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NSF Engineering Research Centers is a grant program from the National Science Foundation (NSF) that funds interdisciplinary, multi-institutional research centers at universities pursuing high-risk, high-payoff research across technology fields including advanced manufacturing, clean energy, biotechnology, microelectronics, and health. NSF funds each center for up to 10 years and currently supports 16 active ERCs.
Centers must include engineering workforce development, diversity and inclusion initiatives, and a strategy for sustaining innovation beyond the grant period. Academic institutions and their partners are eligible to apply through the Gen-4 ERC solicitation. Since 1985, the program has supported 83 ERCs and produced over 14,900 degrees for ERC students.
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Engineering Research Centers - Directorate for Engineering (ENG) | NSF - U.S. National Science Foundation Engineering Research Centers View image credit & caption Updates to reflect the new organizational structure of ENG are in progress. Some information on this page may no longer be current.
Directorate for Engineering (ENG) Share on X (formerly known as Twitter) The U.S. National Science Foundation Engineering Research Center (ERC) program supports a network of university-based, interdisciplinary research centers across the U.S. Through strategic university-industry partnerships, ERCs pursue high-risk, high-payoff research across almost the entire spectrum of technology fields — including advanced manufacturing, biotechnology, clean energy and sustainability, microelectronics and information technology.
Since 1985, NSF has funded a total of 83 ERCs across the United States that have led to more than: 1,400 invention licenses. 14,900 total bachelor's, master's and doctoral degrees to ERC students. ERCs are interdisciplinary, multi-institutional centers designed to advance fundamental knowledge and technology while training a diverse, skilled engineering workforce.
Each ERC has important components that go beyond the research project, including: Engineering workforce development at all participant stages. A culture of diversity and inclusion where all participants gain mutual benefit. Value creation within an innovation ecosystem that will outlast the lifetime of the ERC.
NSF funds each ERC for up to 10 years. NSF currently supports 16 ERCs in advanced manufacturing, energy and the environment, health and microelectronics. NSF ERC for Cell Manufacturing Technologies (CMaT) Established in 2017, CMaT's vision is to enable robust, scalable, low-cost biomanufacturing of high-quality therapeutic cells to bring affordable, curative therapies against incurable chronic diseases to everyone.
University of Puerto Rico-Mayagüez University of Wisconsin-Madison NSF ERC for Hybrid Autonomous Manufacturing Moving from Evolution to Revolution (ERC-HAMMER) Established in 2022, the HAMMER ERC will accelerate the development and deployment of intelligent, autonomous manufacturing systems, enabling mass customization in local production facilities.
The Ohio State University (lead) Case Western Reserve University North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University University of Tennessee, Knoxville NSF Engineering Research Center for Transformation of American Rubber through Domestic Innovation for Supply Security (NSF TARDISS ERC) Established in 2024, the NSF TARDISS ERC will create bridges between engineering, biology, and agriculture to revolutionize and on-shore alternative natural rubber production from U.S. crops.
The Ohio State University (lead) North Carolina State University University of California, Merced Energy, sustainability and infrastructure NSF ERC for Advancing Sustainable and Distributed Fertilizer Production (CASFER) Established in 2022, the CASFER ERC will enable resilient and sustainable food production by developing next-generation, modular, distributed and efficient technology for capturing, recycling and producing decarbonized nitrogen-based fertilizers.
Texas Tech University (lead) Case Western Reserve University Georgia Institute of Technology Massachusetts Institute of Technology NSF Engineering Research Center for Advancing Self-Sufficiency through Powered Infrastructure for Roadway Electrification (ASPIRE) Established in 2020, NSF ASPIRE seeks to revolutionize transportation by developing electrified roadways and intelligent charging networks to eliminate EV range and charging barriers, reduce transportation costs, and strengthen the electric grid and the economy.
Utah State University (lead) The University of Texas at El Paso NSF Engineering Research Center for Carbon Utilization Redesign for Biomanufacturing (CURB) Established in 2024, NSF CURB will create bio-manufacturing systems that use CO2 as a feedstock for a broad range of products much more efficiently than current state-of-the-art engineered and natural systems. Washington University in St.
Louis (lead) Prairie View A&M University NSF Engineering Research Center for Environmentally Applied Refrigerant Technology Hub (NSF EARTH) Established in 2024, NSF EARTH will create a transformative, sustainable refrigerant life cycle to increase the energy efficiency of heating, ventilation and cooling.
University of Kansas (lead) University of South Dakota NSF ERC for Innovative and Strategic Transformation of Alkane Resources (CISTAR) Established in 2017, CISTAR's vision is to create a transformative engineered system to convert light hydrocarbons from shale resources to chemicals and transportation fuels in smaller, modular, local and highly networked processing plants.
The University of Texas at Austin Health care and biotechnology NSF ERC for Advanced Technologies for Preservation of Biological Systems (ATP-Bio) Established in 2020, ATP-Bio aims to stop biological time by designing methods to cryogenically cool, hold and re-warm living materials without harm, extending the ability to bank and transport them.
University of Minnesota (lead) University of California, Berkeley University of California, Riverside Massachusetts General Hospital NSF ERC for Cellular Metamaterials (CELL-MET) Established in 2017, CELL-MET aims to transform cardiovascular care by combining breakthroughs in nanotechnology and manufacturing with tissue engineering and regenerative medicine, while also developing expertise in education, diversity, administration and outreach.
Florida International University NSF ERC for Precise Advanced Technologies and Health Systems for Under-resourced Populations (PATHS-UP) Established in 2017, PATHS-UP is developing revolutionary, cost-effective technologies and systems to improve healthcare for under-resourced populations.
Texas A&M University (lead) Florida International University NSF ERC for Precision Microbiome Engineering (PreMiEr) Established in 2022, This ERC will foster safer indoor environments by developing technologies that prevent the spread of disease and promote the proliferation of beneficial microorganisms.
North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University North Carolina State University University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill University of North Carolina at Charlotte Microelectronics, sensing and IT NSF Engineering Research Center for Human AugmentatioN via Dexterity (NSF HAND) Established in 2024, HAND will revolutionize the ability of robots to augment human labor by transforming dexterous robot hands into versatile, easy-to-integrate tools.
Northwestern University (lead) Carnegie Mellon University NSF ERC for the Internet of Things for Precision Agriculture (IoT4Ag) Established in 2020, IoT4Ag seeks to ensure food, energy and water security with new systems to increase crop production while minimizing energy and water use and environmental impacts of agricultural practices.
University of Pennsylvania (lead) University of California, Merced NSF ERC for Quantum Networks (CQN) Established in 2020, CQN aims to lay the foundations for a socially responsible quantum Internet by developing key subsystem technologies and new functional building blocks that connect quantum processors locally and across the globe.
University of Arizona (lead) Massachusetts Institute of Technology NSF ERC for Smart Streetscapes (CS3) Established in 2022, CS3 is forging livable, safe and inclusive communities through real-time, hyperlocal technologies for streets and their surroundings.
Columbia University (lead) Florida Atlantic University University of Central Florida Gen-4 Engineering Research Centers (ERC) : Supports high-risk, high-payoff research focused on advancing engineered systems technology and education through multidisciplinary, cross-sector partnerships.
Planning Grants for Engineering Research Centers : Facilitates the formation and enhancement of convergent research collaborations in the engineering community, resulting in center-scale, high-risk, high-payoff research. Engineering Resource Centers Association FY 2020 Engineering Research Centers Program Report (PDF, 14. 8 MB) ERC 2023 Brochure (PDF, 3.
8 MB) Gen-4 Engineering Research Centers solicitation
Based on current listing details, eligibility includes: Academic institutions and their partners. Applicants should confirm final requirements in the official notice before submission.
Current published award information indicates Varies Always verify allowable costs, matching requirements, and funding caps directly in the sponsor documentation.
The current target date is rolling deadlines or periodic funding windows. Build your timeline backwards from this date to cover registrations, approvals, attachments, and final submission checks.
Federal grant success rates typically range from 10-30%, varying by agency and program. Build a strong proposal with clear objectives, measurable outcomes, and a well-justified budget to improve your chances.
Requirements vary by sponsor, but typically include a project narrative, budget justification, organizational capability statement, and key personnel CVs. Check the official notice for the complete list of required attachments.
Yes — AI tools like Granted can help research funders, draft proposal sections, and check compliance. However, always review and customize AI-generated content to reflect your organization's unique strengths and the specific requirements of the solicitation.
Review timelines vary by funder. Federal agencies typically take 3-6 months from submission to award notification. Foundation grants may be faster, often 1-3 months. Check the program's timeline in the official solicitation for specific dates.
Many federal programs offer multi-year funding or allow competitive renewals. Check the official solicitation for continuation and renewal policies. Non-competing continuation applications are common for multi-year awards.
Improving Undergraduate STEM Education: Education & Human Resources (IUSE: EHR) Program is sponsored by National Science Foundation (NSF). This program promotes novel, creative, and transformative approaches to generating and using new knowledge about STEM teaching and learning to improve STEM education for undergraduate students. It supports projects that bring recent advances in STEM knowledge into undergraduate education, adapt, improve, and incorporate evidence-based practices, and lay the groundwork for institutional improvement in STEM education. Professional development for instructors to ensure adoption of new and effective pedagogical techniques is a potential topic of interest.
Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) and Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR) Programs is sponsored by National Science Foundation (NSF). The NSF SBIR/STTR programs provide non-dilutive funds for use-inspired research and development (R&D) of unproven, leading-edge technology innovations that address societal challenges. These programs specifically foster and encourage participation by socially and economically disadvantaged and women-owned small businesses.
Agricultural Technologies (AG) - NSF SBIR/STTR is sponsored by National Science Foundation (NSF). The Agricultural Technologies topic supports innovations enabling farm production ecosystems that support the proper utilization of natural resources. Such technologies may encompass systems-level and multidisciplinary solutions to enable complex agricultural practices that support increased biodiversity balanced with yield production. Sub-topics include food waste mitigation, resilient supply & distribution, and other agricultural technologies.
Environmental Engineering is sponsored by U.S. National Science Foundation. The Environmental Engineering program supports transformative research that applies scientific and engineering principles to minimize discharges from human activities and to remove or reduce contaminants from polluted air, water, and soils. This includes enhancing high-quality water supplies through innovative biological, chemical, and physical treatment processes. Nanobubble technology for water treatment would align with these objectives.
Engineering of Biomedical Systems (EBMS) Program is sponsored by U.S. National Science Foundation (NSF). The EBMS program supports fundamental and transformative research at the interface of engineering and biomedical sciences to solve biomedical problems. Projects should focus on high-impact, transformative methods and technologies, including the development of validated models (living or computational) of normal and pathological tissues and organ systems, and advanced biomanufacturing of three-dimensional tissues and organs.