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Full proposal due July 24, 2026 by 5pm submitting organization local time.
NSF Trailblazer Engineering Impact Award (TRAILBLAZER) is sponsored by NSF. Aims to catalyze development of new industries or capabilities in areas including robotics, addressing national needs or grand challenges.
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NSF Trailblazer Engineering Impact Award (TRAILBLAZER) | NSF - U.S. National Science Foundation NSF Trailblazer Engineering Impact Award (TRAILBLAZER) Important information for proposers and award recipients All proposals must be submitted in accordance with the requirements specified in this funding opportunity and in the Proposal & Award Policies & Procedures Guide (PAPPG) and its supplements .
All NSF grants and cooperative agreements are subject to the applicable set of NSF award terms and conditions . NSF has updated its research security policies for NSF funded projects. Supports individual investigators in pursuing bold, innovative research that addresses national needs, strengthens U.S. leadership and fosters advances in areas such as AI, quantum engineering, bioengineering, robotics and nuclear engineering.
Supports individual investigators in pursuing bold, innovative research that addresses national needs, strengthens U.S. leadership and fosters advances in areas such as AI, quantum engineering, bioengineering, robotics and nuclear engineering.
The NSF Trailblazer Engineering Impact Award (TRAILBLAZER) program supports individual investigators who propose novel research projects with the potential to innovatively and creatively address new areas of fundamental or applied research, catalyze development of new industries or capabilities that increase the leadership position for the country, and/or make significant progress towards addressing a national need or grand challenge, particularly in current priority areas including, but not limited to, artificial intelligence (AI), bioengineering, quantum engineering, robotics, and nuclear engineering.
TRAILBLAZER will support engineers and scientists who leverage their distinctive track record of innovation and creativity to pursue new research directions that are distinct from their previous or current research areas. All funded TRAILBLAZER projects will form an NSF TRAILBLAZER cohort, and principal investigators will be expected to participate in an annual meeting.
TRAILBLAZER investigators may also be invited to additional activities. INFORMATIONAL WEBINAR: The Emerging Frontiers and Multidisciplinary Activities (EFMA) Office will host an informational webinar in early calendar year 2026 to discuss the TRAILBLAZER program and answer questions about the FY 2026 TRAILBLAZER solicitation. Details on how to join this webinar will be posted on the Directorate for Engineering and EFMA Websites.
Updates and announcements NSF TRAILBLAZER FAQ now available NSF TRAILBLAZER webinar materials now available U.S. National Science Foundation Directorate for Engineering Office of Emerging Frontiers and Multidisciplinary Activities January 13, 2026 - NSF TRAILBLAZER Informational Webinar Awards made through this program Browse projects funded by this program Map of recent awards made through this program Directorate for Engineering (ENG) Office of Emerging Frontiers and Multidisciplinary Activities (ENG/EFMA)
Key questions and narrative sections extracted from the solicitation.
Project Summary (1 page): Overview with PI research expertise and capacity to pivot to new area; separate Intellectual Merit statement summarizing transformative research potential; separate Broader Impacts statement describing long-term impact on national needs/grand challenges and workforce development
Investigator Expertise (up to 1 page): Describe track record of research excellence, creativity, innovation, and collaboration across disciplines
Vision and Goals (up to 3 pages): Describe departure into new research areas distinct from prior work, how PI leverages capacity through creative approaches, research plan and expected outcomes, and ethical/legal/social implications
TRAILBLAZER Potential: Explain departure from current research, why this project requires TRAILBLAZER funding rather than a core program, and how it represents a significant leap or paradigm shift
TRAILBLAZER Transformative Impact: Address potential for significant progress on national needs or grand challenges, advancing US leadership, and convergence of domains
Research Approach and Research Plan: Describe vision, goals, approaches, methodologies, and expected outcomes (detailed experimental plans not required)
Management Plan: Describe team assembly and leadership, expertise, development, communication, IP management, and timeline
Broader Impacts: Describe fundamental knowledge shift, long-term national impact potential, and education/outreach/community engagement integration
Mandatory Workforce Development Plan: Address promoting emerging researchers in engineering, hands-on research experiences, sustained structured mentoring, and inclusive non-preferential efforts
Scoring criteria used to review proposals for this grant.
Based on current listing details, eligibility includes: Universities, research institutions, and other organizations conducting research in engineering. 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 July 24, 2026. 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.
Small Business Innovation Research / Small Business Technology Transfer Phase I Programs (SBIR/STTR Phase I) is sponsored by National Science Foundation (NSF). America's Seed Fund, powered by NSF, supports startups with research and development funding for unproven, leading-edge technology innovations that address societal challenges. This program broadly funds scientific and engineering disciplines. Specific sub-topics under 'Agricultural Technologies' include Food Waste Mitigation, Resilient Supply & Distribution, and 'Chemical Technologies' includes Food Processing, Chemicals and Agriculture, making it highly relevant for food and beverage technology, especially consumer app development related to these areas.
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