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 Partnerships for Research Innovation in the Mathematical Sciences (PRIMES) program is designed to foster collaborations between minority-serving institutions and NSF-supported Mathematical Sciences Research Institutes. Its aim is to significantly increase the participation of groups traditionally underrepresented in the mathematical sciences by involving them more deeply in research activities at these institutes. Eligibility for PRIMES proposals is limited to minority-serving Institutions of Higher Education in the U.S. that offer degrees in Mathematical Sciences but are not classified as Doctoral Universities with "Very High Research Activity" (R1 institutions) according to the Carnegie Classification.