Security, Privacy, and Trust in Cyberspace

The Security, Privacy, and Trust in Cyberspace (SaTC 2.0) program is a funding initiative from the National Science Foundation (NSF), aiming to foster research and educational initiatives that build and maintain trust in the evolving global cyber ecosystem. With cyberspace now deeply integrated into all facets of life—from government and health to infrastructure and education—the need to address the vulnerabilities, malicious threats, and societal implications of digital technologies is more urgent than ever. This program targets both technical and social dimensions of cybersecurity, focusing on developing secure systems and understanding how trust, privacy, and resilience can be designed into these systems. The NSF SaTC 2.0 program supports three types of projects under different designations: Research (RES), Education (EDU), and Seedling (SEED). RES proposals focus on multidisciplinary research and may receive up to $1.2 million for up to four years. EDU proposals support efforts to enhance cybersecurity education and workforce development, with up to $500,000 available (or $600,000 for projects emphasizing education research with cross-disciplinary collaboration). SEED proposals, tied to specific topical calls via Dear Colleague Letters, are limited to $300,000 over two years. For RES proposals requesting over $600,000, supplementary plans are required to promote Broadening Participation in Computing (BPC) and collaboration. RES proposals may also include a Transition to Education (TTE) plan to develop educational components aligned with the research goals. Allowable uses of funding vary depending on designation but may include collaborative research, curricular design, community-engaged learning, workforce training, and infrastructure development. The RES designation emphasizes novel, forward-looking, and generalizable approaches to security, privacy, and trust. EDU proposals must clearly articulate metrics, target populations, deployment plans, and long-term sustainability of their educational initiatives. Matching funds are not required, and cost-sharing is prohibited under this solicitation. All proposals must comply with the NSF Proposal & Award Policies & Procedures Guide (PAPPG) in effect at the time of submission. Eligibility is open to accredited two- and four-year U.S.-based institutions of higher education (IHEs), as well as U.S.-based nonprofit, non-academic research and education organizations. Project personnel must hold tenured, tenure-track, or full-time paid teaching/research positions at eligible institutions. A strict limit of four submissions per PI or co-PI per 12-month period applies, comprising up to two RES proposals, one EDU, and one SEED proposal. Sub-awards to overseas branches of U.S. institutions are not permitted. All proposals with budgets over $600,000 involving computing-related organizations must include a BPC plan. The program operates on a recurring annual cycle with two target dates: the last Monday in September (next due: September 29, 2025) and the last Monday in January (next due: January 26, 2026), repeating annually. Although proposals are accepted year-round, submissions outside these target dates may miss review panels. There are no pre-application requirements such as Letters of Intent or concept papers. Applications must be submitted via Research.gov or Grants.gov following the specified guidelines. NSF anticipates funding around 75 awards annually (approximately 60 RES, 15 EDU), depending on available funds, with a total estimated annual budget of $60 million. Notification and award timing will follow standard NSF procedures, and performance periods vary based on the project type (up to four years for RES, three for EDU, two for SEED). Contact information for program officers across the relevant NSF directorates is listed for applicants seeking additional guidance. The program encourages participation in PI meetings held approximately every two years and mandates travel budgeting for these meetings in proposals. These gatherings promote community-building among researchers, educators, and policy stakeholders to align efforts and share innovations across the broader SaTC ecosystem.

For budgets over $600K, inclusion of BPC and Collaboration plans is mandatory. Failure to include may lead to return without review.