Smart and Connected Communities
Quick Facts
- Agency
- National Science Foundation
- Funding
- $500,000 - $2,000,000
- Deadline
- Rolling (Rolling / Open)
- Status
- Active
- Eligibility
- Universities, research institutions
About This Grant
Smart and Connected Communities is sponsored by National Science Foundation. Supports university research integrating engineering design with smart infrastructure and urban systems. This program should be reviewed carefully against your organization's mission, staffing capacity, timeline, and compliance readiness before you commit resources to a full application. Strong submissions usually translate sponsor priorities into concrete objectives, clear implementation milestones, and measurable public benefit.
For planning purposes, treat rolling deadlines or periodic funding windows as your working submission target unless the sponsor publishes an updated notice. A competitive project plan should include a documented need statement, implementation approach, evaluation framework, risk controls, and a realistic budget narrative. Even when a grant allows broad program design, reviewers still expect credible evidence that the proposed work can be executed within the grant period and with appropriate accountability.
Current published award information indicates $500,000 - $2,000,000 Organizations should verify the final funding range, matching requirements, and allowability rules directly in the official opportunity materials before preparing a budget. Finance and program teams should align early so direct costs, indirect costs, staffing assumptions, procurement timelines, and reporting obligations all remain consistent throughout drafting and post-award administration.
Eligibility guidance for this opportunity is: Universities, research institutions If your organization has partnerships, subrecipients, or collaborators, define responsibilities and compliance ownership before submission. Reviewers often look for implementation credibility, so letters of commitment, prior performance evidence, and a clear governance model can materially strengthen the application narrative and reduce concerns about delivery risk.
A practical approach is to begin with a focused readiness review, then build a workback schedule from the sponsor deadline. Confirm required attachments, registration dependencies, and internal approval checkpoints early. This reduces last-minute issues and improves submission quality. For the most accurate requirements, always rely on the official notice and primary source links associated with Smart and Connected Communities.
Official Opportunity Details
Extracted from the official opportunity page/RFP to help you evaluate fit faster.
Smart and Connected Communities (S&CC) | NSF - U. S. National Science Foundation An official website of the United States government Official websites use .
gov A . gov website belongs to an official government organization in the United States. Secure .
gov websites use HTTPS. or https:// means you've safely connected to the . gov website.
Share sensitive information only on official, secure websites.
Research Experiences for Undergraduates For Early-Career Researchers Proposal & Award Policies & Procedures Guide (PAPPG) How We Make Funding Decisions Request a Change to Your Award Proposal & Award Policies & Procedures Guide (PAPPG) NSF Public Access Repository Who to Contact With Questions Facilities and Infrastructure Updates on NSF Priorities Our Directorates & Offices Biological Sciences (BIO) Computer & Information Science & Engineering (CISE) Integrative Activities (OIA) International Science & Engineering (OISE) Mathematical & Physical Sciences (MPS) Social, Behavioral & Economic Sciences (SBE) Technology, Innovation & Partnerships (TIP) National Center for Science & Engineering Statistics (NCSES) National Science Board (NSB) Smart and Connected Communities (S&CC) Smart and Connected Communities (S&CC) Archived funding opportunity This document has been archived.
See NSF 25-543 for the latest version. 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 interdisciplinary, high-risk research that integrates intelligent technologies with natural and built environments to tackle critical challenges and enhance the quality of life in communities through collaboration with stakeholders.
The purpose of the NSF Smart and Connected Communities (S&CC) program solicitation is to accelerate the creation of novel intelligent technologies and concepts through high-risk/high-reward research that addresses major challenges and issues faced by communities across the US.
A “smart and connected community” is defined as a community that synergistically integrates intelligent technologies with the natural and built environments and with the functions of civic institutions and organizations.
Proposals submitted to the program should be designed to advance one or more of the following community priorities: economic opportunity and growth; safety and security; human and environmental health and wellness; accessibility of critical services and resources; and the overall quality of life for those who live, work, learn, or travel within the community.
To meet the goals of the program, researchers should work with community stakeholders to identify and define challenges the community faces, using that interaction and input to generate high-impact, use-inspired, basic research that advances science and engineering.
Updates and announcements For Smart and Connected Communities funding opportunities Access materials from the Human-Centered Data for Disaster Resilience Research webinar Program Director, CISE/CNS Program Director, CISE/CNS Program Director, CISE/CNS Program Director, CISE/CNS Program Director, CISE/CNS Program Director, CISE/IIS Program Director, CISE/IIS Program Director, ENG/CMMI Program Director, ENG/CMMI Program Director, SBE/SES Program Director, GEO/RISE Program Director, EDU/DRL February 6, 2025 - S&CC Virtual Symposium on Smart and Connected Water… January 24, 2025 - Smart & Connected Communities Webinar (NSF 25-527) November 21, 2024 - Information and Intelligent Systems (IIS) Office Hours June 16, 2023 - Human-Centered Data for Disaster Resilience Research Webinar March 16, 2022 - Smart and Connected Communities (NSF 22-529) Program Webinar January 19, 2021 - Smart and Connected Communities (NSF 21-535) Program Webinar Awards made through this program Browse projects funded by this program Map of recent awards made through this program Civic Innovation Challenge (CIVIC) Smart Health and Biomedical Research in the Era of Artificial Intelligence and Advanced Data Science (SCH) Research on Innovative Technologies for Enhanced Learning (RITEL) Confronting Hazards, Impacts and Risks for a Resilient Planet (CHIRRP) Directorate for Computer and Information Science and Engineering (CISE) Division of Computer and Network Systems (CISE/CNS) Division of Information and Intelligent Systems (CISE/IIS) Directorate for STEM Education (EDU) Directorate for Engineering (ENG) Division of Civil, Mechanical and Manufacturing Innovation (ENG/CMMI) Directorate for Social, Behavioral and Economic Sciences (SBE) Division of Behavioral and Cognitive Sciences (SBE/BCS) Division of Social and Economic Sciences (SBE/SES) Directorate for Geosciences (GEO) Program 25-527 was archived.
Share on X (formerly known as Twitter) Our Directorates & Offices Budget, Performance & Financial Reporting
Eligibility Requirements
- Universities, research institutions
Frequently Asked Questions
Who can apply for Smart and Connected Communities?
Based on current listing details, eligibility includes: Universities, research institutions Applicants should confirm final requirements in the official notice before submission.
What is the typical funding level for Smart and Connected Communities?
Current published award information indicates $500,000 - $2,000,000 Always verify allowable costs, matching requirements, and funding caps directly in the sponsor documentation.
When is the deadline for Smart and Connected Communities?
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.
Related Grants
NSF 25-519: Engineering Design (ED)
NSF 25-519: Engineering Design (ED) is sponsored by National Science Foundation. Supports fundamental research in engineering design methods, tools, and processes, including biomimetic and bio-inspired design systems for industrial applications. This program should be reviewed carefully against your organization's mission, staffing capacity, timeline, and compliance readiness before you commit resources to a full application. Strong submissions usually translate sponsor priorities into concrete objectives, clear implementation milestones, and measurable public benefit. For planning purposes, treat January 16, 2026 as your working submission target unless the sponsor publishes an updated notice. A competitive project plan should include a documented need statement, implementation approach, evaluation framework, risk controls, and a realistic budget narrative. Even when a grant allows broad program design, reviewers still expect credible evidence that the proposed work can be executed within the grant period and with appropriate accountability. Current published award information indicates $200,000 - $1,500,000 Organizations should verify the final funding range, matching requirements, and allowability rules directly in the official opportunity materials before preparing a budget. Finance and program teams should align early so direct costs, indirect costs, staffing assumptions, procurement timelines, and reporting obligations all remain consistent throughout drafting and post-award administration. Eligibility guidance for this opportunity is: Universities, colleges, nonprofits with 501(c)(3) status If your organization has partnerships, subrecipients, or collaborators, define responsibilities and compliance ownership before submission. Reviewers often look for implementation credibility, so letters of commitment, prior performance evidence, and a clear governance model can materially strengthen the application narrative and reduce concerns about delivery risk. A practical approach is to begin with a focused readiness review, then build a workback schedule from the sponsor deadline. Confirm required attachments, registration dependencies, and internal approval checkpoints early. This reduces last-minute issues and improves submission quality. For the most accurate requirements, always rely on the official notice and primary source links associated with NSF 25-519: Engineering Design (ED).
NSF 25-558: Environmental Sustainability
NSF 25-558: Environmental Sustainability is sponsored by National Science Foundation. Funds research on sustainable engineering designs, with emphasis on biomimetic approaches mimicking natural systems for industrial efficiency. This program should be reviewed carefully against your organization's mission, staffing capacity, timeline, and compliance readiness before you commit resources to a full application. Strong submissions usually translate sponsor priorities into concrete objectives, clear implementation milestones, and measurable public benefit. For planning purposes, treat February 28, 2026 as your working submission target unless the sponsor publishes an updated notice. A competitive project plan should include a documented need statement, implementation approach, evaluation framework, risk controls, and a realistic budget narrative. Even when a grant allows broad program design, reviewers still expect credible evidence that the proposed work can be executed within the grant period and with appropriate accountability. Current published award information indicates $300,000 - $1,200,000 Organizations should verify the final funding range, matching requirements, and allowability rules directly in the official opportunity materials before preparing a budget. Finance and program teams should align early so direct costs, indirect costs, staffing assumptions, procurement timelines, and reporting obligations all remain consistent throughout drafting and post-award administration. Eligibility guidance for this opportunity is: Academic institutions, nonprofits If your organization has partnerships, subrecipients, or collaborators, define responsibilities and compliance ownership before submission. Reviewers often look for implementation credibility, so letters of commitment, prior performance evidence, and a clear governance model can materially strengthen the application narrative and reduce concerns about delivery risk. A practical approach is to begin with a focused readiness review, then build a workback schedule from the sponsor deadline. Confirm required attachments, registration dependencies, and internal approval checkpoints early. This reduces last-minute issues and improves submission quality. For the most accurate requirements, always rely on the official notice and primary source links associated with NSF 25-558: Environmental Sustainability.
NSF 25-572: Biophotonics
NSF 25-572: Biophotonics is sponsored by National Science Foundation. Funds research at the intersection of photonics and biology, applicable to biomimetic optical systems and industrial design inspired by biological light manipulation. This program should be reviewed carefully against your organization's mission, staffing capacity, timeline, and compliance readiness before you commit resources to a full application. Strong submissions usually translate sponsor priorities into concrete objectives, clear implementation milestones, and measurable public benefit. For planning purposes, treat March 5, 2026 as your working submission target unless the sponsor publishes an updated notice. A competitive project plan should include a documented need statement, implementation approach, evaluation framework, risk controls, and a realistic budget narrative. Even when a grant allows broad program design, reviewers still expect credible evidence that the proposed work can be executed within the grant period and with appropriate accountability. Current published award information indicates $500,000 - $2,000,000 Organizations should verify the final funding range, matching requirements, and allowability rules directly in the official opportunity materials before preparing a budget. Finance and program teams should align early so direct costs, indirect costs, staffing assumptions, procurement timelines, and reporting obligations all remain consistent throughout drafting and post-award administration. Eligibility guidance for this opportunity is: U.S. universities, colleges, nonprofits If your organization has partnerships, subrecipients, or collaborators, define responsibilities and compliance ownership before submission. Reviewers often look for implementation credibility, so letters of commitment, prior performance evidence, and a clear governance model can materially strengthen the application narrative and reduce concerns about delivery risk. A practical approach is to begin with a focused readiness review, then build a workback schedule from the sponsor deadline. Confirm required attachments, registration dependencies, and internal approval checkpoints early. This reduces last-minute issues and improves submission quality. For the most accurate requirements, always rely on the official notice and primary source links associated with NSF 25-572: Biophotonics.