NSF offers two new funding opportunities to secure and strengthen national defense

See the opportunities and links below

Office of Sponsored Programs (OSP)

January 14, 2026 at 4:24 PM

U.S. National Science Foundation Translation to Practice (NSF TTP) Collaborates with U.S. Army Combat Capabilities Development Command Ground Vehicle Systems Center (DEVCOM GVSC)

The U.S. National Science Foundation and the U.S. Army Combat Capabilities Development Command Ground Vehicle Systems Center (DEVCOM GVSC) have partnered to issue a Dear Colleague Letter (DCL) seeking proposals to advance cutting-edge scientific discovery, provide technological innovation and transition knowledge products to empower U.S. Army capabilities.

Proposers should tailor their use-inspired research and translation projects towards national security and/or national defense.

This DCL specifically seeks projects that are aligned with six core competencies: survivability and protection; robotics and autonomy; power and mobility; additive manufacturing; fuel and lubricants; and modeling, simulation and software development. In addition, projects should deliver on DEVCOM GVSC research initiatives and work toward developing, integrating, enhancing and sustaining DEVCOM GVSC capabilities to support U.S. Army modernization priorities and improve readiness.

"We look forward to supporting the U.S. Army and providing pathways to innovation to secure our nation's defense," said Erwin Gianchandani, NSF assistant director for Technology, Innovation and Partnerships. "This opportunity underscores how essential science and technology advancements are to our nation, not only for global competitiveness but for national security as well."

The DEVCOM GVSC funding opportunity is offered through the NSF Directorate for Technology, Innovation and Partnerships, which recently launched the new Translation to Practice (NSF TTP) program. Projects should:

Identify and support the initiation of use-inspired research and initial translational activities enabling a continuum from foundational research to practice.
Develop partnerships and collaborations that include traditional (academic) and nontraditional entities. These sustainable partnerships will accelerate the transfer of technology by ensuring that needs and opportunities are appropriately addressed.
Promote and advance the education and training of students and postdoctoral researchers, avoiding undue geographic concentration of funding and encouraging the participation of all Americans.
Identify future customer needs and opportunities.

"Through this collaboration with NSF, we are building a pathway to accelerate the maturation and transition of innovative fundamental research that shortens technology development timelines and delivers critical capabilities to the soldier faster," said David Gorsich, chief scientist for U.S. Army DEVCOM GVSC.

The NSF TTP program will consider proposals that are responsive to the core competencies and interests of the DEVCOM GVSC across all three tracks of the NSF TTP program solicitation.

To learn more about this funding opportunity, view the full DCL.

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

U.S. National Science Foundation Translation to Practice (NSF TTP) Collaborates with Naval Surface Warfare Center, Dahlgren Division (NSWCDD)

The U.S. National Science Foundation, in partnership with the U.S. Naval Surface Warfare Center, Dahlgren Division (NSWCDD), has issued a Dear Colleague Letter (DCL) seeking proposals to advance a broad research, development, test and evaluation portfolio with an emphasis on warfare systems development and integration.

The funding opportunity is offered through the new Translation to Practice (NSF TTP) program, led by the NSF Directorate for Technology, Innovation and Partnerships (NSF TIP). The NSF TTP program aims to invest in use-inspired research, translational activities and partnerships that turn scientific discoveries into real-world solutions. Researchers can participate in a wide range of translational activities, including but not limited to preparing and testing prototypes, protecting intellectual property, launching commercial activities, participating in open-source ecosystems, developing research standards, forming partnerships, and/or facilitating licensing and/or industry adoption.

"Together, NSF and the U.S. Navy are working to advance national security research and strengthen our national defense," said Erwin Gianchandani, NSF assistant director for NSF TIP. "At the core of that work is accelerating the critical research and ideas that can help keep our country safe, secure and globally competitive."

The DCL requests that submitted proposals should align with NSWCDD research initiatives and work towards developing, testing, evaluating, integrating, enhancing and/or sustaining complex naval warfare systems, including:

Intelligent automation systems which lie at the intersection of autonomy, artificial intelligence and unmanned systems.
Software and cyber engineering.
Digital engineering, including advancement in live, virtual and constructive capabilities and digital transformation.
Hypersonic weapons advancement and information superiority, which includes advanced sensors and electromagnetics, integrated combat systems, advanced integrated fire control and battle management aid development.

Additionally, the TTP program will consider proposals that are responsive to the core competencies and interests of NSWCDD across all three tracks of the program solicitation. The three TTP program tracks are:

Explore funds adventurous, "high-risk" use-inspired activities, bridging the gap between fundamental scientific curiosity and a practical desire to address real-world problems. Proposers must have a current NSF award and be interested in transitioning the foundational research to "use-inspired" activities.
Translate funds translating prior research results into technological innovations with promising commercial, economic and/or societal impacts. This track starts with use-inspired research and further matures ideas, iterates and improves solutions, ensures scalability and accessibility and lowers the barriers to effective translation.
Partner funds complex, multi-disciplinary, multi-organizational teams pursuing translational development projects. Strategic partnerships with stakeholders beyond their universities and research organizations are the essential ingredients for success and may include industry, government entities at all levels, philanthropies or other groups associated with large-scale productization and distribution.

To learn more about this funding opportunity, view the full DCL.