Emerging Frontiers in Research and Innovation (EFRI) | Apply Online

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

1) What is this NSF EFRI grant opportunity?

This is a discretionary grant opportunity from the National Science Foundation (NSF) Directorate for Engineering, offered through the Office of Emerging Frontiers in Research and Innovation (EFRI). It is designed to push fundamental engineering research into fast-moving, high-impact areas where interdisciplinary work can create a step-change in core engineering knowledge (not just incremental improvements).

2) What is the main goal of EFRI in this solicitation?

The stated aim is to identify and invest in timely, emerging frontiers where new interdisciplinary research can produce transformative advances in fundamental engineering knowledge and offer strong potential for long-term national impact, including contributions to major societal needs and grand challenges.

3) What solicitation is this (identifier information)?

This opportunity is described as NSF Publication 11-571 and Funding Opportunity Number 11-571.

4) What research topic areas are being invited?

EFRI is inviting interdisciplinary teams to propose research in one of three targeted topic areas:

• Flexible Bioelectronics Systems (BioFlex)
• Origami Design for Integration of Self-assembling Systems for Engineering Innovation (ODISSEI)
• Photosynthetic Biorefineries (PSBR)

5) What is BioFlex (Flexible Bioelectronics Systems) about?

BioFlex broadly points to next-generation electronics designed to integrate with biological systems using flexible, conformal, or otherwise biologically compatible formats.

6) What is ODISSEI about?

ODISSEI is centered on origami-inspired design principles (and related approaches) for building complex structures or systems that can fold, deploy, self-assemble, or be manufactured and integrated in new ways.

7) What is PSBR (Photosynthetic Biorefineries) about?

PSBR focuses on engineering approaches that use photosynthesis or photosynthetically derived processes as the basis for producing fuels, chemicals, or other valuable products, linking biological function with scalable engineering systems.

8) Is this opportunity intended to be interdisciplinary?

Yes. The solicitation emphasizes interdisciplinary teams and is coordinated across NSF directorates, reflecting an expectation that strong proposals will cross traditional disciplinary boundaries.

9) Which NSF directorates are involved in coordinating this solicitation?

The solicitation is coordinated across NSF directorates and specifically involves:

• The Directorate for Engineering
• The Directorate for Mathematical and Physical Sciences
• The Directorate for Biological Sciences

10) Is any other federal agency involved or interested?

There is potential interagency involvement. The Air Force Office of Scientific Research (AFOSR) has expressed interest that may result in joint or coordinated support for certain projects, particularly within the PSBR and ODISSEI topics.

11) Can proposals be shared with AFOSR?

Yes. Proposals submitted under PSBR and ODISSEI may be shared with AFOSR representatives for consideration, indicating that some projects could align with broader federal research interests beyond NSF.

12) How many awards does NSF expect to make and what is the total funding level?

NSF anticipates making about 15 awards, with an estimated total program funding level of $31,000,000.

13) What is the expected award size per project?

Individual awards are expected to range from $1,000,000 (award floor) to $2,000,000 (award ceiling).

14) Is cost sharing or matching required?

No. The solicitation states there is no cost sharing or matching requirement.

15) Who is eligible to apply?

Eligibility is limited to academic institutions in the United States: accredited universities and colleges, including two-year and four-year institutions and community colleges, with a U.S.-located campus. Institutions submit on behalf of faculty members.

16) Who can serve as Principal Investigator (PI)?

The PI must be faculty, as defined by the submitting organization.

17) Are teams required, or can a single investigator apply?

Teams are required. Proposals must include at least one PI and at least two co-PIs, reinforcing that EFRI is structured around multi-investigator, interdisciplinary collaboration rather than single-investigator projects.

18) What are the required submission stages?

The application process uses multiple required stages with fixed deadlines:

• Required Letter of Intent (LOI)
• Required Preliminary Proposal
• Full Proposal

19) When was the Letter of Intent (LOI) due?

The required Letter of Intent was due September 30, 2011, by 5 p.m. local time for the proposer.

20) When was the Preliminary Proposal due?

The required Preliminary Proposal was due November 9, 2011, by 5 p.m. local time for the proposer.

21) When was the Full Proposal due?

The Full Proposal deadline was March 30, 2012.

22) Was there an information session for applicants?

Yes. NSF planned an information workshop/webcast on September 22, 2011 to answer questions about EFRI and the solicitation, with details posted to the EFRI website.

23) Where could applicants find information about the workshop/webcast?

Details were to be posted to the EFRI website.

24) Where should applicants seek help if they have submission access issues?

For administrative support related to access issues, NSF directs applicants to NSF Grants.gov support at grantsgovsupport@nsf.gov.

25) What types of projects is NSF trying to fund through this EFRI solicitation?

Based on the solicitation description, NSF is targeting ambitious, team-based projects in emerging, high-impact engineering frontiers that are transformative in nature and have strong potential for long-term national impact, including contributions to major societal needs and grand challenges.