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Cyber Physical Systems (CPS) Grant (NSF 08-611) - FAQs

What is the NSF Cyber Physical Systems (CPS) funding opportunity (08-611)?

The NSF Cyber Physical Systems (CPS) opportunity (Funding Opportunity Number 08-611) supports research and education that advance engineered systems where computation and the physical world are tightly integrated and coordinated. The emphasis is on systems that can sense, act, adapt, and make decisions in real time, with improved safety, reliability, autonomy, and efficiency.

What does NSF mean by “Cyber Physical Systems” (CPS)?

In this solicitation, CPS refers to systems that integrate “cyber” components (such as software, computation, networking, control logic) with “physical” components (such as machines, environments, sensors, actuators, people, and infrastructure). A key technical focus is handling the interaction between discrete computational behavior and continuous physical dynamics.

What types of impacts or applications does NSF associate with CPS?

NSF frames CPS as a driver of next-generation capabilities across high-impact areas including autonomous collision avoidance, robotic surgery, precision manufacturing, search and rescue robotics, firefighting support, remote exploration, large-scale traffic coordination, and highly energy-efficient infrastructure such as zero net energy buildings.

Why is NSF investing in CPS research?

The solicitation highlights that CPS research can strengthen U.S. security and economic competitiveness by enabling transformative technology across sectors such as aerospace, automotive, chemical production, civil infrastructure, energy, healthcare, manufacturing, materials, and transportation.

Which NSF Directorates lead this CPS program?

The CPS program is jointly spearheaded by NSF’s Directorates for Computer and Information Science and Engineering (CISE) and Engineering (ENG), reflecting the cross-disciplinary nature of the research area.

What is the central research goal of the CPS program?

A central goal is to move beyond domain-specific solutions and identify fundamental, cross-cutting scientific and engineering principles that broadly apply to integrating cyber and physical components in engineered systems.

Does the program support both foundational research and practical systems work?

Yes. Alongside foundational advances, NSF intends to accelerate practical realization of CPS by supporting enabling methods, tools, and reusable building blocks (hardware and software components, runtime platforms) as well as complete engineered systems that demonstrate CPS concepts in challenging contexts.

What are the CPS research themes in this solicitation?

Proposals are expected to align with one or more of three CPS research themes: (1) Foundations, (2) Methods and Tools, and (3) Components, Runtime Substrates, and Systems.

What topics fall under the “Foundations” theme?

The Foundations theme targets new theories, models, algorithms, and design principles for analyzing and building CPS. It includes work that helps reason about interactions between discrete computation and continuous physical dynamics.

What topics fall under the “Methods and Tools” theme?

Methods and Tools focuses on bridging gaps between cyber and physical engineering approaches by creating new development and verification techniques. Examples mentioned include multi-view modeling support, new programming languages and abstractions, and algorithms for formal reasoning and verification of complex CPS properties such as safety, reliability, timing, and correctness under uncertainty.

What topics fall under the “Components, Runtime Substrates, and Systems” theme?

This theme supports tangible advances in CPS building blocks and platforms (for example, embedded computing components, sensor/actuator integration, middleware, runtime monitoring, and infrastructure) and also supports end-to-end engineered systems motivated by grand challenge applications.

What characteristics does NSF want CPS projects to improve?

Across all themes, NSF signals interest in work that improves adaptability, autonomy, efficiency, functionality, reliability, safety, and usability of integrated cyber-physical designs.

What project sizes are available under the CPS program?

The program offers three main project sizes: Small Projects, Medium Projects, and Large Projects, designed to match the scope and maturity of the proposed work.

What is the funding level and duration for a Small Project?

Small Projects support focused efforts by an individual investigator or small team, spanning one or more CPS themes. They can be funded up to $200,000 per year for up to three years.

What is the funding level and duration for a Medium Project?

Medium Projects support broader efforts that may include multiple PIs and a larger research group of students and/or postdocs. They can be funded up to $500,000 per year for up to three years.

What is the funding level and duration for a Large Project?

Large Projects are designed for multi-investigator, often multi-disciplinary teams spanning computer science, engineering, and relevant application domains. They can be funded up to $1,000,000 per year for up to five years.

What makes a Large Project proposal distinct in this program?

Large Projects must address a coherent, integrated research agenda that either cuts across multiple CPS themes or explores one theme in exceptional depth, typically with a multi-investigator and multi-disciplinary team.

Is there a separate funding track for a community or coordination effort?

Yes. NSF will consider one award to establish a CPS Virtual Organization (CPS VO), intended to help grow and connect the CPS research and education community through coordination and regular PI interactions.

What is the funding level and duration for the CPS Virtual Organization (VO) award?

The CPS VO award can be funded up to $200,000 per year for up to five years, with the expectation of lower support in the initial years.

How much total funding and how many awards were expected under this solicitation?

The solicitation lists an estimated total funding level of about $30,000,000 and an expected 40 awards.

What type of grant program is this administratively?

It is described as a discretionary NSF grant program in the “Science and Technology and other Research and Development” category.

What CFDA numbers are associated with this opportunity?

The CFDA numbers listed are 47.041 (Engineering Grants) and 47.070 (Computer and Information Science and Engineering).

Is cost sharing or matching required?

No cost sharing or matching requirement is stated in the provided opportunity summary.

Who is eligible to apply for this NSF CPS opportunity?

Eligible applicants include U.S.-based universities and colleges (including accredited two-year and four-year institutions and community colleges) applying on behalf of faculty, as well as eligible non-profit, non-academic organizations such as independent museums, observatories, research labs, and professional societies associated with educational or research activities.

Does the solicitation emphasize cross-disciplinary teams?

Yes. The program is explicitly cross-disciplinary (CISE and ENG) and Large Projects in particular are described as multi-investigator and often multi-disciplinary, spanning computer science, engineering, and application domains.

When was this funding opportunity posted, and what deadline pattern is mentioned?

The opportunity was posted March 4, 2009, and used an annual deadline pattern described as the last Friday in February (with specific dates listed for that cycle).

Is this solicitation still active?

No. The opportunity is described as archived and replaced by a later solicitation, noted as 10-515.

Where are the full program details located?

NSF references the solicitation document identified as NSF Publication 08-611 for full program details.