Funding Opportunity: NSF Convergence Accelerator

The NSF Convergence Accelerator has issued a new funding opportunity for three new research track topics aligned to the 2022 cohort. Researchers and innovators have two submission pathways to submit their proposals: Solicitation, NSF-22-583 and Broad Agency Announcement (BAA), NSFBAA-CA22-02.   

National-scale societal challenges cannot be solved by a single discipline. Instead, these challenges require convergence: the merging of innovative ideas, approaches, and technologies from a wide and diverse range of sectors and expertise.

BioPACIFIC MIP welcomes discussions related to engagement or partnership through Track I: Sustainable Materials for Global Challenges

This track will converge advances in fundamental materials science with materials design and manufacturing methods with the goal to couple their end-use and full life-cycle considerations for environmentally and economically sustainable materials and products that address global challenges. Contact us to discuss engagements at info@biopacificmip.org

Participating in the NSF Convergence Accelerator  

Selected teams begin in phase 1, participating in an accelerated 12 month planning effort, with grant funding up to $750,000.  Phase 1 teams participate in the program’s innovation curriculum designed to strengthen each team’s convergence approach and to further develop the solution concepts. At the end of phase 1, teams participate in a formal NSF pitch and proposal evaluation. Selected teams advance to phase 2 to continue developing sustainable, impactful solutions. Teams are eligible to receive up to $5 million of funding during phase 2.  

Solicitation Key Dates:  

Letter of Intent (required): May 31, 2022

Full Proposal Deadline: July 20, 2022; Full proposals are due 5 p.m. submitter’s local time

Join an Informational Webinar

Join an NSF Convergence Accelerator webinar to learn about the program and the current funding opportunity. During the webinars, participants will learn about the program’s model and fundamentals, including the program’s phased approach and innovation processes used to accelerate basic research into practice; and the solicitation opportunity and the research track focuses, required Convergence Accelerator fundamentals, and important submission information. The goal of these webinars is to bring awareness of this exciting opportunity to develop use-inspired solutions to have a positive impact on national and societal challenges.  

May 4, 2022 1 – 3 p.m. ET

May 5, 2022 3 – 5 p.m. ET

Webinar Registration:  http://nsfconvergenceaccelerator.eventbrite.com/