Growing Research Access for Nationally Transformative Economic Development

The National Science Foundation, through its Office of Integrative Activities, administers the Growing Research Access for Nationally Transformative Economic Development program, known as GRANTED. This initiative supports the strengthening of the nation’s research enterprise, not by funding individual research projects, but by improving the infrastructure, workforce, and administrative systems that sustain and enable research activity across organizations. The National Science Foundation is an independent federal agency dedicated to advancing science, engineering, and education in the United States. With GRANTED, NSF emphasizes the importance of a sustainable and competitive research enterprise that contributes directly to the nation’s economic growth and global leadership. The purpose of the GRANTED program is to fund innovative models for developing research enterprise infrastructure, including administrative services, research analytics, technology transfer and commercialization, compliance, security, policy, workforce training, and research leadership. The scope of GRANTED is broad and intended to benefit organizations engaged in or supporting research, helping them better pursue and manage externally funded research. The program recognizes that high-quality research outcomes require strong administrative systems, and that building capacity in this area will create opportunities for more equitable participation in the U.S. research landscape. Projects funded under GRANTED should not be discipline-specific research proposals. Instead, they must focus on enhancing organizational processes, strengthening human capital within the research enterprise, and translating effective administrative practices across institutions. The program emphasizes scalable solutions, organizational impact, and national relevance. Successful proposals are expected to identify structural and organizational challenges within research administration and propose targeted interventions or strategies that address these barriers. Importantly, the program requires that professional research administration staff take central roles in project leadership, reflecting the importance of administrative capacity in sustaining research. Eligibility is determined in accordance with NSF’s Proposal and Award Policies and Procedures Guide. While specific categories are not outlined in the notice, NSF awards are typically open to a wide range of U.S.-based institutions, including higher education organizations, nonprofits, tribal entities, and state or local governments. Applicants must follow all PAPPG requirements, including formatting, budget justification, and merit review criteria. NSF strongly encourages potential applicants to contact program personnel at GRANTED@nsf.gov before preparing a proposal. There are no pre-application requirements such as letters of intent or concept papers, and full proposals are accepted at any time through either Research.gov or Grants.gov. Applications are reviewed under NSF’s standard merit review process, focusing on the intellectual merit and broader impacts of the proposed work. For GRANTED, this translates into assessing the quality, scalability, and potential national impact of proposed models and practices for research enterprise development. Evaluation criteria will also consider the extent to which proposals expand participation, foster collaborations, and align with NSF priorities for strengthening U.S. research infrastructure. Project budgets and durations should be appropriate to the scope of work and justified accordingly. The program does not list a specific award floor, ceiling, or number of awards, as the funding amounts vary depending on the scope of proposals. Applicants must ensure their proposed budgets are consistent with the PAPPG and NSF’s financial policies, including adherence to the revised federal guidance for financial assistance awards issued in April 2024. Matching funds are not specified as a requirement. The opportunity remains active with no fixed deadline, as full proposals are accepted on a rolling basis. This makes it particularly important for interested applicants to plan strategically, keeping in mind NSF’s expectations for high-quality and broadly impactful proposals. Program contacts include Sarah L. O’Brien, reachable at sobrien@nsf.gov or by phone at (703) 292-4368, in the Office of Integrative Activities. NSF also provides regular informational sessions, such as GRANTED Office Hours, to help applicants understand program priorities and requirements. With proposals accepted at any time, organizations considering participation in GRANTED should consult NSF resources, maintain awareness of updates to research security and compliance policies, and plan their submissions in line with internal timelines for research development. The initiative represents a significant opportunity for organizations to strengthen their research enterprise capacities and contribute to the long-term competitiveness of the U.S. research ecosystem.