Engineering (ENG): Electrical, Communications, and Computing Systems (ECCS) Grant

The U.S. National Science Foundation Directorate for Engineering, through the Division of Electrical, Communications and Cyber Systems, administers the Engineering (ENG): Electrical, Communications, and Computing Systems (ECCS) funding opportunity. The program supports foundational engineering research that advances next-generation technologies for devices, circuits, networks, communications, sensing, computing, power and energy systems, control, optimization, artificial intelligence, and related system architectures. NSF emphasizes intellectually ambitious and potentially transformative foundational research. Proposals do not need to promise a near-term product, deployment, commercial outcome, or later-stage technology development to be competitive. The solicitation identifies an anticipated program funding amount of $110,000,000 and an estimated 245 to 300 awards, subject to the availability of funds. The solicitation encompasses three ENG: ECCS programs. The Electronic, Photonic, Magnetic, and Quantum Devices program supports foundational engineering research involving novel classical and quantum devices and the electronic, photonic, and magnetic properties of matter. The Circuits and Systems for Communications and Sensing program supports foundational research on classical and quantum components, systems, circuits, signal processing, communications, and sensing. The Energy, Power, Control, and Learning program supports foundational research involving systems and control, learning, optimization, artificial intelligence, networked multi-agent systems, and applications with emphasis on power and energy systems. Research fitting a single program as well as multidisciplinary research spanning multiple programs is welcomed. NSF anticipates a portfolio of awards covering a range of budgets and project durations, and project budgets and durations must be commensurate with the scope of the proposed work. The solicitation does not establish an individual award minimum or maximum. NSF encourages proposals spanning a wide range of funding levels and durations and notes that investigators may consider mechanisms such as Planning Proposals, RAPID, EAGER, and RAISE for appropriate preliminary or time-sensitive work. Longer awards of up to five years may also be considered where sustained support would benefit ambitious and transformative research and reduce administrative burden. Inclusion of voluntary committed cost sharing is prohibited. There are no stated indirect cost limitations or other budgetary limitations under this solicitation. Eligible proposers are the categories identified in Chapter I.E of the NSF Proposal and Award Policies and Procedures Guide. The solicitation specifically states that unaffiliated individuals are not eligible to submit proposals. There are no restrictions or limits on who may serve as principal investigator, no limit on the number of proposals per organization, and no limit on the number of proposals per PI or co-PI. Proposers may submit through Research.gov or Grants.gov and must prepare proposals according to the applicable PAPPG and solicitation requirements. Collaborative proposals submitted as separate submissions from multiple organizations must use Research.gov. Letters of intent and preliminary proposals are not required. Investigators are strongly encouraged to email a one-page project summary to the appropriate Cognizant Program Director before submitting a full proposal to obtain guidance concerning programmatic fit, but this communication does not constitute review or influence funding decisions. Full proposals are accepted anytime, with no fixed application closing date stated in the solicitation. Proposals submitted through Research.gov follow PAPPG guidelines, while proposals submitted through Grants.gov follow the NSF Grants.gov Application Guide. NSF evaluates proposals using the National Science Board-approved Intellectual Merit criterion, concerning the potential to advance knowledge, and Broader Impacts criterion, concerning the potential to benefit society and contribute to desired societal outcomes. Proposals may undergo ad hoc review, panel review, internal NSF review, or a combination. Following an initial compliance check, an NSF Program Officer reviews the proposal, and in most cases three or more external experts also participate in the review process. All else being equal after merit review, NSF may give preference to institutions with lower indirect cost rates. Awards may be made as Standard Grants or Continuing Grants. Standard NSF award conditions and reporting requirements apply. Unless otherwise specified in an award notice, the principal investigator must submit annual project reports and a project outcomes report for the general public. Program inquiries may be directed to the EPMQD Program Team at eccs-epmqd@nsf.gov, the CSCS Program Team at eccs-cscs@nsf.gov, or the EPCL Program Team at eccs-epcl@nsf.gov. Research.gov technical assistance is available through the NSF IT Service Desk at rgov@nsf.gov or 1-800-381-1532, and Grants.gov assistance is available at support@grants.gov or 1-800-518-4726. The solicitation was posted August 17, 2026, and replaces PD 18-1517, PD 18-7564, and PD 18-7607.

Emphasize intellectually ambitious and potentially transformative foundational research; address Intellectual Merit and Broader Impacts; ensure project budget and duration are commensurate with the proposed work; contact the appropriate Program Director well in advance to discuss research fit; near-term products, deployment, commercial outcomes, or later-stage development are not required