Announcements
NSF Major Research Instrumentation Program
June 17, 2025
The Major Research Instrumentation (MRI) Program serves to increase access to multi-user scientific and engineering instrumentation for research and research training in our Nation's institutions of higher education and not-for-profit scientific/engineering research organizations. An MRI award supports the acquisition or development of a multi-user research instrument that is, in general, too costly and/or not appropriate for support through other NSF programs. The MRI Program provides support to acquire critical research instrumentation without which advances in fundamental science and engineering research may not otherwise occur. The Program also provides support to develop next-generation research instruments that open new opportunities to advance the frontiers in science and engineering research. Additionally, an MRI award is expected to enhance research training of students who will become the next generation of instrument users, designers, and builders.
The MRI Program especially seeks broad representation of PIs in its award portfolio, including women, underrepresented minorities, and persons with disabilities. Since demographic diversity may be greater among early-career researchers the MRI program also encourages proposals with early-career PIs and proposals that benefit early-career researchers.
Development proposals (in either Track 1, Track 2, or Track 3) allow support for graduate students and postdocs. If you are considering a development proposal, please contact the relevant NSF division to discuss your ideas before submitting an internal proposal.
The MRI program requires that an MRI-eligible organization may, as a performing organization, submit or be included as a significantly funded subawardee in no more than three MRI proposals. Each performing organization is limited to a maximum of three proposals in revised “Tracks” as defined below, with no more than two submissions in Track 1 and no more than one submission in Track 2. One additional submission is permitted in the newly defined Track 3. Any MRI proposal may request support for either the acquisition or development of a research instrument. Within their submission limit, NSF strongly encourages organizations to submit proposals for innovative development projects.
- Track 1: Track 1 MRI proposals are those that request funds from NSF greater than or equal to $100,000 and less than $1,400,000.
- Track 2: Track 2 MRI proposals are those that request funds from NSF greater than or equal to $1,400,000 up to and including $4,000,000.
- Track 3: Track 3 MRI Proposals are those that request funds from NSF greater than or equal to $100,00 up to and including $4,000,000 for Helium recovery only.
Based on previous competitions, we anticipate that there will be more applicants than are allowed under the proposal requirements. Internal proposals will be used to select most meritorious proposals for submission to the NSF. Details on the internal submission timeline and required documents are below.
The program description here.
The full announcement here.
Internal submission document here.
| DEADLINES | |
|---|---|
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Internal Competition Proposal |
August 4, 2025 (by midnight) |
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Internal Notifications |
Early September 2025 |
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NSF Full Proposal |
November 14, 2025 (5:00 PM local time) |
NSF Fall 2025 MRI SUBMISSION FORM
NIH SIG and HEI Funding Opportunity
December 4, 2024
SIG S10 Official Site NIH Shared Instrumentation Grant Program (SIG) (S10)
HEI S10 Official Site NIH High-End Instrumentation Grant Program (HEI) (S10)
| DEADLINES | |
|---|---|
|
Internal Letters of Intent Due from PIs |
January 22, 2025 (11:59PM) |
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Submission statues sent to PIs from CFA |
February 3, 2025 |
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NIH Deadline (Full Proposal) |
June 3, 2025 (5:00 PM Local Time) |
Internal Letters of Support Templates S10 LOI Submission Form