Opportunity Information: Apply for 12 572
Apply for 12 572
- The National Science Foundation in the science and technology and other research and development sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Centers for Chemical Innovation" and is now available to receive applicants.
- Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 47.049 Mathematical and Physical Sciences.
- This funding opportunity was created on Jun 18, 2012 and posted on Jun 18, 2012.
- Applicants must submit their applications by Oct 23, 2012 See full solicitation for details. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
- The funding agency has allocated a total of $15,000,000.00 to eligible and selected applicants.
- The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 7 candidate(s).
- Eligible applicants include: Others (see text field entitled Additional Information on Eligibility for clarification).
- Organization Limit Proposals may only be submitted by the following Non profit, non academic organizations Independent museums, observatories, research labs, professional societies and similar organizations in the U.S. associated with educational or research activities. Universities and Colleges Universities and two and four year colleges (including community colleges) accredited in, and having a campus located in the US, acting on behalf of their faculty members. Such organizations also are referred to as academic institutions. PI Limit While these proposals will reflect the research of many investigators, only the name of the PI should appear on the cover sheet. All other investigators are considered senior personnel. An investigator may participate (as PI or senior personnel) in only oneCCI proposal submitted to this competition. The PI must be affiliated with an eligible submitting organization.
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Opportunity Summary:
The National Science Foundation (NSF) Centers for Chemical Innovation (CCI) program is a discretionary grant opportunity designed to build research centers that tackle major, long-term, fundamental challenges in chemistry. The core idea is to fund ambitious, center-scale efforts that can produce genuinely transformative discoveries and spark innovation that attracts attention not only within chemistry, but also across other scientific fields and the broader public. CCIs are meant to operate as flexible, fast-moving organizations rather than rigid institutes, so they can pivot toward new opportunities as they emerge. A key expectation is that these centers will rely heavily on modern cyberinfrastructure to strengthen collaboration, data sharing, and computationally enabled research across teams and locations.
A defining feature of the program is integration. CCI awards are not just about running a set of research projects; they are structured to blend research with innovation activities, education and workforce development, and informal science communication. Proposals are expected to include concrete plans to broaden participation in science, specifically by engaging underrepresented groups, and to show how the center will create a more inclusive pipeline and community. CCIs may also build partnerships beyond academia, including collaborations with industry, government laboratories, and international organizations, which is intended to help the centers connect fundamental chemical advances to real-world contexts and speed the exchange of ideas, tools, and capabilities.
The solicitation describes a two-phase structure. In Phase I, a CCI receives substantial resources to develop and refine both the scientific vision and the integrative components of the center (such as collaboration systems, education plans, outreach, and diversity efforts) before pursuing the larger, longer-term Phase II award. The timeline details in this notice indicate that Phase I awards made in FY 2013 would be positioned to seek Phase II funding in FY 2016. At the same time, the FY 2013 competition has specific eligibility rules for Phase II requests: only organizations that received Phase I awards in FY 2010 are eligible to request new Phase II funding in FY 2013. The solicitation is also open to renewal proposals for Phase II CCIs that originally started in FY 2008, meaning existing centers at that stage could apply to continue and expand their work.
In terms of scientific scope, the FY 2013 CCI competition is open to projects across fields supported by the NSF Division of Chemistry. The notice highlights particular encouragement for projects aligned with NSF priority areas, including Sustainable Chemistry, Engineering and Materials (SusChEM), the Cyberinfrastructure Framework for the 21st Century (CIF 21), and Cyber-enabled Materials, Manufacturing and Smart Systems (CEMMSS). This emphasis signals strong interest in research that advances sustainability goals, leverages advanced computing and data infrastructure, and supports next-generation materials and manufacturing concepts through cyber-enabled approaches.
Administratively, this opportunity is listed as NSF Publication 12-572 (Funding Opportunity Number 12-572) under CFDA 47.049 (Mathematical and Physical Sciences). It is a grant mechanism in the Science and Technology and other Research and Development activity category. NSF anticipated making about 7 awards, with an estimated total funding level of $15,000,000, and the solicitation states that there is no cost sharing or matching requirement. The posting date is June 18, 2012, with an original and current closing date of October 23, 2012, and an archive date of April 26, 2013.
Eligibility includes U.S.-based universities and colleges (including accredited two-year and four-year institutions and community colleges with a U.S. campus) submitting on behalf of their faculty, as well as certain non-profit, non-academic organizations such as independent museums, observatories, research laboratories, professional societies, and similar U.S. organizations tied to educational or research activities. The proposal leadership rule is strict: although a CCI proposal is expected to represent the work of many investigators, only one individual is listed as the PI on the cover sheet and everyone else is treated as senior personnel. In addition, an investigator may participate in only one CCI proposal in this competition, whether as PI or as senior personnel, and the PI must be affiliated with the submitting eligible organization.
For access or technical issues, the solicitation directs applicants to NSF Grants.gov support (grantsgovsupport@nsf.gov) for problems accessing the full announcement electronically. The full details, requirements, and instructions are contained in the official NSF solicitation referenced by the additional information link (NSF Publication 12-572).
NSF Centers for Chemical Innovation (CCI) Program (NSF 12-572) - FAQs
What is the NSF Centers for Chemical Innovation (CCI) program?
The NSF Centers for Chemical Innovation (CCI) program is a discretionary NSF grant opportunity intended to build research centers that tackle major, long-term, fundamental challenges in chemistry. The goal is to support ambitious, center-scale efforts that can lead to transformative discoveries and spark innovation recognized within chemistry and beyond, including across other scientific fields and the broader public.
What kinds of efforts is NSF trying to support through CCI awards?
CCI awards are designed to support center-scale, integrated efforts rather than a simple collection of individual research projects. Centers are expected to function as flexible, fast-moving organizations that can pivot toward new opportunities as they emerge, while maintaining a long-term focus on fundamental chemical challenges.
How are CCIs expected to operate organizationally?
The solicitation describes CCIs as flexible, fast-moving organizations rather than rigid institutes. This flexibility is intended to help centers adjust their scientific and integrative activities as new opportunities and directions develop.
What role does cyberinfrastructure play in a CCI?
A key expectation is that CCIs will rely heavily on modern cyberinfrastructure to strengthen collaboration, data sharing, and computationally enabled research across teams and locations. Cyberinfrastructure is positioned as a central enabler for multi-investigator, multi-site center work.
Is the CCI program only about research?
No. A defining feature of the program is integration. Proposals are expected to blend research with innovation activities, education and workforce development, and informal science communication.
What does "integration" mean for CCI proposals?
Integration means the center is structured to combine its research agenda with other center functions such as innovation activities, education and workforce development efforts, and informal science communication, rather than treating these as unrelated add-ons.
Are there expectations related to broadening participation and inclusion?
Yes. Proposals are expected to include concrete plans to broaden participation in science by engaging underrepresented groups, and to show how the center will help create a more inclusive pipeline and community.
Can a CCI include partnerships outside academia?
Yes. CCIs may build partnerships beyond academia, including collaborations with industry, government laboratories, and international organizations. These partnerships are intended to connect fundamental chemical advances to real-world contexts and speed the exchange of ideas, tools, and capabilities.
What is the two-phase structure mentioned in the solicitation?
The solicitation describes a two-phase structure. Phase I provides substantial resources to develop and refine the scientific vision and integrative components of the center (for example, collaboration systems, education plans, outreach, and diversity efforts) before pursuing a larger, longer-term Phase II award.
How does the timeline relate to Phase I and Phase II in this notice?
The notice indicates that Phase I awards made in FY 2013 would be positioned to seek Phase II funding in FY 2016. Separately, for the FY 2013 competition, there is a specific eligibility rule for Phase II requests: only organizations that received Phase I awards in FY 2010 are eligible to request new Phase II funding in FY 2013.
Who is eligible to request new Phase II funding in FY 2013 under this solicitation?
Only organizations that received Phase I awards in FY 2010 are eligible to request new Phase II funding in FY 2013, according to the eligibility rules described in the notice.
Are renewal proposals allowed for existing Phase II CCIs?
Yes. The solicitation is open to renewal proposals for Phase II CCIs that originally started in FY 2008, meaning existing centers at that stage could apply to continue and expand their work.
What is the scientific scope of the FY 2013 CCI competition?
The FY 2013 CCI competition is open to projects across fields supported by the NSF Division of Chemistry.
Are any particular NSF priority areas highlighted or encouraged?
Yes. The notice highlights particular encouragement for projects aligned with NSF priority areas including Sustainable Chemistry, Engineering and Materials (SusChEM), the Cyberinfrastructure Framework for the 21st Century (CIF 21), and Cyber-enabled Materials, Manufacturing and Smart Systems (CEMMSS).
What kinds of themes do the highlighted priority areas suggest?
The emphasis signals strong interest in research that advances sustainability goals, leverages advanced computing and data infrastructure, and supports next-generation materials and manufacturing concepts through cyber-enabled approaches.
What is the funding opportunity number and publication identifier for this solicitation?
This opportunity is listed as NSF Publication 12-572, with Funding Opportunity Number 12-572.
What CFDA number is associated with this opportunity?
The solicitation is listed under CFDA 47.049 (Mathematical and Physical Sciences).
What is the activity category for this award mechanism?
It is a grant mechanism in the Science and Technology and other Research and Development activity category.
How many awards does NSF anticipate making and what is the estimated total funding level?
NSF anticipated making about 7 awards, with an estimated total funding level of $15,000,000.
Is cost sharing or matching required?
No. The solicitation states that there is no cost sharing or matching requirement.
What are the key dates listed in the notice?
The posting date is June 18, 2012. The original and current closing date is October 23, 2012. The archive date is April 26, 2013.
What types of organizations are eligible to apply?
Eligibility includes U.S.-based universities and colleges (including accredited two-year and four-year institutions and community colleges with a U.S. campus) submitting on behalf of their faculty. Certain non-profit, non-academic organizations are also eligible, such as independent museums, observatories, research laboratories, professional societies, and similar U.S. organizations tied to educational or research activities.
Does the submitting organization have to be U.S.-based?
Yes. The eligibility description emphasizes U.S.-based institutions (including a U.S. campus requirement for the listed higher-education institutions) and U.S. organizations for the eligible non-profit, non-academic categories described.
How is proposal leadership handled (PI vs. others) for a CCI proposal?
The leadership rule is strict: although a CCI proposal is expected to represent the work of many investigators, only one individual is listed as the PI on the cover sheet. Everyone else is treated as senior personnel.
Can multiple PIs be listed on the proposal cover sheet?
No. The solicitation states that only one individual is listed as the PI on the cover sheet, and all other investigators are treated as senior personnel.
Can an investigator participate in more than one CCI proposal in this competition?
No. The solicitation states that an investigator may participate in only one CCI proposal in this competition, whether as PI or as senior personnel.
Does the PI have to be affiliated with the submitting organization?
Yes. The PI must be affiliated with the submitting eligible organization.
Where are the full details and instructions for applying?
The full details, requirements, and instructions are contained in the official NSF solicitation referenced by the additional information link, identified as NSF Publication 12-572.
Who should applicants contact for technical issues accessing the full announcement electronically?
For access or technical issues, the solicitation directs applicants to NSF Grants.gov support at grantsgovsupport@nsf.gov.
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| Research Infrastructure Development (RID), Experimental Program to Stimulate Competitive Research (EPSCoR) Apply for NNH12ZHA003C Funding Number: NNH12ZHA003C Agency: NASA Headquarters Category: Science and Technology and other Research and Development Funding Amount: Case Dependent |
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| Experimental Program to Stimulate Competitive Research (EPSCoR) Apply for NNH12ZHA002C Funding Number: NNH12ZHA002C Agency: NASA Headquarters Category: Science and Technology and other Research and Development Funding Amount: Case Dependent |
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| Cooperative Ecosystem Studies Unit, South Florida/Caribbean CESU Apply for G12AS20064 Funding Number: G12AS20064 Agency: Geological Survey Category: Science and Technology and other Research and Development Funding Amount: Case Dependent |
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