Verticals-enabling Intelligent Network Systems

The Verticals-enabling Intelligent Network Systems (VINES) program is a funding opportunity issued by the U.S. National Science Foundation in partnership with U.S. federal agencies, international agencies, and industry collaborators. It was posted on May 19, 2025 under solicitation number NSF 25-539. The program seeks to accelerate research, technology development, demonstration, and translation activities in next generation intelligent network systems spanning user, edge, core, and cloud layers. VINES addresses the need for advanced telecommunications capabilities, resilience, and interoperability to support emerging vertical industries such as healthcare, agriculture, disaster response, education, transportation, and entertainment. The program also emphasizes U.S. competitiveness in telecommunications technologies while leveraging international collaboration and workforce development. The VINES program is organized into two tracks. Track 1 supports use-inspired fundamental research that develops novel networking techniques and solutions. These proposals must address at least one research vector from both advanced network capabilities and enabling technologies, with clear synergy between them. Industry contributions from Ericsson, Intel, and Qualcomm will be used to fund Track 1. Track 2 supports verticals-driven technology development, demonstration, integration, and translation at higher technology readiness levels, with the goal of producing adoption-ready technologies. Each Track 2 proposal must include an at-scale demonstration of its networking solution applied to a vertical industry, and proposers must submit a required concept outline by August 25, 2025. Track 2 is open to academic, non-profit, for-profit, government, and tribal nation organizations. For Track 1, institutions of higher education and U.S.-based nonprofit research organizations are eligible applicants. For Track 2, eligibility expands to include for-profit businesses, state and local governments, and tribal nations in addition to academic and nonprofit institutions. Restrictions apply to participation by industry partners: they may not participate in Track 1 proposals but are permitted in Track 2. Individuals at U.S. institutions must hold tenured, tenure-track, or full-time research or teaching appointments to serve as principal investigators in Track 1. There are limits on the number of proposals that individuals can participate in across both tracks to avoid over-commitment. The funding opportunity anticipates between 28 to 40 total awards. Track 1 awards will be up to $1,500,000 for a duration of up to three years, with approximately 20 to 30 awards expected. For international collaborative proposals in Track 1, the U.S. team budget may not exceed $750,000, with foreign collaborators funded separately by their national partner agencies. Track 2 awards will be larger, up to $6,000,000 for three years, with approximately 8 to 10 awards expected. For international collaborations in Track 2, U.S. teams may request between $2 million and $4 million, and foreign partner agencies will support their teams, with combined project budgets capped at $6 million. The total program funding is $33 million for Track 1 U.S. teams and $33 million for Track 2 U.S. teams, with additional contributions expected from international partners. Proposals must be submitted via Research.gov or Grants.gov, following the NSF Proposal and Award Policies and Procedures Guide. The full proposal deadline for Track 1 is August 25, 2025, while Track 2 proposals are due by September 25, 2025, contingent on the prior submission of a concept outline by the August 25 deadline. All proposals will be reviewed according to NSF’s intellectual merit and broader impacts criteria, with additional solicitation-specific review requirements. Track 1 must demonstrate synergy between enabling technologies and capabilities, while Track 2 proposals must show readiness for translation, clear demonstration plans, and relevance to vertical industries. Collaborating federal and international partners may co-fund projects aligned with their mission areas. Principal Investigators should be aware of annual reporting requirements and required participation in annual PI meetings beginning in early 2026. Specific program contacts are provided, including multiple program officers such as Alhussein A. Abouzeid (aabouzei@nsf.gov, 703-292-7855), Sudharman Jayaweera Kankanamge (sjayawee@nsf.gov, 703-292-2828), and others. All proposals must include management plans, and Track 2 proposals require additional documents such as an IP management plan and demonstration roadmap. International collaborations require eligibility letters from partner agencies. Awards will be made as standard or continuing grants or cooperative agreements, subject to availability of funds and NSF policies.