computing (BPC). All proposals must include a clear, actionable BPC plan as part of their broader impacts. Funding should be allocated to support relevant BPC efforts, and the plan must include evaluation metrics. This ensures that project teams are not only advancing science but also contributing to the diversification and inclusivity of the computing field. Successful projects will be subject to two key site visits—in Year 2 and Year 5—to assess progress and determine eligibility for continued funding. In addition, Innovation Transition (InTrans) awards are available for teams in the final two years of an Expeditions project. These awards, up to $1.5 million in NSF funding, aim to transition research outcomes into industry practice by requiring a three-year commitment from industrial partners. InTrans proposals must include signed letters from industrial collaborators and outline a clear plan for transitioning research into applied innovations. Any software developed must be released under an open-source license. These supplementary awards represent an additional mechanism by which NSF supports sustained impact beyond the initial research funding. For inquiries, applicants should contact Mitra Basu, Program Director at NSF, via email at mbasu@nsf.gov or by phone at (703) 292-8910. The full solicitation and updates can be accessed through the NSF website. Applicants are advised to check these resources regularly for updates, including any changes to deadlines or submission procedures.

Include a strong BPC plan; contact Program Director before submission; email vision slide; ensure one submission per person.