Design showing the ECCS photonic chip, CMMI ultrasound pacemaker, EEC ATP-Bio kidney, EFMA printed artificial neurons, and CBET microbial cell factories

Directorate for Engineering (ENG)

The U.S. National Science Foundation Directorate for Engineering (NSF ENG) supports the agency's mission to inspire innovation, enrich education and expand access to research and education across all fields of engineering.

The directorate:

  • Invests in transformative engineering approaches and research infrastructure that address national challenges.
  • Expands educational opportunities and supports the creation of an engineering technological workforce.
  • Catalyzes strategic partnerships to build research capacity and strengthen the nation's innovation ecosystem.

Recent funding opportunities

Program
Next Required Due Date: November 4, 2026
Posted July 21, 2026
Program
Next Required Due Date: Proposals Accepted Anytime
Posted April 24, 2026
Program
Next Required Due Date: Proposals Accepted Anytime
Posted April 24, 2026
Program
Next Required Due Date: Proposals Accepted Anytime
Posted April 24, 2026

What we support

Tool created to conduct two biochar experiments in the same dish

Chemical, bioengineering, energy and transport systems

Supports discoveries in chemical and biochemical systems; bioengineering and engineering healthcare; managing energy, water, minerals and material resources; and fundamental transport, thermal and fluid phenomena.

Tensegrity metamaterials

Civil, mechanical and manufacturing innovation

Advances the future of manufacturing, the design of innovative materials and building technologies, infrastructure resilience and sustainability, and tools and systems for decision-making, robotics and controls.

photonic in-memory computing

Electrical, communications and computing systems

Promotes fundamental research in device and component technologies, power, controls, computation, networking, communications and quantum technologies to support integration and networking of intelligent systems.

An aerosol jet printer in Mark Hersam's Northwestern University laboratory deposits electronic inks onto a flexible polymer substrate. The printed artificial neurons can generate realistic brain-like signals that activate living neurons. The device uses flexible, low-cost electronic inks instead of rigid silicon fabrication. The approach could lead to bioelectronics that communicate directly with the brain and energy-efficient, brain-inspired computing.

Emerging frontiers and multidisciplinary activities

Targets important, cutting-edge opportunities and long-term challenges for engineering that may address national needs and supports multidisciplinary studies and facilities.

QuBBE Quantum Leap Challenge Institute

Engineering education research and workforce development

Develops an innovative engineering workforce to drive future national security and economic competitiveness by supporting fundamental research into how students learn and the processes by which individuals become engineers and technicians.

a researcher with the reactor system

Engineering Research Centers (ERC)

For more than 40 years, the ERC program has established strategic university-industry partnerships that pursue high-risk, high-payoff fundamental research across technology fields, including biotechnology, manufacturing, energy, microelectronics and quantum technologies.