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 Cyberinfrastructure for Emerging Science and Engineering Research (CESER) program seeks to catalyze new science and engineering discoveries by fostering early-stage collaborative efforts between discipline scientists/engineers and cyberinfrastructure (CI) innovators. This initiative emphasizes support for innovative approaches across the CI ecosystem, focusing on enabling transformative research areas, including those aligned with NSF priorities, national strategies, and international collaborations. CESER encourages proposals for exploratory and pilot activities that prepare the ground for future CI developments and deployments, hence driving forward the science/engineering fields. The program values integrative projects that address common needs across disciplines, leveraging existing CI resources to accelerate impacts, reduce adoption barriers, and provide holistic solutions with significant scientific/engineering outcomes. Engaging with NSF program officers before submission is essential for alignment and potential co-funding opportunities, thereby ensuring proposals meet the program's objectives.