EPSCoR Centers of Research Excellence in Science and Technology

The EPSCoR Centers of Research Excellence in Science and Technology (EPSCoR CREST Centers) program, managed by the National Science Foundation's (NSF) Directorate for STEM Education, is designed to enhance the research competitiveness of institutions in EPSCoR jurisdictions by strengthening their STEM capacity. The program supports the creation and expansion of research centers at eligible institutions, aiming to broaden participation in STEM fields and integrate research with education and workforce development. EPSCoR, which stands for Established Program to Stimulate Competitive Research, targets jurisdictions that historically receive limited federal research funding. The CREST initiative aligns with NSF's strategic objective of increasing STEM skills and advancing opportunities nationwide, with a strong emphasis on institutional transformation and sustainability. This funding opportunity provides two types of awards: Phase I and Phase II. Phase I awards offer five years of support for new centers, while Phase II awards support centers seeking continuation of research in the same or a new discipline. The awards provide up to $1.5 million annually, with a maximum total of $7.5 million over five years. Partnership supplements of up to $100,000 are available for current awardees to establish or enhance collaborations with other CREST Centers, research institutions, or informal STEM education organizations. Proposals must demonstrate a strong research base, a clearly defined vision, measurable goals, and alignment with institutional priorities. Importantly, they must present a compelling case for national research competitiveness and a plan for securing non-CREST funding in the future. Eligibility for this program is restricted to doctoral-granting institutions located in EPSCoR jurisdictions that qualify as Emerging Research Institutions, defined as having less than $50 million in research expenditures for at least three of the past five years. The Principal Investigator must be a full-time faculty member at the proposing institution. Each institution is limited to one proposal per solicitation cycle and may not hold more than one active EPSCoR CREST Center award at a time. Institutions with a completed Phase I or Phase II award may reapply only if the new proposal addresses a different disciplinary area with distinct personnel and a different 6-digit CIP code. Applications must be submitted through either Research.gov or Grants.gov and must adhere to the NSF Proposal and Award Policies and Procedures Guide. Letters of Intent and preliminary proposals are not required. Proposals must include a Project Description with clearly defined objectives, detailed subprojects, a logic-based evaluation plan, and evidence of institutional support. Required supplemental documents include an ethics plan, a mentoring plan, a letter of institutional support, and others as outlined in the solicitation. Each proposal must also establish an internal steering committee and plan for an external advisory committee. The next deadlines for full proposals are December 6, 2024, and July 7, 2025, with the latter date recurring annually on the first Monday of July. Partnership supplement proposals are due July 7, 2025, and annually thereafter. While proposals are evaluated based on NSF’s merit review criteria—intellectual merit and broader impacts—additional program-specific criteria apply. These include the center’s ability to foster institutional transformation, promote diverse participation, integrate education and research, and sustain activities beyond the award period. General inquiries about the EPSCoR CREST Centers program may be directed to crest@nsf.gov or by calling 703-292-8640. The program is not offered on a rolling basis but is expected to recur annually. Institutions planning to submit Phase II proposals should do so one year before the expiration of their Phase I award. All applicants are expected to follow NSF guidelines and maintain compliance with all submission requirements to ensure eligibility and consideration.