Opportunity Information: Apply for 11 568
Apply for 11 568
- 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 12, 2011 and posted on Aug 12, 2011.
- Applicants must submit their applications by Nov 10, 2011 Full Proposal Deadline(s) November 10, 2011. (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 Materials World Network (MWN) Cooperative Activity is a National Science Foundation (NSF) grant opportunity designed to support international, team-based collaborations in fundamental materials and condensed matter research. The core idea is that many of the hardest problems in materials research now sit at the intersection of multiple disciplines and often require shared expertise, specialized facilities, and coordinated efforts across borders. Through MWN, NSF partners with counterpart funding organizations around the world to make it easier for U.S. investigators to build genuine, research-driven collaborations with investigators abroad, while also strengthening the education and training pipeline tied to those projects.
For the 2011 solicitation (NSF 11-568), the program focuses on joint activity between NSF's Division of Materials Research (DMR) and participating funding organizations in Africa, Asia, and Europe. Partners in the Americas are part of the MWN rotation on even years, so they are not included as participating organizations in this particular 2011 cycle. In addition to these standard international funding partnerships, NSF highlights coordination with the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID). This is meant to encourage collaborations with investigators in developing countries where the international partners may be supported through USAID mechanisms such as the Partnerships for Enhanced Engagement in Research (PEER) program or other relevant USAID programs. In those cases, NSF anticipates covering U.S. costs while USAID or another appropriate organization supports the developing-country side, and applicants are encouraged to consult DMR staff for the latest coordination guidance.
Research supported under this opportunity must clearly fit within DMR's scope. Proposals are evaluated within DMR programmatic areas, including condensed matter physics; solid state and materials chemistry; polymers; biomaterials; metals and metallic nanostructures; ceramics; electronic and photonic materials; and condensed matter and materials theory. Because the fit to DMR is a gatekeeping issue, investigators are strongly encouraged to contact NSF program staff before submitting to confirm that the planned work aligns with the solicitation. Proposals that do not fall within DMR's remit can be returned without review, so the solicitation is not meant to fund materials work broadly defined; it is specifically meant to fund work that maps onto DMR priorities and communities.
Eligibility is limited to U.S. academic institutions, meaning accredited two-year and four-year colleges and universities (including community colleges) with a campus located in the United States, submitting on behalf of their faculty. The principal investigator (PI) and any co-PIs must hold positions at an eligible U.S. institution. NSF will not accept proposals submitted by investigators at non-U.S. institutions. The international structure is handled through parallel or coordinated submissions: the U.S. team submits to NSF, while the non-U.S. collaborators seek support from their own national or regional funding organization participating in MWN (or, for certain developing-country collaborations, potentially through USAID-aligned support). NSF's role is to fund the U.S. side of the collaboration, with the expectation that the partner funding organization will consider funding the non-U.S. side, allowing both groups to conduct an integrated project without one side bearing the full financial burden.
The solicitation places real emphasis on the added value of going international. Projects are expected to explain why the collaboration is essential and what it enables that would be difficult or impossible to achieve through a purely domestic effort. Beyond the science, proposals are also expected to build in meaningful opportunities for students and junior researchers to participate in international research and education experiences. That expectation is not just narrative; applicants are encouraged to allocate appropriate budget resources to support these training and mobility components. The program also expects projects to broaden participation in materials research by intentionally including and supporting underrepresented groups, including women, minorities, and persons with disabilities.
From an administrative standpoint, this is a discretionary grant opportunity in the science and technology research and development category (CFDA 47.049, Mathematical and Physical Sciences). NSF anticipated making around 30 awards under this solicitation, with an estimated total program funding level of $4,000,000. Typical award sizes were listed with a floor of $200,000 and a ceiling of $700,000, and there is no cost sharing or matching requirement. For this 2011 cycle, the full proposal deadline was November 10, 2011, and the opportunity was posted on August 12, 2011.
Overall, MWN (NSF 11-568) is best understood as a mechanism for building sustained, high-impact international research partnerships in core DMR areas, with coordinated funding on both sides of the border, a strong expectation of student and early-career involvement, and explicit attention to broadening participation. The program is structured to reward collaborations that are scientifically compelling, genuinely integrated across institutions and countries, and clearly aligned with DMR-supported research themes.
Materials World Network (MWN) Cooperative Activity (NSF 11-568) - FAQs
What is the Materials World Network (MWN) Cooperative Activity?
The Materials World Network (MWN) Cooperative Activity is a National Science Foundation (NSF) grant opportunity intended to support international, team-based collaborations in fundamental materials and condensed matter research. It is designed for projects where the research goals benefit from combining expertise, facilities, and coordinated work across countries.
What is the main purpose of this program?
The program aims to make it easier for U.S. investigators to build genuine, research-driven collaborations with investigators abroad, while also strengthening education and training connected to those research projects. A key theme is that many important materials problems sit at the intersection of multiple disciplines and require shared resources and expertise across borders.
Which NSF unit is running this MWN opportunity?
This solicitation is coordinated through NSF's Division of Materials Research (DMR). Proposals must clearly fall within DMR's scope and are reviewed within DMR programmatic areas.
Which international regions are included in the 2011 MWN solicitation (NSF 11-568)?
For the 2011 solicitation (NSF 11-568), the program focuses on joint activity between NSF/DMR and participating funding organizations in Africa, Asia, and Europe.
Are partners in the Americas included in the 2011 cycle?
No. Partners in the Americas are part of the MWN rotation on even years, so they are not included as participating organizations in this particular 2011 cycle.
What is meant by "coordinated" or "parallel" submissions?
The U.S. team submits a proposal to NSF, while the non-U.S. collaborators seek support from their own national or regional funding organization that participates in MWN (or potentially an aligned mechanism for certain developing-country collaborations). The intent is that each side is funded by its own funding organization so the overall project can be integrated without one side carrying the full financial burden.
Does NSF fund the non-U.S. collaborators?
NSF's role under this MWN solicitation is to fund the U.S. side of the collaboration. The expectation is that the partner funding organization will consider funding the non-U.S. side.
How does USAID coordination fit into this opportunity?
NSF highlights coordination with the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) to encourage collaborations with investigators in developing countries. In such cases, NSF anticipates covering U.S. costs while USAID or another appropriate organization supports the developing-country side, potentially through mechanisms such as USAID's Partnerships for Enhanced Engagement in Research (PEER) program or other relevant USAID programs.
If a project involves a developing-country collaborator, what should applicants do?
Applicants are encouraged to consult DMR staff for the latest coordination guidance when planning collaborations where the developing-country side may be supported through USAID-aligned mechanisms or other appropriate organizations.
What research topics are eligible under this solicitation?
Research must fit within DMR's scope. Proposals are evaluated within DMR programmatic areas, including:
- Condensed matter physics
- Solid state and materials chemistry
- Polymers
- Biomaterials
- Metals and metallic nanostructures
- Ceramics
- Electronic and photonic materials
- Condensed matter and materials theory
Is this solicitation intended to fund materials research broadly?
No. The solicitation is not meant to fund materials work broadly defined; it is specifically meant to fund work that maps onto DMR priorities and communities. Fit to DMR is treated as a gatekeeping issue.
What happens if a proposal does not fit within DMR's scope?
Proposals that do not fall within DMR's remit can be returned without review. Investigators are strongly encouraged to contact NSF program staff before submitting to confirm alignment with the solicitation.
Who is eligible to submit a proposal to NSF under this opportunity?
Eligibility is limited to U.S. academic institutions: accredited two-year and four-year colleges and universities (including community colleges) with a campus located in the United States, submitting on behalf of their faculty.
Do the PI and co-PIs have to be at a U.S. institution?
Yes. The principal investigator (PI) and any co-PIs must hold positions at an eligible U.S. institution.
Can an investigator at a non-U.S. institution submit a proposal directly to NSF?
No. NSF will not accept proposals submitted by investigators at non-U.S. institutions under this solicitation.
What is NSF looking for in the international collaboration component?
The solicitation emphasizes the added value of going international. Projects are expected to explain why the international collaboration is essential and what it enables that would be difficult or impossible to achieve through a purely domestic effort.
Are education and training activities expected as part of the project?
Yes. Proposals are expected to include meaningful opportunities for students and junior researchers to participate in international research and education experiences.
Should applicants budget for student and early-career international participation?
Yes. Applicants are encouraged to allocate appropriate budget resources to support training and mobility components tied to international research and education experiences.
Is broadening participation part of the program expectations?
Yes. The program expects projects to broaden participation in materials research by intentionally including and supporting underrepresented groups, including women, minorities, and persons with disabilities.
What type of funding opportunity is this from an administrative standpoint?
It is described as a discretionary grant opportunity in the science and technology research and development category.
What is the CFDA number and program area listed for this opportunity?
The solicitation lists CFDA 47.049, Mathematical and Physical Sciences.
How many awards did NSF anticipate making under this solicitation?
NSF anticipated making around 30 awards under this solicitation.
What was the estimated total program funding level?
The estimated total program funding level was $4,000,000.
What were the typical award size ranges?
Typical award sizes were listed with a floor of $200,000 and a ceiling of $700,000.
Is cost sharing or matching required?
No. There is no cost sharing or matching requirement stated for this solicitation.
When was the opportunity posted and when was the full proposal due?
The opportunity was posted on August 12, 2011. The full proposal deadline for the 2011 cycle was November 10, 2011.
What kind of projects does MWN (NSF 11-568) aim to support overall?
MWN (NSF 11-568) is positioned as a mechanism for building sustained, high-impact international research partnerships in core DMR areas, with coordinated funding on both sides of the collaboration, a strong expectation of student and early-career involvement, and explicit attention to broadening participation. The program is structured to reward collaborations that are scientifically compelling, genuinely integrated across institutions and countries, and clearly aligned with DMR-supported research themes.
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