Active Grants
Vast x Explorers Club Grant
Supports researchers, technologists, and explorers advancing understanding of space environments including the Moon, with projects on human adaptation and space habitats that could encompass lunar regolith processing for manufacturing.
Grants to Organizations
Supports innovative projects in the fields of architecture, design, and the built environment, including educational initiatives advancing design thinking and pedagogy.
Lead Hazard Reduction Capacity Building Grant Program
Grants to build capacity for identifying and controlling lead hazards in housing, integrating into housing repair and weatherization programs for healthier built environments.
Hydrogen and Fuel Cell Technologies Funding Opportunity Announcement
Focuses on hydrogen production, storage, and applications in aerospace, suitable for developing safe hydrogen systems for ultra-high altitude aerostats.
NSF 25-558: Environmental Sustainability
Funds research on sustainable engineering designs, with emphasis on biomimetic approaches mimicking natural systems for industrial efficiency.
Defense University Research Instrumentation Program
Awards equipment grants to universities for research in engineering fields including design and prototyping. Enhances capabilities in defense-related engineering.
Toshiba America Foundation Science and Math Grants for Grades 6-12
Funds innovative project-based STEM learning ideas in middle and high school classrooms, suitable for AI-native design education initiatives.
SCDRP Grants
Funding for projects focused on built environment, climate and environment, housing, transportation, and related areas improving community resilience.
Livability Initiatives
Funding for community livability improvements such as crosswalks, benches, bike lanes, housing designs, and public space enhancements that overcome policy barriers and foster collaborations.
NSF 25-572: Biophotonics
Funds research at the intersection of photonics and biology, applicable to biomimetic optical systems and industrial design inspired by biological light manipulation.
High Altitude Community Observatory (HACO) Development Program
NSF supports development of high-altitude platforms for astronomical observations, including buoyant systems like aerostats for ultra-high altitude research applications.
Materials Science Research for Fossil Energy Applications
Supports advanced materials research, including biomimetic structural designs for energy-efficient technologies.
Gensler Opportunity Scholarship + Design Challenge (US)
Scholarships for students enrolled in U.S. not-for-profit architecture programs, including tuition support, micro-scholarships for materials, and internship opportunities to support emerging design talent.
Gensler Opportunity Scholarship: UK Bursary + Prizes
Supports underrepresented students at U.K. universities with bursaries and prizes to promote diversity in design.
Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Phase I - Topic AF252-P1: High Altitude Platforms
DOD SBIR funds small businesses for high-altitude platform innovations, explicitly including aerostats and buoyant systems for stratospheric operations.
Research Grants in the Arts
Funds research projects that strengthen the knowledge base about arts and culture, including studies on design education, human-centered design, and innovative pedagogies in engineering design.
IBM Impact Accelerator for AI-Driven Solutions Shaping the Future of Work and Education
Supports nonprofits and academic institutions developing AI solutions for education, including teaching tools, personalized learning, and career guidance relevant to AI-native design projects.
Biomedical Innovation Centers Grants
Supports NY-based biotech startups developing medical devices, including implantable drug delivery systems, to advance commercialization and clinical translation.
EAIE Doctoral Research Grants
Supports early-career doctoral scholars researching internationalization in higher education, potentially including design education aspects.
IFDA Philadelphia Scholarship
Awards scholarships to students in interior design or related programs, with this year's focus on graphic design.
NIJ FY 2026 Research and Development in Forensic Science
Supports advanced materials and design innovations, open to biomimetic approaches for forensic technology with industrial design potential.
Advanced Research Projects Agency-Energy (ARPA-E) OPEN 2026
Seeks high-risk, high-reward technologies in energy including perovskite solar with circular materials, recycling innovations, and pilot-scale demonstrations.
ASID Legacy Scholarship for Graduate Students
Supports graduate students in interior design based on academic accomplishment, creative achievement, and personal statement.
David Barrett Memorial Scholarship
Recognizes undergraduate or graduate students demonstrating interest in classical design elements and traditional materials.
DOE 2026-01: Bioenergy Technologies Office Funding Opportunity Announcement
Supports bio-inspired materials and design for sustainable bioenergy production, including biomimetic industrial systems for feedstock processing.
Atmospheric and Stratospheric Balloon Program
NASA funds scientific balloon missions and platform technologies at ultra-high altitudes, extending to hybrid aerostat systems using hydrogen for long-duration flights.
CNYBAC Medical Device Innovation Challenge
Provides funding and mentorship for early to mid-stage medical device startups in Central NY, suitable for implantable drug delivery innovations targeting regional health needs.
Connecting Talent to Opportunity (CTO) Challenge
Grants to support high-quality, short-term programs via talent marketplaces and credential registries, enabling universities to develop AI-native curriculum aligned with workforce needs in emerging technologies.
W.M. Keck Foundation Research Program
Provides high-risk/high-impact funding for innovative research, such as structural biomimicry design at the intersection of biology and engineering.
NSERC CREATE VISION: Visual Effects and Animation Innovation and Simulation
Training program in visual effects, animation, innovation, and simulation, relevant to digital design education.
NSERC CREATE in Product Design for Human Comfort
Funds collaborative research and training programs in product design focused on human comfort, supporting graduate students and postdocs.
Collaborative Research and Training Experience Program
Funds collaborative research and training experiences, potentially including design education in interdisciplinary contexts.
iF SOCIAL IMPACT PRIZE 2026
Awards funding and exposure to implemented projects aligning with UN SDGs that demonstrate design-driven social impact.
American Chemical Society (ACS)-Hach High School Chemistry Classroom Grant
Enhances high school chemistry classroom learning and student development, potentially incorporating AI-native design in STEM project-based education.
NEA Foundation Learning & Leadership Grants
Provides resources for educators' professional learning implementable in classrooms, suitable for AI and design education projects.
PTDA Foundation Student Scholarships
Provides financial assistance to students in North America studying engineering, manufacturing, supply chain, or PT/MC-related fields including design aspects.
National Weather Association Foundation Sol Hirsch Grants for K-12 Teachers
Improves K-12 education in meteorology and related sciences, broadening to AI-native design in environmental and tech education projects.
NIH R01 Research Project Grant
The Research Project Grant (R01) is the original and historically oldest grant mechanism used by NIH. The R01 provides support for health-related research and development based on the mission of the NIH. R01s can be investigator-initiated or can be solicited via a Request for Applications.
NSF CAREER: Faculty Early Career Development Program
The Faculty Early Career Development (CAREER) Program is a Foundation-wide activity that offers the National Science Foundation most prestigious awards in support of early-career faculty who have the potential to serve as academic role models in research and education and to lead advances in the mission of their department or organization.
Dave Cross Design Arts Scholarship
Supports undergraduate students passionate about graphic design, media arts, digital design, or photography to make the arts more accessible.
EPA Environmental Justice Community Change Grants
The Environmental Justice Community Change Grants program invests in community-driven projects that deploy clean energy, strengthen climate resilience, and build community capacity to address environmental and climate justice challenges in disadvantaged communities.
ASM Foundation Living in a Material World K-12 Education Grants
Supports K-12 teachers bringing materials science into classrooms through hands-on projects, extendable to AI-native design and technology education.
FY 2026 Continuation of Solicitation for the Office of Science Financial Assistance Program
Broad NOFO funding research in Advanced Scientific Computing Research and Basic Energy Sciences, including engineering design for energy technologies and materials.
P. Buckley Moss Foundation for Children's Education
Provides funding for art supplies to support programs integrating arts into classroom education, especially for students who learn differently, adaptable to AI-native design projects.
Center for Architecture Design Scholarship
Awards to students pursuing first professional degree in architecture, design, engineering, planning, or related disciplines in New York State programs.
Biophotonics Program
Funds innovative research in biophotonics, including biomimetic structural designs for optical and photonic materials derived from biological structures.
Physics of Living Systems Program
Advances physics-based approaches to study living systems, encompassing structural biomimicry for designing novel materials and systems.
Design of Biomedical Devices Program
Supports research on biomimetic design principles for biomedical devices, focusing on structural adaptations from nature.
Engineering Design (ENG/DES)
Funds creative design research, including biomimicry-inspired structural engineering for innovative products and systems.
Biomimetic and Bioinspired Materials
Investigates bioinspired materials with structural properties mimicking natural systems for aerospace and defense applications.
Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) - Topic H: Bioinspired Materials
Funds SBIR projects on bioinspired structural materials for revolutionary defense technologies.
Biomechanics and Mechanobiology
Advances research in biomechanics, including structural biomimicry for tissue engineering and device design.
Defense Sciences Office (DSO) Open Broad Agency Announcement
Seeks disruptive concepts in materials science and manufacturing, including advanced additive manufacturing techniques adaptable to lunar regolith for defense space applications.
Solar Energy Technologies Office Fiscal Year 2026
Funds R&D for next-generation PV technologies including perovskites, focusing on durability, manufacturing scale-up, stability, and performance improvements for circular economy applications.
Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Phase I - Advanced Materials for Energy Technologies
Supports SMEs developing innovative materials for energy including perovskite-based circular PV pilots, recycling, and sustainable manufacturing processes.
Environment and Climate Change Innovation Pilots (EECI)
Funds pilots for sustainable materials and circular economy technologies, applicable to perovskite recycling and low-impact PV manufacturing.
Sustainable Materials Recovery and Circularity SBIR
Supports innovative circular economy solutions for materials recovery, including advanced recycling pilots for PV materials like perovskites.
Materials Genome for Circular Economy
Advances computational and experimental approaches for designing recyclable materials, suitable for perovskite circular pilots.
Defense Production Act Title III - Critical Materials Recycling
Funds domestic production and recycling of strategic materials, extendable to perovskite precursors and circular supply chains for energy security.
Flight Opportunities Program
Funds flight tests of technologies in microgravity and lunar gravity, including regolith processing into feedstock and additive manufacturing systems for lunar applications.
Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) / Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR) - Space Technology
Supports innovative R&D for space technologies, including in-situ resource utilization (ISRU) like lunar regolith processing for additive manufacturing and lunar surface manufacturing.
NASA NIAC Phase I
Funds visionary, high-risk concepts for aerospace technologies, suitable for novel lunar regolith-based additive manufacturing for in-space production.
Advanced Materials and Manufacturing Technologies
Funds research in advanced manufacturing and materials for air/space platforms, including additive manufacturing innovations for extreme environments like lunar regolith.
Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) - Manufacturing
Supports advanced manufacturing technologies, including additive manufacturing for energy and space-related materials processing like regolith simulants.
Civil Space Technology Initiative (CSTI)
Invests in space technology development including ISRU and lunar manufacturing capabilities for regolith-based additive processes.
Partnerships for Research and Education in Materials (PREM)
Builds materials research capacity, suitable for lunar regolith simulant studies and additive manufacturing material development.
Future Manufacturing Open Call
Funds innovative manufacturing seed projects, including advanced additive techniques for novel feedstocks like lunar regolith analogs.
Defense Sciences Office (DSO) Office-Wide Open BAA
DARPA's DSO funds revolutionary basic research in areas including high-altitude platforms, propulsion technologies, and novel aeronautical systems that could support ultra-high altitude aerostats with hydrogen buoyancy.
Innovative Energy Storage Technologies for Renewable Energy Applications
DOE funds R&D on advanced hydrogen storage and utilization technologies, applicable to ultra-high altitude hydrogen aerostats for energy-efficient stratospheric operations.
Long Range Anti-Ship Missile (LRASM) Capstone BAA
DOD seeks innovative surveillance and platform technologies, including high-altitude persistent aerostats for ultra-high altitude sensing and hydrogen-based lift systems.
Advanced Air and Space Technologies Broad Agency Announcement
AFRL supports R&D on advanced aeronautical concepts, including ultra-high altitude lighter-than-air vehicles and hydrogen aerostats for persistent ISR.
Advanced Materials for Extreme Environments
NASA supports materials R&D for high-altitude and space-like environments, relevant to durable envelopes and structures for hydrogen aerostats.
Persistent Elevated Reconnaissance Broad Area Announcement
ARL seeks technologies for long-endurance elevated platforms, including ultra-high altitude hydrogen aerostats for surveillance and communications.
Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Program - Biomedical Product Development
Supports small businesses developing innovative biomedical technologies, including implantable drug delivery devices for cardiovascular, pulmonary, and related applications. Phase I funds proof-of-concept; Phase II scales development.
Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR) Program - Drug Delivery Technologies
Funds collaborative R&D between small businesses and research institutions for implantable and bioengineered drug delivery systems to improve therapeutic delivery precision and patient outcomes.
Rapid Innovation Fund (RIF)
Accelerates prototyping and deployment of innovative medical technologies like implantable drug delivery for military health needs, with potential dual-use for civilian applications.
Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) - IIP Topic: Advanced Drug Delivery
Funds small businesses innovating in advanced manufacturing for implantable drug delivery systems, emphasizing novel materials and controlled release mechanisms.
Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) - NIAID Drug Delivery Systems
Supports development of implantable devices for sustained drug release to combat infectious diseases, with emphasis on long-term delivery efficacy.
Therapeutics Discovery and Development for Rare Diseases (SBIR)
Funds small businesses advancing therapeutics via innovative delivery platforms like implants for rare diseases requiring precise dosing.
Biotechnology Research Awards (SBIR)
Supports bioengineering innovations including implantable drug delivery for health applications intersecting with energy-related biomaterials research.
New York State Innovation Fund
Funds NY small businesses developing advanced biotech and medtech solutions, including sustainable implantable drug delivery technologies.
Advancing Informal STEM Learning (AISL)
Funds projects to advance capacity in STEM learning, including university-led curriculum design for AI-native projects that promote responsible AI education across disciplines.
Innovations in Graduate Education (IGE)
Supports development of innovative models for STEM graduate education, adaptable for AI curriculum design to prepare students for AI-native project leadership.
Research Experiences for Undergraduates (REU) Sites
Funds university sites for undergraduate research in AI and related fields, supporting curriculum enhancements for hands-on AI-native project experiences.
NSF Scholarships in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (S-STEM)
Tracks include curriculum development for retention in AI/STEM fields, enabling universities to design scholarships paired with AI-native project curricula.
DARPA NOMARS: Novel Munitions for Autonomous Rendezvous and Strike
Seeks innovative bio-inspired propulsion and design technologies for munitions, including biomimetic systems for autonomous industrial-scale applications.
Improving Undergraduate STEM Education: Education and Human Resources (IUSE)
Directly funds professional development and curriculum redesign for AI and computing education at universities to foster AI-native project capabilities.
CyberCorps Scholarship for Service (SFS)
Supports cybersecurity and AI-related STEM education with scholarships and curriculum for AI-native projects addressing national security needs.
Broadening Participation in America's Technology Workforce (BATW)
Funds capacity-building for underrepresented groups in tech fields, including AI curriculum design for native project integration at universities.
Engaging Students in Computing Research (ESCR)
Supports computing education research and curriculum development for AI-native projects to engage undergraduates in innovative AI applications.
K-12 AI Infrastructure Program
Funds development of openly shared datasets, models, benchmarks, and digital public goods for safe, effective, and equitable AI tools in K-12 education, aligning with AI-native design education projects.
EMEA Youth & Wellbeing Grant
Funds NGOs and researchers advancing youth safety and wellbeing in the age of AI, potentially including AI-native design education for youth.
ITEEA Awards and Scholarships
Supports advancement of STEM through technology and engineering education programs fostering technological literacy, ideal for AI-native design projects.
Innovation in Design, Control, and Optimization Technologies
BAA for transformative engineering design technologies for defense applications.
Exhibitus Scholarship for Students of Design
Supports students pursuing degrees in architectural design, graphic design, interior design, motion media design, or industrial design.
Engineering Research Centers
Supports major research centers focused on engineering innovations including design and advanced manufacturing at universities. Centers involve interdisciplinary teams and education components.
Civil, Mechanical and Manufacturing Innovation
Funds fundamental research in mechanical systems, manufacturing processes, and design engineering to advance innovation. Open to university researchers.
Design of Engineering Infrastructure
Supports research on the design, construction, and resilience of civil engineering infrastructure. Targets university faculty and researchers.
Manufacturing Engineering Education Program
Provides grants to universities for undergraduate design engineering education programs emphasizing manufacturing technologies and design.
Faculty Early Career Development Program
Supports early-career faculty at universities in engineering research including design methodologies and innovation.
Industry-University Cooperative Research Centers
Funds university-industry partnerships for applied research in engineering design and manufacturing technologies.
Small Business Technology Transfer Program
Universities collaborate with small businesses on engineering design and technology transfer research projects.
Smart and Connected Communities
Supports university research integrating engineering design with smart infrastructure and urban systems.
Structural Engineers Foundation Research Grant
Provides grants for graduate research in structural engineering design at universities.
FirstLight Sustains
Competitive grant program supporting climate action, education, community building, and sustainability projects including environmental restoration and placemaking in communities near FirstLight facilities in Massachusetts, Connecticut, and Pennsylvania.
Climate Smart Communities Initiative
Grants and technical assistance for community-based climate resilience projects in vulnerable areas, prioritizing historically disinvested populations at risk from climate impacts.
EPA FY26 Multipurpose Brownfield Grants
Funding to turn vacant brownfield properties into community assets through assessment, cleanup, and multipurpose revitalization promoting economic development and sustainability.
Urban Greening Grants
Competitive grants from Proposition 4 for urban greening projects mitigating urban heat island effects, extreme heat, and rising temperatures through green spaces.
Oak Riparian Land Protection Program
Grants for new urban green spaces and improvements to existing parks, supporting climate resilience through land protection and greening in California.
2026 Downtown Revitalization Program
Grants for revitalizing downtown areas, enhancing built environments through construction, community development, and economic improvements.
NVIDIA Academic Grant Program
Supports full-time faculty at accredited institutions using NVIDIA technology in simulation and modeling, data science, robotics, and edge AI, which aligns with computational aspects of design engineering.
Engineering Design
Supports fundamental research on engineering design theory, methods, and tools for complex engineered systems.
Design of Manufacturing Machines, Systems, and Processes
Funds research on design, analysis, and control of manufacturing systems with engineering design focus.
Engineering for Sustainable Critical Resource Recovery
Supports engineering design innovations for sustainable recovery of critical resources like rare earth elements.
Cyber-Physical Systems
Funds interdisciplinary research integrating cyber and physical components, including design engineering of smart systems.
Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Phase I - Manufacturing
Supports innovative manufacturing technologies involving design engineering for small businesses.
Secure and Trustworthy Cyberspace (SaTC)
Funds research on secure systems design, relevant to engineering design with cybersecurity integration.
Advancing Design and Manufacturing Technologies for Clean Energy
Supports high-risk engineering design innovations to reduce costs of clean energy manufacturing.
Ray C. Anderson Foundation Biomimicry Initiative Grant Program
Provides grants for projects advancing biomimicry in design and manufacturing, directly targeting biomimetic industrial design systems.
NSF 25-593: Materials Research Science and Engineering Centers
Supports centers developing bio-inspired materials for engineering designs, relevant to biomimetic industrial systems.
DARPA OFFSET: Offensive Swarm-Enabled Tactics Program Follow-on
Explores bio-inspired swarm designs and autonomy, applicable to biomimetic industrial systems for scalable manufacturing.
Gordon and Betty Moore Foundation Engineering Research Program
Funds innovative engineering research, including biomimetic designs inspired by biological systems for industrial applications.
Biomaterials Program
Supports fundamental research and engineering of biomaterials inspired by biological systems, including structural designs mimicking natural materials for advanced applications.