Computer and Network Systems (CNS): Core Programs | 18 569

Opportunity Information: Apply for 18 569

The Computer and Network Systems (CNS): Core Programs opportunity is a National Science Foundation (NSF) discretionary grant program run through the Directorate for Computer and Information Science and Engineering (CISE), specifically its Division of Computer and Network Systems (CNS). It supports research and education efforts that take a system-oriented view of computing and networking. In practical terms, this means projects are expected to focus on how computer and networked systems are designed, built, improved, validated, and used, rather than treating components in isolation. The program is interested both in creating fundamentally new computing or networking technologies and in advancing existing systems along important dimensions such as performance, reliability, scalability, security, efficiency, manageability, programmability, or usability. It also welcomes work that finds new and impactful ways to leverage existing technologies, especially when the innovation comes from system-level integration, redesign, or novel operational approaches.

NSF invites proposals under three funding and scope categories, which are intended to match the maturity, breadth, and resource needs of different research agendas. Small Projects may request up to $500,000 total and may last up to three years. Medium Projects may request from $500,001 to $1,200,000 total with durations up to four years. Large Projects may request from $1,200,001 to $3,000,000 total with durations up to five years. These tiers allow investigators to propose anything from focused efforts with limited teams and narrowly scoped prototypes, to multi-investigator or more infrastructure-heavy projects that require longer timelines, broader experimental evaluation, or extensive system-building and deployment. The solicitation notes that a fuller explanation of what NSF expects within each class is provided in the Program Description section of the original document.

From an administrative standpoint, this opportunity is listed under Funding Opportunity Number 18-569, with the funding instrument type identified as a grant and the activity category as science and technology and other research and development. The CFDA listing is 47.070, which corresponds to NSF research programs. The solicitation indicates an expected number of approximately 150 awards, signaling a substantial program footprint and a broad research portfolio rather than a narrow, niche competition. Notably, the award ceiling is shown as 0 in the source data, which typically means NSF is not declaring a single universal cap in that field and instead relies on the defined project-class ranges and standard NSF budgeting rules to govern the maximum request.

Eligibility is summarized in the source data as "Others (see text field entitled Additional Information on Eligibility for clarification)," which implies that eligibility is not limited to a single applicant type in the abbreviated listing and that the detailed solicitation language should be consulted to confirm who may apply (for example, universities, colleges, nonprofit research institutions, certain industry partners in specific roles, or other categories NSF commonly allows depending on the program). The opportunity record lists a creation date of July 6, 2018, and an original closing date of October 2, 2018, indicating the submission window for that cycle of the solicitation. Overall, the CNS Core Programs solicitation is structured to fund rigorous, system-centered computing and networking research at varying scales, with proposal size and duration aligned to small, medium, and large project ambitions.

• The National Science Foundation in the science and technology and other research and development sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Computer and Network Systems (CNS): Core Programs" 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 Jul 06, 2018.
• Applicants must submit their applications by Oct 02, 2018. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
• The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 150 candidate(s).
• Eligible applicants include: Others (see text field entitled Additional Information on Eligibility for clarification).

Apply for 18 569

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