EPSCoR Research Infrastructure Improvement Program: EPSCoR Collaborations for Optimizing Research Ecosystems

The EPSCoR Research Infrastructure Improvement Program: EPSCoR Collaborations for Optimizing Research Ecosystems (E-CORE) is a funding initiative administered by the U.S. National Science Foundation (NSF) through its Office of Integrative Activities. This program is part of the broader EPSCoR (Established Program to Stimulate Competitive Research) initiative, which aims to enhance research capacity and infrastructure in jurisdictions that have traditionally received lower levels of federal research funding. The E-CORE program specifically supports jurisdictions in developing and sustaining research ecosystems—defined as interconnected networks of researchers, institutions, stakeholders, and resources that support innovation and discovery. The purpose of E-CORE is to build significant and sustainable jurisdiction-wide research infrastructure in areas identified as strategic priorities by the jurisdiction. These areas, referred to as “cores,” can include various components such as research facilities, STEM education pathways, workforce development, community engagement, technology transfer, and more. Projects funded under E-CORE must demonstrate a strategy for sustaining the developed infrastructure beyond the funding period, with particular emphasis on securing future support from non-EPSCoR sources. Each E-CORE project must include a central Administrative Core that coordinates activities across the jurisdiction and ensures collaboration among stakeholders. Additional cores may be proposed based on jurisdiction-specific needs and can focus on topics such as K-12 STEM education, higher education pathways, national and global partnerships, economic development, and early-career research development. Projects are expected to be evidence-based and aligned with a jurisdiction’s current Science and Technology (S&T) Plan, which must have been issued or approved within the past five years. Funding for the E-CORE program is available through cooperative agreements. A total of up to $37.5 million is available annually, with individual projects eligible for up to $10 million for an initial four-year period. An optional renewal project award may provide an additional $8 million over a subsequent four years. Up to 15 awards may be made each year, depending on the availability of funds and the quality of submitted proposals. Proposals may be submitted by accredited U.S. institutions of higher education, certain non-profit research organizations, state and tribal governments, and jurisdictional agencies within EPSCoR-eligible jurisdictions. Lead institutions may not submit if they are currently managing an active E-CORE or RII Track-1 award unless it is in its final year or under a no-cost extension. The proposal process requires submission via Research.gov or Grants.gov in accordance with NSF's Proposal & Award Policies & Procedures Guide (PAPPG). Letters of Intent and preliminary proposals are not required. Proposals must include a detailed project description, management and leadership plans, an evaluation and assessment strategy, and a sustainability plan. A jurisdiction's S&T Plan and a letter confirming notification to the Jurisdictional Steering Committee must also be included. The next application deadline is July 15, 2025, with the opportunity recurring annually on the third Tuesday in July. Proposals will be evaluated based on standard NSF merit review criteria—intellectual merit and broader impacts—as well as additional criteria specific to the E-CORE program, including alignment with EPSCoR goals, jurisdictional impact, sustainability, collaboration, and broadening participation in STEM. Each proposal must also include a plan for ongoing evaluation and cooperation with the jurisdiction’s Jurisdictional Steering Committee to continually assess research infrastructure needs and update the S&T Plan. The program is overseen by several NSF program officers, including Chinonye Nnakwe Whitley (cwhitley@nsf.gov, 703-292-8458), Benjamin J. McCall (bjmccall@nsf.gov, 703-292-7916), and others. For assistance with submission systems, applicants may contact the NSF Help Desk at 1-800-381-1532 or rgov@nsf.gov, or Grants.gov support at support@grants.gov.