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The NSF Foundational Research in Robotics (FRR) program, jointly led by the CISE and ENG Directorates under solicitation PD 20-144Y, supports foundational advances in robotics research across the full interdisciplinary range of engineering and computer science challenges.
The program focuses on robotic systems exhibiting significant levels of both computational capability and physical complexity, defined as intelligence embodied in an engineered construct with the ability to process information, sense, plan, and move within or substantially alter its working environment.
Research must clearly articulate a focus on a robot or class of robots, aim to endow robots with new and useful capabilities or significantly enhance existing ones, and address fundamental gaps in robotics.
The program encourages meaningful experimental validation on physical platforms and supports research spanning perception, planning, learning, control, human-robot interaction, multi-robot systems, manipulation, locomotion, and autonomous navigation. Full proposals are accepted on a rolling basis year-round, making this one of the most accessible federal robotics funding programs.
The FRR program is distinct from NSF's National Robotics Initiative 3. 0 (NRI 3. 0) in that FRR focuses on foundational single-investigator or small-team research rather than large integrative projects.
Potential investigators are strongly encouraged to discuss projects with FRR Program Officers before submission. A joint NSF-USDA Dear Colleague Letter also encourages FRR proposals addressing agricultural robotics applications.
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Search similar grants →Based on current listing details, eligibility includes: Open to U.S. academic institutions, nonprofit research organizations, and other entities eligible for NSF funding. Principal investigators at all career stages are welcome. Proposals must focus on foundational robotics research with clear intellectual contributions addressing fundamental gaps. Applicants should confirm final requirements in the official notice before submission.
Current published award information indicates $250,000 to $1,500,000 per award. Special proposal types including EAGER, RAPID, and RAISE may have different funding levels and can be submitted at any time with prior consultation with program officers. 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.
EPSCoR Research Infrastructure Improvement Program: Focused EPSCoR Collaborations Program (FEC) is sponsored by U.S. National Science Foundation. The FEC program builds interjurisdictional collaborative teams of EPSCoR investigators in STEM focus areas. Projects are investigator-driven and must include researchers from at least two EPSCoR eligible jurisdictions with complementary expertise to address challenges. The program aims to drive discovery and build sustainable STEM capacity. Tennessee is an EPSCoR-eligible jurisdiction.
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.
Innovations in Graduate Education (IGE) Program is sponsored by National Science Foundation. The IGE program encourages the development and implementation of bold, new, and potentially transformative approaches to STEM graduate education training. It seeks proposals that explore ways for graduate students to develop skills, knowledge, and competencies needed for a range of STEM careers.
The Department of Defense FY2026 Defense University Research Instrumentation Program (DURIP) provides funding for U.S. universities to acquire research equipment and instrumentation in areas important to national defense, including AI and machine learning hardware. The program is administered jointly by the Army Research Office (ARO), Office of Naval Research (ONR), and Air Force Office of Scientific Research (AFOSR), with approximately $34 million available and 95 awards anticipated. DURIP funds the acquisition of specialized computing hardware for AI/ML research (GPU clusters, TPUs, neuromorphic processors), robotics and autonomous systems testbeds, sensor arrays and data collection systems for machine learning training, high-performance computing infrastructure for defense-relevant AI research, and laboratory equipment for human-AI interaction studies. The program specifically supports equipment that enhances research-related education in DoD-priority disciplines. While general-purpose computing is not eligible, computing equipment directly supporting DoD-relevant AI research programs qualifies. No cost sharing is required.
FTA Section 5310 Enhanced Mobility of Seniors and Individuals with Disabilities Program is a grant from the Federal Transit Administration administered by Caltrans that funds transportation projects designed to remove barriers and expand mobility options for seniors and individuals with disabilities in California. Eligible activities include capital purchases such as ADA-accessible vehicles, mobility management programs, and operating expenses for transportation alternatives that exceed ADA requirements or improve access to fixed-route transit. Caltrans administers the Small Urban and Rural apportionment and 14 Large Urbanized Areas in California. Eligible applicants include local transit operators, nonprofits, and government agencies serving seniors and individuals with disabilities.