The U.S. National Science Foundation's cross-cutting initiatives fund activities across a range of disciplines, focusing on challenges like advancing diversity in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) and accelerating the translation of knowledge into tangible benefits to society.
Broadening Participation in STEM
NSF's Broadening Participation portfolio focuses on improving accessibility and enhancing demographic, geographic and institutional diversity in science, technology, engineering and mathematics.
Convergence Accelerator
Launched in 2019, the NSF Convergence Accelerator builds upon basic research and discovery to accelerate solutions toward societal impact.
Established Program to Stimulate Competitive Research
The NSF EPSCoR program enhances research competitiveness of targeted jurisdictions (states, territories, and a commonwealth) by strengthening STEM capacity and capability through a diverse portfolio of investments from talent development to local infrastructure.
Innovation Corps (I-Corps™)
The NSF I-Corps program expands the nation's innovation ecosystem through experiential entrepreneurial education and connects the technological, entrepreneurial and business communities accelerating discoveries from the lab to the marketplace.
Innovations in Graduate Education
The NSF IGE program seeks to pilot, test, and validate transformative, innovative approaches to graduate STEM education and career preparation, as well as encourage the broader adoption of these approaches in the STEM community.
Partnerships for Innovation
The PFI program offers NSF-funded academic and non-profit researchers the opportunity to increase the impact of their discoveries. Researchers will develop and implement a technology roadmap, form a business model and develop their technology into a prototype or proof of concept.
Regional Innovation Engines
NSF Engines catalyzes robust partnerships to positively impact the economy within a geographic region, address societal challenges, and advance national competitiveness.
Research Experiences for Undergraduates
The NSF REU program supports intensive research by undergraduate students in any area of research funded by NSF.
Research Traineeship Program
By transforming the STEM graduate education experience — blending interdisciplinary and convergence research training with comprehensive, inclusive professional development — the NSF NRT program prepares future scientists to make discoveries of national and global significance.