The U.S. National Science Foundation is an independent federal agency that supports science and engineering in all 50 states and U.S. territories. NSF was established in 1950 by Congress to promote the progress of science, advance the national health, prosperity and welfare, and secure the national defense.
The Crosscutting Activities in Materials Research (XC) grant program aims to coordinate and support interdisciplinary activities within the Division of Materials Research and across the broader National Science Foundation. This includes fostering collaboration between different research areas and supporting projects that have a broad impact across the field of materials research. The program emphasizes the integration of research disciplines to advance scientific understanding and innovation. Specific causes supported include innovative materials research with cross-disciplinary relevance.