Computer and Information Science and Engineering (CISE): Future Computing Research

The Computer and Information Science and Engineering: Future Computing Research (Future CoRe) program is administered by the National Science Foundation (NSF), a federal agency established in 1950 to support science and engineering research and education across the United States. The NSF’s Directorate for Computer and Information Science and Engineering (CISE) operates this program through its divisions in Computing and Communication Foundations, Information and Intelligent Systems, and Computer and Network Systems. The Future CoRe initiative aims to support transformative research projects that advance the mathematical, scientific, and technological foundations of computing and communication systems. Future CoRe encompasses a comprehensive range of research focus areas, including but not limited to Algorithmic Foundations, Communications and Information Foundations, Computer Systems Research, Computing Education Research, Cyber-Physical System Foundations and Connected Communities, Foundations of Emerging Technologies, Human-Centered Computing, Information Integration and Informatics, Networking Technology and Systems, Robust Intelligence, and Software and Hardware Foundations. Proposals may focus on a single area or be interdisciplinary, provided they align with at least one of the supported domains. NSF encourages collaboration, particularly among researchers from institutions within EPSCoR jurisdictions, to enhance research capacity in underrepresented regions. The program funds a variety of project scopes with durations and budgets matched to the proposed work, up to a maximum of $1,000,000 over a four-year period. While projects are accepted on a rolling basis, applicants are strongly encouraged to submit by the biannual target dates — the second Thursday in September and the first Thursday in February — to align with panel review cycles. Typical awards range from $150,000 to $250,000 annually for three to four years, and proposals exceeding $300,000 in any one year are discouraged. All proposals are subject to standard NSF merit review procedures, which assess both intellectual merit and broader societal impacts. Eligible applicants include U.S.-based accredited institutions of higher education (including community colleges), nonprofit non-academic organizations such as research laboratories and professional societies, and federally recognized Tribal Nations. There are no restrictions on who may serve as Principal Investigator (PI), but individuals may not participate as PI, co-PI, or senior personnel on more than two proposals submitted within any 12-month period under this solicitation. Proposal submission is via Research.gov or Grants.gov, and no Letters of Intent or preliminary proposals are required. The application must comply with the NSF Proposal & Award Policies & Procedures Guide in effect at the time of submission. The proposal title must begin with an acronym corresponding to the most relevant Future CoRe program. Required supplementary documentation includes a list of project personnel and partner organizations. Submissions that do not adhere to the stated eligibility and formatting requirements will be returned without review. Program officers are available for each focus area and may be contacted via the provided email addresses or phone numbers. While there are no mandatory cost-sharing requirements, proposals must comply with NSF’s general award and reporting policies. Final and annual project reports must be submitted through Research.gov. The next two target deadlines are September 11, 2025, and February 5, 2026, with these dates recurring annually. Funding decisions typically occur within six months of the proposal deadline, and notification is sent electronically by an NSF Grants and Agreements Officer.

Read solicitation carefully for required acronym formatting, proposal title conventions, and eligibility compliance.