Opportunity Information: Apply for 12 607
Apply for 12 607
- The National Science Foundation in the science and technology and other research and development sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "National Robotics Initiative" and is now available to receive applicants.
- Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 10.310 Agriculture and Food Research Initiative (AFRI) 43.001 Science 43.008 Education 47.041 Engineering Grants 47.070 Computer and Information Science and Engineering 47.075 Social, Behavioral, and Economic Sciences 47.076 Education and Human Resources 93.286 Discovery and Applied Research for Technological Innovations to Improve Human Health 93.350 National Center for Advancing Translational Sciences 93.361 Nursing Research 93.853 Extramural Research Programs in the Neurosciences and Neurological Disorders 93.865 Child Health and Human Development Extramural Research 93.866 Aging Research.
- This funding opportunity was created on Nov 13, 2013 and posted on Sep 11, 2012.
- Applicants must submit their applications by Archived. Replaced by Solicitation NSF 14 500.. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
- The funding agency has allocated a total of $50,000,000.00 to eligible and selected applicants.
- Each selected applicant is eligible to receive up to $5,000,000.00 in funding.
- The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 40 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 Organizational eligibility is contained in the NSF Grant Proposal Guide (GPG). Additional eligibility restrictions apply to USDA/NIFA grants(see section IV). The complete text of the GPG is available electronically on the NSF website at a hrefhttp://www.nsf.gov/publications/pubsumm.jspodskeygpghttp://www.nsf.gov/publications/pubsumm.jspodskeygpg/a. Commercial enterprises with greater emphasis on development activities should consider the SBIR/STTR companion programs (a hrefhttp://www.nsf.gov/eng/iip/sbir/http://www.nsf.gov/eng/iip/sbir//a) and other agency SBIR/STTR websites.
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Opportunity Summary:
The National Robotics Initiative (NRI) is a federal research and development grant program aimed at speeding up the creation and adoption of robots in the United States that can work alongside people, not just in isolation. The central idea is to support "co-robots" (cooperative robots) that directly assist human partners in a complementary, symbiotic way, meaning the robot is designed to enhance human capabilities rather than replace them. The opportunity is intentionally broad and application-driven, encouraging new and existing research communities to push robotics into innovative real-world settings while still grounding projects in strong fundamental science and engineering.
A key feature of the program is its multi-agency backing, with participation and interest areas spanning the National Science Foundation (NSF), National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA), National Institutes of Health (NIH), and the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA). Because different agencies care about different mission needs, applicants are expected to align their proposed work with the appropriate scientific and societal goals relevant to at least one participating organization. The solicitation emphasizes that questions about fit, direction, and relevance should be directed to the agency contacts listed in the solicitation, since project alignment can affect where and how a proposal is reviewed and supported.
The scope of work is meant to cover the full life cycle of co-robotics, from foundational research and early development through manufacturing considerations and deployment in operational environments. In addition to technical advances (such as improved capability, usability, safety, and performance in human-centered settings), the program explicitly values work that helps integrate robotics into education and training pipelines. It also highlights the importance of studying longer-term social, behavioral, and economic implications of co-robots across many domains of human activity, signaling that the initiative is not only about building machines but also about understanding how people and institutions adapt to them and how the benefits and risks are distributed.
Collaboration is strongly encouraged, especially partnerships that connect academic research to industry, nonprofit organizations, and other entities involved in deployment and use. The intent is to reduce the gap between lab prototypes and practical systems by building teams that can address technical challenges alongside user needs, field constraints, and pathways to adoption. This emphasis on linkages suggests proposals are more competitive when they demonstrate credible routes to real-world testing, validation with end users, and dissemination beyond a single research group.
The solicitation supports two main proposal types. Small projects can be led by one or more investigators and may run from 1 to 5 years, offering flexibility for focused research efforts or early-stage exploration. Large projects are designed for multidisciplinary teams and typically span 3 to 5 years, supporting more integrated efforts that combine multiple technical areas or bridge robotics with human factors, social science, health, agriculture, space-related needs, or education. The program anticipates a substantial portfolio, with an estimated total funding level of about $50,000,000 and an expected 40 awards. Individual award sizes range from a floor of $150,000 up to a ceiling of $5,000,000, and the funding instrument is a cooperative agreement, which often implies more active program-level engagement than a standard grant. There is no cost sharing or matching requirement stated.
Eligibility is primarily governed by NSF rules in the NSF Grant Proposal Guide, with additional restrictions applying for USDA/NIFA-related funding. The listing also notes that commercial enterprises that are primarily focused on development rather than research should consider SBIR/STTR programs as a better fit, implying that NRI is geared toward research-intensive efforts even when they are motivated by application and deployment. The opportunity is categorized as discretionary funding within science and technology and other research and development, and it maps to multiple CFDA program areas across engineering, computer and information science, education, social/behavioral/economic sciences, agriculture, and several NIH-related health and translational research programs.
In terms of timing and status, the specific opportunity described (Funding Opportunity Number 12-607) was originally posted September 11, 2012, with initial deadlines in December 2012 and then recurring annual deadlines for small and large proposals. It has since been archived and replaced by a later NSF solicitation (NSF 14-500), so it is no longer open in this form. For historical reference, the annual pattern listed included small proposal deadlines around January 23 and large proposal deadlines around November 14 in subsequent years, but applicants would need to consult the replacement solicitation for current dates, requirements, and agency participation details. Contact support for access issues is routed through NSF grants.gov support at grantsgovsupport@nsf.gov, while programmatic fit questions are directed to the solicitation's agency contact list.
National Robotics Initiative (NRI) Grant - FAQs
What is the National Robotics Initiative (NRI)?
The National Robotics Initiative (NRI) is a federal research and development grant program focused on accelerating the development and adoption of robots in the United States that can work alongside people. The program emphasizes robots designed for direct collaboration with humans in real settings, not robots operating in isolation.
What does NRI mean by "co-robots"?
"Co-robots" (cooperative robots) are robots intended to assist human partners in a complementary, symbiotic way. The idea is that the robot enhances human capabilities rather than replacing people.
Is the NRI program focused on basic research or real-world applications?
The opportunity is intentionally broad and application-driven, encouraging robotics research that moves into innovative real-world settings while still being grounded in strong fundamental science and engineering.
Which federal agencies participate in or support NRI?
The solicitation describes multi-agency backing and interest areas spanning the National Science Foundation (NSF), the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA), the National Institutes of Health (NIH), and the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA).
Do proposals need to align with a specific agency mission?
Yes. Because participating agencies have different mission needs, applicants are expected to align the proposed work with the relevant scientific and societal goals of at least one participating organization. The solicitation notes that alignment can influence where and how proposals are reviewed and supported.
Who should applicants contact to confirm whether their idea is a good fit?
Questions about fit, direction, and relevance should be directed to the agency contacts listed in the solicitation, since project alignment may affect the review path and support.
What parts of the robotics pipeline can NRI support?
The scope is designed to cover the full life cycle of co-robotics, including foundational research, early development, manufacturing considerations, and deployment in operational environments.
What kinds of technical outcomes does NRI emphasize?
The solicitation highlights technical advances that improve capability, usability, safety, and performance in human-centered settings, particularly where robots and people interact closely.
Does NRI support education and workforce development activities?
Yes. In addition to technical advances, the program explicitly values work that helps integrate robotics into education and training pipelines.
Does NRI fund research on the societal impacts of robotics?
Yes. The initiative highlights the importance of studying longer-term social, behavioral, and economic implications of co-robots across many domains of human activity, including how people and institutions adapt and how benefits and risks are distributed.
Is collaboration required or just encouraged?
Collaboration is strongly encouraged. The solicitation emphasizes partnerships that connect academic research to industry, nonprofit organizations, and other entities involved in deployment and use.
What kinds of partnerships make a proposal more competitive under this program?
The solicitation suggests proposals can be more competitive when they show credible routes to real-world testing, validation with end users, and dissemination beyond a single research group, helping reduce the gap between lab prototypes and practical systems.
What proposal types are supported?
The solicitation supports two main proposal types: Small projects and Large projects.
What is the typical duration for Small projects?
Small projects may run from 1 to 5 years and can be led by one or more investigators, allowing flexibility for focused research or early-stage exploration.
What is the typical duration and structure for Large projects?
Large projects typically span 3 to 5 years and are designed for multidisciplinary teams. They support integrated efforts that may combine multiple technical areas or bridge robotics with areas like human factors, social science, health, agriculture, space-related needs, or education.
How much funding was expected under this opportunity?
The solicitation anticipated an estimated total funding level of about $50,000,000 and an expected 40 awards.
What is the minimum and maximum award size?
Individual award sizes range from a minimum of $150,000 up to a maximum of $5,000,000.
What type of funding instrument is used?
The funding instrument described is a cooperative agreement, which often implies more active program-level engagement than a standard grant.
Is there a cost sharing or matching requirement?
No cost sharing or matching requirement is stated in the provided information.
Who is eligible to apply?
Eligibility is primarily governed by NSF rules in the NSF Grant Proposal Guide, with additional restrictions applying for USDA/NIFA-related funding.
Is this program a good fit for companies focused mainly on product development?
The listing notes that commercial enterprises primarily focused on development rather than research should consider SBIR/STTR programs as a better fit, implying NRI is geared toward research-intensive efforts.
What funding categories and research areas does this opportunity relate to?
The opportunity is categorized as discretionary funding within science and technology and other research and development. It maps to multiple CFDA program areas across engineering, computer and information science, education, social/behavioral/economic sciences, agriculture, and several NIH-related health and translational research programs.
Is Funding Opportunity Number 12-607 still open?
No. The specific opportunity described (Funding Opportunity Number 12-607) has been archived and replaced by a later NSF solicitation (NSF 14-500), so it is no longer open in this form.
When was this opportunity originally posted?
It was originally posted on September 11, 2012.
What were the original and recurring deadline patterns listed for this archived opportunity?
The archived listing referenced initial deadlines in December 2012, followed by recurring annual deadlines for small and large proposals. For historical reference, small proposal deadlines were listed around January 23 and large proposal deadlines around November 14 in subsequent years.
Where should applicants look for current deadlines and requirements?
Applicants should consult the replacement solicitation (NSF 14-500) for current dates, requirements, and agency participation details.
Who should be contacted for technical access issues related to Grants.gov?
For access issues, support is routed through NSF grants.gov support at grantsgovsupport@nsf.gov.
Who should be contacted for programmatic questions (not technical access problems)?
Programmatic questions about fit, direction, and relevance should be directed to the agency contact list included in the solicitation.
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