Opportunity Information: Apply for 12 593
Apply for 12 593
- The National Science Foundation in the science and technology and other research and development sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Materials World Network Cooperative Activity in Materials Research between US Investigators and their Counterparts Abroad" 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 Aug 8, 2012 and posted on Aug 8, 2012.
- Applicants must submit their applications by Nov 14, 2012 Full Proposal Deadline(s) November 14, 2012. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
- The funding agency has allocated a total of $4,000,000.00 to eligible and selected applicants.
- Each selected applicant is eligible to receive up to $700,000.00 in funding.
- The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 30 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 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 Limitdiv The PI and Co PI(s) must hold a position at an eligible US institution. NSF will not accept proposals from investigators at non US institutions. /div
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Opportunity Summary:
The NSF Materials World Network (MWN) grant opportunity (NSF 12-593) supports international collaborative research and education activities in materials science by pairing US investigators with counterparts abroad. NSF is coordinating this program with national, regional, and multinational funding organizations across Africa, Asia, the Americas, and Europe, with the intent of making it easier for research teams to form genuine two-way collaborations that leverage complementary expertise, facilities, and perspectives. Proposals are submitted to NSF, but they are framed as joint activities with overseas partners, reflecting the program's broader goal of strengthening global cooperation in fundamental materials research.
A central requirement is that the proposed work must clearly align with the fundamental materials and condensed matter research portfolio of NSF's Division of Materials Research (DMR). Projects that do not have this focus are not eligible and will not be funded, and proposals judged to fall outside DMR's scope may be returned without review. Within DMR, proposals are evaluated in the context of established program areas that include condensed matter physics; solid state and materials chemistry; polymers; biomaterials; metallic materials and nanostructures; ceramics; electronic and photonic materials; and condensed matter and materials theory. In practical terms, applicants need to make a direct case that the scientific questions, methods, and expected outcomes fit squarely into one or more of these core DMR areas, rather than primarily emphasizing applied development, product engineering, or topics better suited to other NSF divisions.
For the specific year of this solicitation, MWN highlights a special emphasis on Sustainable Materials as part of DMR's broader Sustainable Chemistry, Engineering and Materials (SusChEM) effort (referenced as NSF 12-095). This emphasis is aimed at enabling basic science and engineering advances that reduce reliance on non-renewable resources and improve industrial efficiency. Proposals are particularly encouraged if they target the discovery of new materials with improved sustainability profiles, or if they make materials and materials processes more sustainable through better synthesis routes, improved performance in application, and/or stronger lifecycle management approaches. The sustainability focus is framed as a priority area rather than an exclusive topic, meaning proposals across DMR interests remain eligible, but sustainability-oriented projects are especially encouraged.
From a funding standpoint, NSF anticipated making about 30 awards under this opportunity, with an estimated total program funding level of about $4,000,000. Individual awards were expected to fall between $200,000 (floor) and $700,000 (ceiling). The funding instrument is a grant, categorized under science and technology and other research and development, and it is associated with CFDA 47.049 (Mathematical and Physical Sciences). There is no cost sharing or matching requirement, which simplifies budgeting for applicants compared with programs that require institutional contributions.
Eligibility is limited to US academic institutions: accredited US universities and colleges, including two-year and four-year institutions and community colleges, with a campus located in the United States. Proposals must be submitted by these institutions on behalf of their faculty members. The principal investigator and any co-principal investigators must hold positions at an eligible US institution, and NSF will not accept proposals submitted by investigators at non-US institutions. The international collaboration is therefore built into the project design and partner arrangements, but the NSF submission and PI team must be anchored at a US institution.
The solicitation also signals an important practical step for applicants: investigators are strongly encouraged to contact the relevant NSF program officer in advance to confirm that the proposed research focus is appropriate for DMR and for this MWN solicitation. This is emphasized because proposals that are not suitable for consideration by DMR may be returned without review, which can be avoided by clarifying fit early in the process.
Key dates show this as a time-limited competition for that cycle: the opportunity was posted August 8, 2012, with a full proposal deadline of November 14, 2012 (original and current closing date). The full announcement is identified as NSF Publication 12-593, and NSF provided points of contact for access or technical issues through the NSF grants.gov support email (grantsgovsupport@nsf.gov).
NSF Materials World Network (MWN) (NSF 12-593) - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the NSF Materials World Network (MWN) program?
The NSF Materials World Network (MWN) program (NSF Publication 12-593) supports international collaborative research and education activities in materials science. It is designed to pair U.S. investigators with research counterparts abroad and to encourage genuine two-way collaborations that leverage complementary expertise, facilities, and perspectives across participating regions.
What is the main goal of MWN?
The program aims to strengthen global cooperation in fundamental materials research by making it easier for research teams to build joint projects with overseas partners. Proposals submitted to NSF are framed as joint activities with international collaborators.
Who submits the proposal to NSF?
Proposals are submitted to NSF by eligible U.S. academic institutions on behalf of their faculty investigators. While the work is structured as a collaboration with overseas partners, the NSF proposal submission and the PI team must be anchored at a U.S. institution.
What types of collaborations does MWN support?
MWN supports international collaborations in which U.S. investigators work jointly with counterparts abroad. NSF is coordinating the program with national, regional, and multinational funding organizations across Africa, Asia, the Americas, and Europe to facilitate these partnerships.
What research areas are eligible under MWN?
A central requirement is that the proposed work must clearly align with the fundamental materials and condensed matter research portfolio of NSF's Division of Materials Research (DMR). Projects must be within DMR scope to be eligible for funding.
What happens if a proposal does not fit the DMR scope?
Projects that do not focus on DMR's fundamental materials and condensed matter research portfolio are not eligible and will not be funded. Proposals judged to fall outside DMR's scope may be returned without review.
What DMR program areas are referenced for proposal alignment?
Within DMR, proposals are evaluated in the context of established program areas that include:
- Condensed matter physics
- Solid state and materials chemistry
- Polymers
- Biomaterials
- Metallic materials and nanostructures
- Ceramics
- Electronic and photonic materials
- Condensed matter and materials theory
Does MWN fund applied development or product engineering?
The solicitation emphasizes alignment with DMR's fundamental research portfolio. Applicants are expected to make a direct case that the scientific questions, methods, and expected outcomes fit within one or more core DMR areas, rather than primarily emphasizing applied development, product engineering, or topics better suited to other NSF divisions.
Is there a special topic emphasis in this solicitation cycle?
Yes. For the specific year of this solicitation, MWN highlights a special emphasis on Sustainable Materials as part of DMR's broader Sustainable Chemistry, Engineering and Materials (SusChEM) effort (referenced as NSF 12-095).
What does the Sustainable Materials emphasis focus on?
The emphasis is aimed at enabling basic science and engineering advances that reduce reliance on non-renewable resources and improve industrial efficiency. Proposals are particularly encouraged if they focus on discovering new materials with improved sustainability profiles or making materials and materials processes more sustainable.
What kinds of sustainability approaches are encouraged?
The solicitation specifically notes sustainability-oriented directions such as improved synthesis routes, improved performance in application, and stronger lifecycle management approaches.
Is the Sustainable Materials emphasis required for eligibility?
No. The sustainability focus is framed as a priority area rather than an exclusive topic. Proposals across DMR interests remain eligible, but sustainability-oriented projects are especially encouraged.
How much funding is available through this opportunity?
NSF anticipated making about 30 awards, with an estimated total program funding level of about $4,000,000 for this solicitation cycle.
What is the expected award size?
Individual awards were expected to range from $200,000 (floor) to $700,000 (ceiling).
What type of funding instrument is used?
The funding instrument is a grant, categorized under science and technology and other research and development.
What CFDA number is associated with this opportunity?
This opportunity is associated with CFDA 47.049 (Mathematical and Physical Sciences).
Is cost sharing or matching required?
No. The solicitation states there is no cost sharing or matching requirement.
Which organizations are eligible to apply?
Eligibility is limited to U.S. academic institutions: accredited U.S. universities and colleges, including two-year and four-year institutions and community colleges, with a campus located in the United States.
Can non-U.S. institutions submit proposals directly to NSF under MWN?
No. NSF will not accept proposals submitted by investigators at non-U.S. institutions. The proposal must be submitted by an eligible U.S. institution, even though the project itself is intended to be an international collaboration.
Who can serve as PI or co-PI on an MWN proposal?
The principal investigator and any co-principal investigators must hold positions at an eligible U.S. institution.
How should applicants confirm that their project fits MWN and DMR?
Investigators are strongly encouraged to contact the relevant NSF program officer in advance to confirm that the proposed research focus is appropriate for DMR and for the MWN solicitation. This step is emphasized to reduce the risk of a proposal being returned without review due to lack of fit.
When was this opportunity posted and when was the deadline?
The opportunity was posted on August 8, 2012. The full proposal deadline was November 14, 2012 (original and current closing date for that cycle).
What is the official solicitation identifier?
The full announcement is identified as NSF Publication 12-593.
Who should applicants contact for Grants.gov access or technical issues?
For access or technical issues related to submission, NSF provided the Grants.gov support email: grantsgovsupport@nsf.gov.
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