Expeditions in Computing

The Expeditions in Computing program is administered by the National Science Foundation as part of its Directorate for Computer and Information Science and Engineering. The program was established to support ambitious, large-scale research efforts that aim to define the future of computing and information science. It reflects NSF’s broader mission to advance fundamental research and education, and it builds on more than a decade of investment in transformative computing initiatives that have had far-reaching societal and economic impacts. The program emphasizes long-term, collaborative research agendas that extend beyond incremental advances and instead pursue disruptive innovation. The primary objective of this funding opportunity is to enable interdisciplinary teams of researchers to pursue bold, visionary projects that can shape computing and information science for at least a decade into the future. Investigators are encouraged to collaborate across departments and institutions, combining expertise to identify compelling research challenges and develop comprehensive strategies to address them. The program prioritizes projects that require simultaneous advances in multiple subfields, recognizing that major breakthroughs often arise from coordinated progress across disciplines. Funding under this program is substantial and structured to support large, center-scale projects. Awards are made at levels up to fifteen million dollars over a period of up to seven years, allowing teams to build sustained research capacity and infrastructure. These funds may be used to support personnel, research activities, collaborative initiatives, and other allowable costs consistent with NSF guidelines. The program does not require cost sharing or matching funds, which lowers the barrier to participation for eligible institutions. Eligibility is limited primarily to accredited institutions of higher education in the United States that offer undergraduate, master’s, and doctoral programs in computer and information science and engineering fields. These institutions may serve as lead or collaborative applicants. Additional participants may include nonprofit, non-academic organizations such as museums, observatories, and professional societies that are directly involved in education or research activities. While for-profit organizations, national laboratories, and international entities may participate, they must secure independent funding as NSF will not provide direct support to them under this program. Applications must be submitted through Grants.gov or Research.gov in accordance with NSF’s proposal preparation and submission guidelines. The submission process requires completion of standard federal forms, including project summaries, narratives, budgets, and supporting documentation. Proposals must adhere strictly to formatting and compliance requirements, and failure to do so may result in rejection without review. NSF evaluates applications based on intellectual merit and broader impacts, considering the potential for transformative research outcomes, the quality of the proposed team, and the anticipated societal benefits. The application cycle for this opportunity is long-term and remains open through March 31, 2027. Awards are expected to be limited in number, with approximately four grants anticipated under the current funding cycle. Selected projects will form part of NSF’s center-scale portfolio and may be eligible for follow-on support through related initiatives. The program represents a significant investment in advancing computing research and is designed to foster innovations that will influence technology and society for years to come.

Focus on bold, long-term, interdisciplinary research agendas and demonstrate transformative potential across computing fields