Expeditions in Computing (Expeditions)

Source-based overview

The far-reaching impact and rate of innovation in the computer and information science and engineering fields has been remarkable, generating economic prosperity, and enhancing the quality of life for people. More than a decade ago, the NSF Directorate for Computer and Information Science and Engineering (NSF CISE) established the NSF Expeditions program to provide the NSF CISE research community with the opportunity to pursue ambitious, foundational research agendas that promise to define the future of computing and information. Investigators are strongly encouraged to come together within or across departments or institutions to identify compelling, transformative research agendas that look ahead by at least a decade and promise disruptive innovations in computer and information science and engineering for the years ahead. Expeditions may advance a range of areas including, but not limited to, fundamentally new architectures for intelligence and the hardware and compute substrates that make them possible; rigorous physical and mathematical theories of how systems learn, generalize, and can be interpreted; neuroscience-inspired approaches to learning, memory, reasoning, and behavioral steering; intelligence embodied in the physical world through general physical intelligence, advanced robotics hardware, and novel architectures and learning paradigms for embodied systems; transformative approaches to next generation communication and networking; and high-risk, high-reward areas that no single discipline could pursue alone. Now funded at levels up to $15,000,000 over seven years, NSF Expeditions projects represent some of the largest single investments made by the CISE Directorate. These awards are designed to promote the formation of large, multidisciplinary research teams to address transformative foundational computing research problems. This reflects CISE’s recognition that achieving deep and lasting breakthroughs often require advances in multiple fields or sub-fields. Awards made through this program will complement research areas supported by other CISE programs. The program responds to core recommendations in the Administration’s Fiscal Year 2028 Research and Development Budget Priorities Memorandum that calls for foundational research in the physical sciences and engineering, including computer science. NSF Expeditions also supports longer grant durations for transformative research, giving scientists the time and autonomy to pursue bold, ambitious projects whose most important results may take years to emerge. The official record contains the controlling eligibility, budget, attachment and submission requirements for opportunity 26-525.

Eligibility

Eligible applicant types listed by the agency: Others (see text field entitled "Additional Information on Eligibility" for clarification). Applicants must also satisfy every programme-specific condition in the official notice.

Funding and benefits

Award ceiling: See official notice

Expected number of awards: 4

Themes and supported activities

The far-reaching impact and rate of innovation in the computer and information science and engineering fields has been remarkable, generating economic prosperity, and enhancing the quality of life for people. More than a decade ago, the NSF Directorate for Computer and Information Science and Engineering (NSF CISE) established the NSF Expeditions program to provide the NSF CISE research community with the opportunity to pursue ambitious, foundational research agendas that promise to define the future of computing and information. Investigators are strongly encouraged to come together within or across departments or institutions to identify compelling, transformative research agendas that look ahead by at least a decade and promise disruptive innovations in computer and information science and engineering for the years ahead. Expeditions may advance a range of areas including, but not limited to, fundamentally new architectures for intelligence and the hardware and compute substrates that make them possible; rigorous physical and mathematical theories of how systems learn, generalize, and can be interpreted; neuroscience-inspired approaches to learning, memory, reasoning, and behavioral steering; intelligence embodied in the physical world through general physical intelligence, advanced robotics hardware, and novel architectures and learning paradigms for embodied systems; transformative approaches to next generation communication and networking; and high-risk, high-reward areas that no single discipline could pursue alone. Now funded at levels up to $15,000,000 over seven years, NSF Expeditions projects represent some of the largest single investments made by the CISE Directorate. These awards are designed to promote the formation of large, multidisciplinary research teams to address transformative foundational computing research problems. This reflects CISE’s recognition that achieving deep and lasting breakthroughs often require advances in multiple fields or sub-fields. Awards made through this program will complement research areas supported by other CISE programs. The program responds to core recommendations in the Administration’s Fiscal Year 2028 Research and Development Budget Priorities Memorandum that calls for foundational research in the physical sciences and engineering, including computer science. NSF Expeditions also supports longer grant durations for transformative research, giving scientists the time and autonomy to pursue bold, ambitious projects whose most important results may take years to emerge.

Opportunity number: 26-525

Deadline and timeline

Applications close 2027-07-27: Applications close 2027-07-27: Jul 27, 2027.

Applicants should confirm the exact deadline time, time zone, required documents, portal steps and any institutional approvals on the official call page before submitting.

How to apply

Open the official Grants.gov record, review the full notice and attachments, and use the application package or agency route stated there.

Before applying, check eligibility rules, budgets, attachments, page limits, partner requirements, cost-share conditions and whether the opportunity uses an expression of interest, full proposal, registration or nomination stage.