Grants for Small businesses - Science and Technology

The Program supports research on the sources, sinks, transport, and transformation of gases and aerosols in the atmosphere through models, observations, and experiments, including homogeneous and heterogeneous chemical reactions, emissions, deposition, atmospheric oxidation and photochemistry, aqueous-phase chemistry and aerosol processes; the formation of new particles and secondary organic aerosols, the modeling of atmospheric chemical processes, the study of chemical mechanisms in the atmosphere, optical properties of gases and aerosols, and improved methods for measuring the concentrations of trace species and their fluxes into and out of the atmosphere.The Program encourages principal investigators from a wide variety of institutions and backgrounds to submit proposals.

This funding opportunity supports a wide range of medical research projects aimed at improving health outcomes for military personnel, veterans, and their families, while also benefiting the general public.

Microbes and communities of microbes have remarkable genetic, physiological and biochemical diversity, allowing them to flourish in environments all over the planet and in a variety of substrates and hosts. Given their relative importance to ecosystems around the world, to the economy and to health, researchers have studied microbial systems extensively and have a better understanding of their capabilities and impacts on hosts and the environment. In recent years, researchers have increasingly turned to microbes and their diverse capabilities for bioremediation and applications in biotechnology, agriculture, and medicine. Because of advances in molecular biology, synthetic biology and bioengineering, researchers now have the ability to assemble synthetic microbial communities that have novel compositions, genetics and phenotypes and to use these communities to address both fundamental biological questions and a range of societal problems. The goal of this solicitation is to support research that addresses one or more of the three themes: 1) define the underlying mechanisms or rules that drive the formation, maintenance or evolution of synthetic microbial communities, 2) use synthetic microbial communities to address fundamental biological questions, including questions in molecular biology, cellular/organismal biology, ecology and evolution and/or 3) build synthetic communities with biotechnology, bioeconomy or environmental engineering applications, including but not limited to the production of novel biorenewable chemicals, biodegradation of recalcitrant or forever chemicals, enabling a circular bioeconomy, fostering sustainable agriculture and mitigating the impacts of climate change. For theme 3, the emphasis should be on designing communities with novel capabilities and understanding the underlying mechanisms that lead to these novel capabilities. Proposals must address one or more of the three themes noted above. Highest funding priority is given to proposals that have outstanding intellectual merit and broader impacts, while proposals with weaknesses in either category (or those that are perceived as likely to have an incremental impact) will not be competitive. The most competitive broader impacts include assessment plans. Well-conceived broader impacts activities take time and resources; thus, proposers are encouraged to include appropriate costs for broader impacts in the budget. To better understand the societal benefits and risks, as well as the potential for misuse or unintended damage to natural biological systems, synthetic microbial communities proposals should include a careful consideration of the social, ethical, and biosafety/security dimensions of the research. Investigators may choose to address these issues either as part of intellectual merit or broader impacts. Reproducibility in research leads to data that is amenable to more powerful analysis and the potential for reuse of data and greater generation of knowledge. Reproducibility in biological research that is prone to context dependent biological variation presents a unique challenge for the synthetic microbial communities researchers. Investigators must follow or advance best practices in sample collection and preparation, experimental design, data analysis, model generation, and/or validation of mathematical and computational methods to produce scientifically defensible results.

This grant provides funding for researchers studying ancient sediments and fossils to better understand the Earth's history, environmental changes, and the evolution of life before the Holocene epoch.

This funding opportunity supports researchers in developing innovative methods for modeling, analyzing, diagnosing, and controlling dynamic systems across various applications.

This funding opportunity supports innovative research in air-delivered munitions, targeting educational institutions, non-profits, and private companies, particularly small businesses, to advance technologies in weapon systems, sensors, and related fields for the Air Force.

The NSF Engineering (ENG) Directorate has launched a multi-year initiative, theProfessional Formation of Engineers, to create and support an innovative and inclusive engineering profession for the 21stcentury. Professional Formation of Engineers (PFE) refers to the formal and informal processes and value systems by which people become engineers. It also includes the ethical responsibility of practicing engineers to sustain and grow the profession in order to improve quality of life for all peoples. The engineering profession must be responsive to national priorities, grand challenges, and dynamic workforce needs; it must be equally open and accessible to all. Professional Formation of Engineers includes, but is not limited, to: Introductions to the profession at any age; Development of deep technical and professional skills, knowledge, and abilities in both formal and informal settings/domains; Development of outlooks, perspectives, ways of thinking, knowing, and doing; Development of identity as an engineer and its intersection with other identities; and Acculturation to the profession, its standards, and norms. The goal of the Research in the Formation of Engineers (RFE) program is to advance our understanding of professional formation. It seeks both to deepen our fundamental understanding of the underlying processes and mechanisms that support professional formation and to demonstrate how professional formation is or can be accomplished. Ultimately RFE aims to transform the engineer-formation system, and thus the impact of proposed projects on this system must be described. Principal Investigators (PIs) should provide a roadmap detailing how they envision the proposed research will eventually broadly impact practice within the engineer-formation system, even if these activities are not within the scope of the submitted proposal. In order to accomplish its goals, RFE welcomes proposals in two categories: Research Projects, and Design and Development Projects. Research Projects address fundamental questions of professional formation, while Design and Development Projects provide new approaches to achieving professional formation. Additional details are provided below. Projects in both categories should address the iterative cycle in which research questions that advance understanding are informed by practice and the results of research are, in turn, translated into practice. In other words, proposals should explain how the research results will travel, translate, transfer, or scale. Successful projects identify specific target audiences, effective communication channels, and novel partnerships to ensure effective propagation and scaling. Proposal titles should begin with either Research: or Design and Development: as appropriate. Research Projects Research proposals are particularly welcome in the following areas: Research that addresses lifelong learning by the engineering workforce. Research on the impact of engineering education research. Proposals addressing this topic could investigate questions such as: How can we measure the impacts of engineering education research? What are effective strategies for scaling reforms? How can we translate knowledge from research to practice? What are the roles of technologies, networks and communities in achieving impact? RFE does not support efficacy, effectiveness, or scale-up studies for specific interventions. Research that addresses culture change in engineering education. Included in this topic are investigations of normative cultures of engineering at any level in the engineering education ecosystem and how these cultures may disadvantage certain groups. Research that addresses engineering formation at the two-year college and graduate education levels in both formal and informal settings. Research that investigates engineering in P?12 settings. Research in this area could include understanding of approaches to engineering in P?12, how to develop engineering ways of thinking, or the relationship between practices within the sciences and mathematics and engineering thinking. Research on the transitions between education levels, e.g., from high school to two-year college, high school to four-year college/university, two-year college to four-year college/university, undergraduate to graduate school, education settings to the workforce or professoriate, etc. Research that addresses the relationship between engineering and the public. Proposals addressing this topic could consider the social impact of engineering solutions, citizen engineering, education of an informed public, etc. Research that develops or adapts novel methodologies and frameworks appropriate for studying the professional formation of engineers, and especially minoritized, marginalized, or underserved populations. Research that addresses ways in which new technologies (such as artificial intelligence and machine learning) are changing engineering education. Proposals submitted to the Research Projects category should have clear research questions informed by an appropriate theoretical framework and a research design that includes sampling, data collection, and data analysis methods. This category will not support proposals that seek funding primarily to develop tools, curriculum, or laboratories, or that seek to implement classroom innovations that have already been shown to be effective in engineering. The program will evaluate the value of proposals by considering the impact and the cost. Research track projects that are small, exploratory, or speculative are especially encouraged. Larger Research track projects should have a correspondingly larger impact. Design and Development Projects RFE supports Design and Development projects (see https://www.nsf.gov/publications/pub_summ.jsp?ods_key=nsf13126) that seek to develop and test new approaches in the following areas: Graduate education. Transitions between education levels, e.g. high school to two year college, high school to 4 year college/university, two year college to 4 year college/university, undergraduate to graduate school, education settings to the workforce or professoriate, etc. K12, especially approaches to develop engineering thinking, or providing links between engineering, science, and mathematics Proposals in this category should propose the design and development of new approaches that are informed by existing literature and theory. There should be clear objectives and the evaluation plan should be designed to determine if those objectives have been met. Projects cannot be solely demonstration projects, but must add to the engineering education literature to inform future work.

This grant provides funding for researchers in atmospheric sciences to access advanced facilities and instruments necessary for studying various geophysical phenomena.

**AMENDED on DECEMBER 11 2023**: The latest revision is posted as Amendment 18. Potential applicants are strongly encouraged to review the Amendment in its entirety, as it updates several sections. Specifically, ATTACHMENT 1: SPECIFIC TOPICS now includes Basic Research Topics N1-N4, with white papers due by 11:59pm EST on 5 February 2024. White papers may not be considered if they are received after this deadline. In addition, submissions to the general thrust areas in accordance with the requirements detailed in the BAA are also welcome. ** Please note that all correspondence must be sent to the appropriate Agency contact identified in Section 7. Agency Contacts. **

This funding opportunity supports researchers in the U.S. working to improve models of the Earth's geospace environment, focusing on the interactions between the magnetosphere, atmosphere, and solar wind, while encouraging innovative approaches like machine learning and collaboration among diverse teams.

This funding opportunity supports research and development projects focused on creating innovative and efficient aircraft structures, open to a wide range of applicants including universities, businesses, and non-profits.

This grant provides funding and collaboration opportunities for researchers, including individuals and teams from academia, industry, and government, to advance innovative solutions in quantum computing and related technologies while fostering the development of a skilled workforce in quantum science.

This grant provides funding for research projects that enhance cadet education, support faculty development, and improve the operational capabilities of the Air Force, while fostering collaboration with industry partners.

This grant provides funding for research and development projects aimed at improving the equipment and support systems for U.S. Army soldiers, focusing on enhancing their survivability, mobility, and overall effectiveness in the field.

This program provides funding for researchers and institutions in mathematical analysis to support innovative studies and collaborative efforts in various mathematical fields.

This program provides funding for researchers and engineers to advance the field of robotics by developing intelligent systems that can sense, plan, and interact with their environments.

This grant provides funding for research and development projects focused on advancing air superiority technologies, targeting educational institutions, non-profit organizations, and private industry involved in armament technology.

This funding opportunity provides financial support to U.S. manufacturers to expand or restore the production of critical technology items essential for national defense.

If your company, program, or organization is working to support and empower student parents, or you want to learn how your solution can be tailored to accelerate the postsecondary success of student parents, apply for the Rise Prize! Donor Name: Entangled Institute State: All States County: All Counties Type of Grant: Awards and Prizes Deadline: 05/17/2024 Size of the Grant: $100,000 to $500,000 Grant Duration: Grant Duration Not Mentioned Details: The Prize was created by Imaginable Futures—a venture of The Omidyar Group—and Lumina Foundation, along with a group of leading partner organizations, to leverage direct investments in innovative solutions supporting student parents. The Rise Prize will make 14 awards totalling $1.5M to solutions driving economic mobility and well-being for student parents. By applying for the Rise Prize you could: Raise awareness of your solution and get exposure to funders and potential partners Strengthen your idea with support from mentors and build community with fellow innovators; and as a finalist, be paired with an advisor to sharpen your product pitch Win $50,000 as an early stage applicant, $100,000 as a Risers’ Choice awardee, or $200,000 as a mature stage applicant. Solutions that will have a direct impact on the postsecondary success of student parents—whether your solution is focused on these outcomes or others, they want to hear from you. Those solutions could include: flexible courseware, original outcomes-based financing solutions, innovative childcare support models, community building or completion coaching—any type of solution designed to accelerate student parent success. Childcare Community of Support Completion Time Convenience First Cost Credential/Connection to Career. Who Should Apply? The Prize is open to impact-driven changemakers: companies, programs, and organizations of any type or stage in the US working on solutions directly supporting student parent postsecondary success. This includes changemakers who are seeking to add additional products or solutions to accelerate the success of student parents. Applicant Types Rise Prize welcomes applicants working on innovative solutions to directly impact postsecondary success for student parents at scale, including: Non-profit organizations For-profit companies, including edtech solutions Higher education institutions, including departments or teams within higher education institutions; academic institution associations; or alternative career pathways programs, including workforce programs, credentialing programs, and bootcamps. Solution Types The Rise Prize is designed to increase the number of innovative solutions driving postsecondary success for student parents. There will be three types of awards made through a single application process: Early Stage New ideas and solutions anchored in initial customer validation (user testing or pilots, market research, or a plan for customer validation). This could include: Pre-seed and seed startups that have developed a plan for customer validation and research Established organizations exploring new ideas and solutions for student parents Academic institutions and social ventures at testing or pilot phases 8 winners from the early stage category will be awarded $50,000 each. Mature Stage Defined by solutions provided by organizations that have strong conviction about the business or organization’s ability to serve student parents and are looking to take that work to scale. For venture-backed startups, this means Series A and beyond. These solutions should have: Demonstrated product/market fit and strength of the market Measured impact on customers or end users 5 winners from the mature stage category will be awarded $200,000 each. For more information, visit Entangled Institute.