Opportunity Information: Apply for 21 528
The National Science Foundation (NSF) Campus Cyberinfrastructure (CC) program (Funding Opportunity No. 21-528) is a discretionary grant opportunity focused on strengthening and modernizing campus-level networking and cyberinfrastructure in ways that directly support research and scientific discovery. The intent is not simply to buy equipment or upgrade networks in isolation, but to fund coordinated, campus-wide improvements that are driven by clear science and research needs. Projects are expected to enhance how a campus designs, integrates, operates, and evolves its cyberinfrastructure so that researchers can better participate in distributed, data-intensive, and collaborative science projects that may span multiple institutions and national or regional research networks.
A central theme of the program is that proposed work should be motivated by science-driven requirements. In practice, that means applicants should ground their plans in the concrete needs of research communities on their campuses, such as moving large datasets efficiently, enabling high-performance computing workflows, supporting advanced instruments and sensors, improving research data management, or strengthening secure and reliable access to shared resources. The program is also interested in innovation and engineering for science applications, which can include improvements in network architecture, performance engineering, systems integration, automation, monitoring, and operational practices that raise the overall capability and resilience of campus research cyberinfrastructure.
In addition to infrastructure and technical integration, the CC program explicitly includes learning and workforce development (LWD) in cyberinfrastructure. This signals that NSF expects campuses to cultivate the people and skills needed to design, run, and sustain modern research cyberinfrastructure. Competitive proposals commonly emphasize training and professional development opportunities for students, staff, and researchers, along with activities that broaden participation and build long-term institutional capacity rather than delivering a one-time technical upgrade.
This opportunity is administered by NSF under the Science and Technology and other Research and Development activity category (CFDA 47.070). The award ceiling listed is $1,000,000, and NSF anticipated making about 46 awards under this solicitation. The original closing date for proposals was March 1, 2021, and the solicitation was created on November 17, 2020. Eligibility is listed as "Others" with additional clarification referenced in the full solicitation; in general, applicants should confirm institutional eligibility and any specific constraints by reviewing the detailed eligibility section in the program text.
Overall, the CC program supports campus cyberinfrastructure efforts that are coordinated across the institution, clearly justified by research needs, and designed to improve both the technical environment and the human capacity required to support advanced scientific computing and networking.Apply for 21 528
- The National Science Foundation in the science and technology and other research and development sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Campus Cyberinfrastructure" and is now available to receive applicants.
- Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 47.070.
- This funding opportunity was created on Nov 17, 2020.
- Applicants must submit their applications by Mar 01, 2021. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
- Each selected applicant is eligible to receive up to $1,000,000.00 in funding.
- The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 46 candidate(s).
- Eligible applicants include: Others (see text field entitled Additional Information on Eligibility for clarification).
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NSF Campus Cyberinfrastructure (CC) Program (Funding Opportunity No. 21-528) - FAQs
1) What is the NSF Campus Cyberinfrastructure (CC) program?
The NSF Campus Cyberinfrastructure (CC) program is a discretionary grant opportunity intended to strengthen and modernize campus-level networking and cyberinfrastructure in ways that directly support research and scientific discovery.
2) What is the main purpose of this funding opportunity?
The purpose is to fund coordinated, campus-wide improvements to cyberinfrastructure that are driven by clear science and research needs. The program emphasizes improving how a campus designs, integrates, operates, and evolves its cyberinfrastructure so researchers can better participate in distributed, data-intensive, and collaborative science.
3) Is the program meant to fund simple network upgrades or equipment purchases?
No. The intent is not simply to buy equipment or upgrade networks in isolation. Projects are expected to be coordinated and institution-wide, with improvements tied directly to research requirements and scientific outcomes.
4) What does NSF mean by "science-driven requirements" in this program?
"Science-driven requirements" means proposals should be grounded in concrete, clearly described research needs on the applicant's campus. Plans should connect cyberinfrastructure improvements to how researchers actually conduct science and what capabilities they need to do it better.
5) What are examples of research needs that could motivate a CC proposal?
Examples mentioned include moving large datasets efficiently, enabling high-performance computing workflows, supporting advanced instruments and sensors, improving research data management, and strengthening secure and reliable access to shared resources.
6) What kinds of technical activities and improvements does the program emphasize?
The program highlights innovation and engineering for science applications, which can include improvements in network architecture, performance engineering, systems integration, automation, monitoring, and operational practices that increase the capability and resilience of campus research cyberinfrastructure.
7) How does this program relate to multi-institution or distributed research?
The CC program is aimed at enabling researchers to participate more effectively in collaborative projects that span multiple institutions and that may rely on national or regional research networks, especially for distributed and data-intensive science.
8) What does "coordinated, campus-wide improvements" imply for a project?
It implies the project should be organized across the institution rather than focused on isolated upgrades. The improvements should address how the campus cyberinfrastructure is designed, integrated, operated, and evolved to better support research communities.
9) Does the CC program include workforce or training components?
Yes. The solicitation explicitly includes learning and workforce development (LWD) in cyberinfrastructure, signaling that NSF expects campuses to build the skills and people needed to design, run, and sustain modern research cyberinfrastructure.
10) Who are the intended beneficiaries of learning and workforce development (LWD) activities?
The information provided points to training and professional development for students, staff, and researchers as common and competitive elements of proposals.
11) What does NSF appear to value in learning and workforce development activities?
Based on the description, competitive proposals commonly emphasize training and professional development, activities that broaden participation, and efforts that build long-term institutional capacity rather than delivering only a one-time technical upgrade.
12) What is the maximum award amount (award ceiling) for this opportunity?
The listed award ceiling is $1,000,000.
13) How many awards did NSF anticipate making under this solicitation?
NSF anticipated making about 46 awards under this solicitation.
14) What is the CFDA number and activity category associated with this opportunity?
The opportunity is administered by NSF under the Science and Technology and other Research and Development activity category, CFDA 47.070.
15) What is the funding opportunity number?
The funding opportunity number is 21-528.
16) When was the solicitation created?
The solicitation was created on November 17, 2020.
17) What was the original closing date for proposals?
The original closing date was March 1, 2021.
18) Who is eligible to apply?
Eligibility is listed as "Others," with additional clarification referenced in the full solicitation. Applicants are expected to confirm institutional eligibility and any specific constraints by reviewing the detailed eligibility section in the program text.
19) What is the overall theme or takeaway for strong proposals?
Overall, the program supports campus cyberinfrastructure efforts that are coordinated across the institution, clearly justified by research needs, and designed to improve both the technical environment and the human capacity required to support advanced scientific computing and networking.
20) What should applicants do if they are unsure about eligibility constraints?
They should review the detailed eligibility section in the full solicitation to confirm institutional eligibility and any specific constraints.
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