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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

What is the NSF Expeditions in Computing program?

Expeditions in Computing is a National Science Foundation (NSF) grant program offered through the Directorate for Computer and Information Science and Engineering (CISE). It is intended to support large, ambitious, long-term research efforts designed to shape the future direction of computing and information.

What is the main purpose of this funding opportunity?

The opportunity is designed for investigators pursuing fundamental research agendas that are intentionally bold and high-impact, with the expectation that successful projects could produce transformative, potentially disruptive innovations that influence computing and information for many years.

How is Expeditions different from smaller or single-investigator grants?

Unlike smaller, single-investigator, or narrowly focused awards, Expeditions emphasizes sustained effort, broad vision, and coordinated advances across multiple areas at once. The program is built around the idea that major breakthroughs often require integrated work at a larger scale than typical research grants.

What types of research does the program emphasize?

The program emphasizes fundamental research that is bold, high-impact, and long-term. It targets broad, transformative agendas rather than proposals limited to a single narrowly defined computing or information discipline.

Does the program encourage collaboration and team-based research?

Yes. A central feature of Expeditions is its emphasis on team science and cross-cutting collaboration. NSF encourages teams to combine complementary expertise to address problems too large or complex for a single group to handle effectively.

What kinds of teams are encouraged (within a department, across departments, across institutions)?

The program encourages assembling teams within a department, across departments, or across institutions. The focus is on bringing together expertise spanning multiple areas needed to pursue an integrated, unifying agenda.

Why does the program emphasize coordinated advances across multiple subfields?

The solicitation recognizes that deep and enduring progress in computing and information often depends on simultaneous advances across multiple subfields. Expeditions funds projects at a scale intended to make this kind of integrated work feasible.

How much funding could an Expeditions award provide?

Awards could be funded at levels up to $2,000,000 per year for five years.

How long is the expected award period?

The program supports multi-year efforts, with awards described as up to five years in duration.

What activities can be supported beyond research?

In addition to research, awards can support education and community-building activities organized around a unifying agenda.

How significant is Expeditions within NSF CISE funding?

Expeditions is described as one of CISE's largest single investments and a centerpiece of the directorate's portfolio of center-scale awards (along with CISE-supported Science and Technology Centers).

How does Expeditions relate to other CISE funding programs?

Expeditions is intended to complement the rest of the CISE funding ecosystem. While other programs may focus on specific computing or information disciplines, Expeditions sits above those in scope by targeting broader, transformative agendas.

What type of grant is this administratively?

The opportunity was listed as a discretionary grant in the "Science and Technology and other Research and Development" category.

What is the CFDA number associated with this opportunity?

The opportunity was associated with CFDA number 47.070.

What is the funding opportunity number?

The funding opportunity number was 16-535.

How many awards were anticipated?

The solicitation anticipated making around four awards.

When was the opportunity posted?

The opportunity was posted on February 3, 2016.

What was the application deadline listed for this solicitation?

The application deadline listed was January 18, 2017.

Who was eligible to apply?

Eligibility was noted as "Others," with further clarification referenced in the solicitation's additional eligibility information. Applicants were expected to consult the full program rules to confirm organizational and proposal requirements.

Where should applicants look for the detailed eligibility rules and proposal requirements?

The summary indicates that additional eligibility information was provided in the solicitation, meaning applicants needed to consult the full solicitation text for the definitive organizational eligibility and proposal requirements.