The US NSF has introduced 12 major funding opportunities to advance multidisciplinary computing research and secure open-source technologies.
On 19 August 2026, the US National Science Foundation (NSF) issued 12 Notices of Funding Opportunity (NOFO). The funding opportunities include more than US$1.5 billion for basic and use-inspired research across a range of science and engineering disciplines. This marks the latest move by the agency to consolidate its programmes into a smaller number of broad funding initiatives intended to address a range of scientific and engineering needs while also adapting its award processes and funding policies.
The NSF Expeditions in Computing programme is managed by the NSF Directorate for Computer and Information Science and Engineering to address large-scale, complex challenges requiring deeply integrated, multidisciplinary teams. Research areas include new architectures for intelligence, computing hardware, theories of learning, neuroscience-inspired computing, embodied intelligence and robotics, and next-generation communications and networking.
Projects can receive up to US$15 million per project over a duration of up to seven years. The NSF estimates awarding between two and four projects per competition, with total anticipated programme funding up to US$60 million (subject to fund availability). Preliminary proposals for this programme are required by 2 December 2026.
The PESOSE programme supports the planning, building, and securing of sustainable open source ecosystems to translate research tools, including software, hardware, machine learning models, language platforms, and data platforms, into safe, publicly accessible technologies. To achieve this, the programme plans to issue an estimated 40 to 60 total awards across three distinct tracks, offering up to US$300,000 per award for approximately 30 projects in Track 1, and up to US$1,500,000 per award for roughly 10 projects each in Track 2 and Track 3.
