EPSCoR Research Infrastructure Improvement Program: EPSCoR Collaborations for Optimizing Research Ecosystems

July 21, 2026

*Who May Submit Proposals: Proposals may only be submitted by the following: -<ul> <li>Institutions of higher education (PhD- and non-PhD-granting) that are accredited and operate a campus within the United States, its territories, or possessions, may submit proposals on behalf of their faculty. <ul> <li>Distinct academic campuses within multi-campus systems (e.g., campuses that award their own degrees and have independent administrative structures, admissions policies, and alumni associations) qualify as separate submission-eligible institutions.</li> <li>Campuses that plan to submit a proposal through the Sponsored Projects Office of other campuses or organizations should contact NSF EPSCoR to discuss eligibility as early as possible and at least six weeks before submitting such a proposal.</li> </ul> </li> <li>Non-profit, non-degree-granting domestic U.S. organizations, acting on behalf of their employees, that include (but are not limited to) independent museums and science centers, observatories, research laboratories, professional societies, and similar organizations that are directly associated with the Nation&rsquo;s research or educational activities. These organizations must have an independent, permanent administrative organization (e.g., an office of sponsored research) located in the United States, its territories, or possessions, and have 501(c)(3) tax status.<br /><br /></li> <li>Jurisdictional/state governments, or agencies or commissions thereof, when coordinating efforts of multiple organizations within the jurisdiction.<br /><br /></li> <li>Tribal Governments with the governing body of any Indian or Alaska Native tribe, band, nation, pueblo, village, or community that the Secretary of the Interior acknowledges to exist as an Indian tribe under the Federally Recognized Indian Tribe List Act of 1994 (25 U.S.C. 479a, et seq.) or Indigenous communities that are not recognized by the Federally Recognized Indian Tribe List Act of 1994 (25 U.S.C. 479a, et seq.).</li> </ul> E-CORE proposals may only be submitted by organizations within jurisdictions meeting the <a href="https://new.nsf.gov/funding/initiatives/epscor/epscor-criteria-eligibility">EPSCoR eligibility criteria</a>. E-CORE proposals may not be submitted by organizations that serve as the lead organization on an active E-CORE or RII Track-1 award unless that award is in its final year or under a no-cost extension and will not be renewed. However, individuals employed by said organizations may serve as funded project participants or collaborators in roles other than PI or co-PI in an E-CORE proposal submitted by another organization. Such engagement must not be duplicative of currently funded activities, including active EPSCoR RII awards. E-CORE submissions should be multi-organizational, with a lead organization and additional collaborating partner(s), which may include academic and non-academic organizations. Collaborations must be indicative of building or developing cores within the jurisdiction and an interconnected jurisdiction-wide network that is able to link research efforts to individuals in a jurisdiction&rsquo;s research ecosystem. NSF encourages the participation of Emerging Research Institutions as the lead organization and/or collaborative partners in E-CORE submissions: <ul type="disc"> <li>Emerging Research Institutions are defined in<a href="https://uscode.house.gov/view.xhtml?req=granuleid:USC-prelim-title42-section18901&amp;num=0&amp;edition=prelim">42&sect;USC 18901</a>as institutions of higher education with an established undergraduate or graduate program that have less than $50,000,000 in Federal research expenditures within the year of the most currently available data;</li> </ul> Collaborations with other EPSCoR jurisdictions, non-EPSCoR jurisdictions, and international entities are allowed provided there is appropriate justification of how such collaborations will improve research infrastructu