Growing Convergence Research (GCR) is a grant from the National Science Foundation (NSF) that funds ambitious, intellectually diverse research that integrates across NSF directorates and divisions to address significant scientific and societal challenges.

The program supports projects that cannot be accomplished within a single discipline or NSF program and requires a convincing case that research is within NSF's purview and not already supported by other programs. Phase I awards reach up to $1,200,000, and Phase II awards up to $2,400,000, with a total program budget of up to $16,000,000 pending fund availability.

Eligible applicants are research teams making a compelling case for convergence science.

GROWING CONVERGENCE RESEARCH (GCR) | NSF - U.S. National Science Foundation GROWING CONVERGENCE RESEARCH (GCR) NSF's implementation of the revised 2 CFR NSF Financial Assistance awards (grants and cooperative agreements) made on or after October 1, 2024, will be subject to the applicable set of award conditions, dated October 1, 2024, available on the NSF website .

These terms and conditions are consistent with the revised guidance specified in the OMB Guidance for Federal Financial Assistance published in the Federal Register on April 22, 2024.

Important information for proposers All proposals must be submitted in accordance with the requirements specified in this funding opportunity and in the NSF Proposal & Award Policies & Procedures Guide (PAPPG) that is in effect for the relevant due date to which the proposal is being submitted. It is the responsibility of the proposer to ensure that the proposal meets these requirements.

Submitting a proposal prior to a specified deadline does not negate this requirement.

Updates to NSF Research Security Policies On July 10, 2025, NSF issued an Important Notice providing updates to the agency's research security policies, including a research security training requirement, Malign Foreign Talent Recruitment Program annual certification requirement, prohibition on Confucius institutes and an updated FFDR reporting and submission timeline.

Supports transitioning teams from research that is multidisciplinary to research that transcends disciplinary boundaries with novel conceptual frameworks, theories and methods. Supports transitioning teams from research that is multidisciplinary to research that transcends disciplinary boundaries with novel conceptual frameworks, theories and methods.

Convergence research is a means for solving vexing research problems, in particular, complex problems focusing on societal needs or deep scientific challenges. It entails integrating knowledge, methods, and expertise from different disciplines and developing novel paradigms that catalyze scientific discovery and innovation.

GCR identifies Convergence Research as having two primary characteristics: Research driven by a specific and compelling problem. Convergence research is generally inspired by the need to address a specific challenge or opportunity, whether it arises from deep scientific questions or pressing societal needs. Deep integration across disciplines.

As experts from different disciplines pursue common research challenges, their knowledge, theories, methods, data, research communities and languages become increasingly intermingled or integrated. New frameworks, paradigms or even disciplines can form sustained interactions across multiple communities.

A distinct characteristic of convergence research, in contrast to other forms of multidisciplinary research, is that from the inception, the convergence paradigm intentionally brings together intellectually diverse researchers and stakeholders to frame the research questions, adopt common frameworks for addressing them, and create and implement innovative scientific approaches for their solution.

This includes, when appropriate, developing new integrated theories, methods, research tools, and ways of communicating across disciplines and sectors. Research teams practicing convergence aim to develop sustainable collaborations that may not only create solutions to the specific problem studied, but also develop novel ways of investigating related research questions and open new research vistas.

This GCR solicitation targets multidisciplinary teams who are embracing convergence research as a means of developing highly innovative solutions to complex research problems. GCR proposals are expected to be bold and address scientific or technical challenges and bottlenecks which if resolved have the potential to transform scientific understanding and solve vexing problems.

Successful GCR projects are anticipated to lead to paradigm shifting approaches within disciplines, establishment of new scientific communities, or development of transformative technologies that have the potential for broad scientific or societal impact. The aim of GCR is to cultivate and grow the earliest foundations of convergent approaches for addressing a specific and compelling problem.

As such, proposals submitted to this solicitation are expected to explore novel avenues not previously investigated that are at the forefront of advancing science through deep integration. Proposers must make a convincing case that the research to be conducted is within NSF’s purview, integrates across NSF directorate or division boundaries, and is currently not supported by other NSF programs or solicitations.

The proposers must outline a five-year research plan delineated in two phases, Phase I: years 1-2, and Phase II: years 3-5. The total budget for Phase I may not exceed $1,200,000, and the total for Phase II may not exceed $2,400,000. Successful proposals will be funded initially for two years.

Each team’s progress will be evaluated at a reverse site visit near the end of year 2; this will involve preparing a progress report and making a team presentation to a panel of reviewers/site visitors.

Only teams that show exceptional progress according to the merit review and solicitation specific criteria during the first two years and that articulate plans for furthering advancements at the forefront of convergence research will be eligible for additional funding for up to three years pending availability of funds. Updates and announcements NSF-supported researchers expand storage capabilities of DNA NSF invests $3.

6M in convergent research to address societal challenges April 15, 2026 - Growing Convergence Research Lecture Series February 3, 2026 - NSF Growing Convergence Research Office Hours January 21, 2026 - NSF Growing Convergence Research Office Hours January 14, 2026 - Growing Convergence Research Lecture Series January 7, 2026 - NSF Growing Convergence Research Office Hours December 16, 2025 - NSF Growing Convergence Research Office Hours December 3, 2025 - NSF Growing Convergence Research Office Hours November 5, 2025 - NSF Growing Convergence Research Office Hours October 21, 2025 - NSF Growing Convergence Research Office Hours September 30, 2025 - NSF Growing Convergence Research Office Hours September 17, 2025 - NSF Growing Convergence Research Office Hours Additional program resources About Growing Convergence Research Web Page Awards made through this program Browse projects funded by this program Map of recent awards made through this program Directorate for Mathematical and Physical Sciences (MPS) Directorate for Social, Behavioral and Economic Sciences (SBE) Directorate for Computer and Information Science and Engineering (CISE) Directorate for Geosciences (GEO) Directorate for Engineering (ENG) Directorate for Biological Sciences (BIO) Directorate for STEM Education (EDU) Office of Integrative Activities (OD/OIA)