Emerging Frontiers in Research and Innovation: Wave-Based Computing (WBC) (EFRI-WBC) Grant

The U.S. National Science Foundation, through the Directorate for Engineering's Office of Emerging Frontiers and Multidisciplinary Activities and the Emerging Frontiers in Research and Innovation program, is soliciting proposals for Emerging Frontiers in Research and Innovation: Wave-Based Computing (WBC) (EFRI-WBC), solicitation NSF 26-524. EFRI supports potentially transformative ideas capable of producing significant shifts in foundational engineering knowledge and long-term impacts on strategic technology priorities or national science and technology missions. The Wave-Based Computing opportunity supports foundational and transformative research advancing computing approaches that harness wave dynamics to improve information processing performance and efficiency. The program is intended to help establish technologies offering increased computational power, higher throughput, and lower energy use, including approaches relevant to artificial intelligence and machine learning. EFRI-WBC supports two funding tracks. Track 1, Wave-Based Computing-Exploratory Research (WBC-ER), uses EArly-concept Grants for Exploratory Research awards and permits requests from $100,000 to $400,000 for projects lasting up to two years. Track 1 projects must address at least one of Thrust 1, Physical principles of integrated WBC, and Thrust 2, Information processing with waves, and should include a testbed unless the research is purely theoretical. Track 2, Wave-Based Computing-Multidisciplinary Research (WBC-MR), supports larger multidisciplinary projects for four years with requests up to $2,000,000. Track 2 proposals must address all three research thrusts, including Thrust 3, Proof-of-concept testbeds, and require at least one PI and two co-PIs. Potential research includes multiplexed architectures, nonlinear processes, reconfigurable photonic and acoustic devices, hybrid wave-quantum computing, topological and quantum concepts, chip-scale integration, and heterogeneous integration. Proposals focused specifically on spin-wave computing are outside the solicitation's scope. Collaboration with industry is highly encouraged, including through NSF GOALI where appropriate. The anticipated program funding is $30,000,000, consisting of $15,000,000 in FY 2027 and $15,000,000 in FY 2028, subject to availability of funds. Up to fifteen awards are anticipated in each fiscal year, for an estimated total of 15 to 30 awards across the solicitation. Awards will be Standard Grants or Continuing Grants. Voluntary committed cost sharing is prohibited, and no indirect cost or other general budget limitation is specified. Both tracks must budget for travel by at least one PI and one graduate student or researcher to attend an annual EFRI grantees' meeting. Recipients are required to attend and present their research results and plans at the annual conference throughout the award. When multiple organizations participate, the application must be submitted as one proposal using subawards; separately submitted collaborative proposals are not permitted. Eligible applicants are accredited two- and four-year Institutions of Higher Education, including community colleges, that have a campus in the United States, and U.S.-located nonprofit, non-academic organizations such as independent museums, observatories, research laboratories, professional societies, and similar organizations directly associated with educational or research activities. For an IHE proposal, the lead PI must be full-time tenured or tenure-track faculty. For an eligible nonprofit, non-academic organization, the lead PI must have a continuing appointment expected to last for the full award term, substantial research responsibilities, and a project related to the PI's job responsibilities and the organization's mission. For every proposal, either the PI or a co-PI must hold a full-time tenured or tenure-track faculty appointment within a College or Department of Engineering. An individual may participate as PI or co-PI on no more than one proposal to this solicitation in a single fiscal year. There is no stated limit on the number of proposals an organization may submit. A Concept Outline is mandatory for both tracks and must be emailed to EFRI2027-2028@nsf.gov. It must provide the proposal title, names and departmental and organizational affiliations of the PI and co-PIs, and a synopsis of no more than 500 words describing the core idea and specific project goals. The Concept Outline deadline is November 19, 2026 for the FY 2027 proposal cycle and November 16, 2027 for the FY 2028 cycle. NSF Program Directors will evaluate Concept Outlines for programmatic responsiveness and suitability. A prospective PI may submit a full proposal only after receiving Program Officer concurrence, and the concurrence email must be uploaded with the full proposal or the proposal will be returned without review. Full proposals are due by 5 p.m. in the submitting organization's local time on February 11, 2027 for the first cycle and February 10, 2028 for the second cycle. Letters of Intent and preliminary proposals are not required. Full proposals must comply with the solicitation and the NSF Proposal and Award Policies and Procedures Guide in effect on the proposal deadline. Track 1 titles must begin with "EAGER EFRI WBC-ER:" and Track 2 titles with "EFRI WBC-MR:". Both tracks require a one-page Project Summary separately addressing intellectual merit and broader impacts. Track 1 permits an eight-page Project Description, while Track 2 permits 15 pages. Required or applicable supplementary materials include the Program Officer concurrence email, a mentoring plan, a list of key personnel, mechanisms for sharing research outcomes, and a PowerPoint slide summarizing the proposal vision. Track 2 additionally requires a Data Management and Sharing Plan and a Management Plan covering team and project management, intellectual property management, and a detailed project schedule. Proposals are evaluated using NSF's Intellectual Merit and Broader Impacts criteria plus solicitation-specific considerations addressing required thrusts, transformative potential, national need, mentoring, and, for Track 2, management-plan effectiveness. Review may involve NSF staff, panels, and ad hoc reviewers. Program contacts use EFRI2027-2028@nsf.gov; Sohi Rastegar is listed at (703) 292-8305, and additional program officers are identified in the solicitation.

Ensure the proposal addresses the thrusts required for its track and demonstrates a significant leap or paradigm shift in foundational engineering knowledge and potential progress on a strategic technology priority or national science and technology mission. Obtain Program Officer concurrence from the required Concept Outline before submitting. Separately address Intellectual Merit and Broader Impacts in the Project Summary or the proposal will be returned without review. Include required mentoring activities for supported trainees. Track 2 teams should provide an effective Management Plan and must address all three thrusts.