Cybersecurity Innovation for Cyberinfrastructure (CICI)

The Cybersecurity Innovation for Cyberinfrastructure (CICI) program, offered by the U.S. National Science Foundation (NSF), aims to bolster scientific research through enhancements in cybersecurity. Administered by the Office of Advanced Cyberinfrastructure within the Directorate for Computer and Information Science and Engineering, this program supports applied security research that directly benefits scientific cyberinfrastructure. CICI facilitates advancements in data security, computational workflows, and infrastructure trustworthiness across various scientific domains. The CICI program is structured into four focused tracks: Usable and Collaborative Security for Science (UCSS), Reference Scientific Security Datasets (RSSD), Transition to Cyberinfrastructure Resilience (TCR), and Integrity, Provenance, and Authenticity for Artificial Intelligence Ready Data (IPAAI). Each track addresses specific challenges in cybersecurity within the context of scientific research. For example, UCSS emphasizes security usability and integration in scientific workflows, RSSD supports the creation and dissemination of datasets to enhance security research, TCR targets the practical application of cybersecurity improvements to scientific infrastructures, and IPAAI focuses on ensuring data integrity and authenticity in AI-related scientific processes. Eligible applicants include U.S.-based accredited institutions of higher education and non-profit, non-academic organizations directly involved in research or education, such as independent museums and observatories. The NSF prohibits voluntary committed cost sharing and mandates open sharing of curated datasets in accordance with FAIR principles. Proposals should include detailed information about the relevant scientific environment, security enhancements, licensing, sustainability, and ethical considerations. Collaborations with domain scientists and IT professionals are strongly encouraged, and proposals must include letters of collaboration where applicable. Proposals are to be submitted through Research.gov or Grants.gov, following the NSF Proposal and Award Policies and Procedures Guide. Key submission deadlines are April 2, 2025, and January 21, 2026, with subsequent cycles recurring annually on the third Wednesday in January. There are no restrictions on the number of proposals per organization; however, individuals may participate in a maximum of two proposals. Collaborative proposals must be submitted as a single integrated proposal rather than separate awards. The total anticipated funding ranges from $8 million to $12 million, supporting between 12 and 20 awards. Award sizes vary by program area: up to $600,000 for UCSS and RSSD projects, $1,200,000 for TCR, and $900,000 for IPAAI, each spanning up to three years. Proposals will be reviewed on the basis of intellectual merit and broader impacts, with additional solicitation-specific criteria emphasizing science-driven innovation, FAIR data practices, stakeholder collaboration, and sustainable project outcomes. For further information, applicants can contact Daniel F. Massey at dmassey@nsf.gov or (703) 292-5147, and Kevin Thompson at kthompso@nsf.gov or (703) 292-4220.