Opportunity Information: Apply for 22 617
The National Science Foundation (NSF) funding opportunity titled Engineering Technologies to Advance Underwater Sciences (Funding Opportunity Number 22-617) supports an Ideas Lab, which is a highly interactive, short-duration workshop designed to push teams to form around bold, cross-disciplinary ideas. Rather than functioning like a standard grant call where applicants submit fully formed projects from the start, an Ideas Lab is structured to bring together researchers and engineers with different expertise, help them identify a shared grand challenge, and rapidly develop creative, high-impact project concepts that can turn into funded proposals.
The core goal of this Ideas Lab is to accelerate the development of new engineering technologies that make it possible to sense, communicate, localize, navigate, and map in aquatic environments in real time and with high reliability. The opportunity is intentionally broad in terms of where these technologies might operate, spanning oceans as well as inland and frozen-water systems such as lakes, rivers, and glaciers. The underlying motivation is to unlock better scientific research capabilities while also enabling economic development that is explicitly framed as sustainable and environmentally responsible. In practice, that points to solutions that can operate effectively in difficult underwater conditions while minimizing ecological disturbance and supporting responsible use of aquatic resources.
Technically, the opportunity emphasizes enabling capabilities that are notoriously hard underwater: robust communications (where radio frequency methods often fail and acoustic or optical links have tradeoffs), accurate localization and navigation (where GPS is unavailable), and high-quality mapping (where visibility, turbidity, currents, ice cover, and terrain complexity can make data collection and interpretation difficult). The solicitation frames these needs as an integrated technology challenge, suggesting that successful projects may combine advances in hardware, sensing modalities, signal processing, robotics or autonomous systems, embedded systems, and cyberinfrastructure or data workflows to achieve dependable end-to-end performance in real field conditions.
A major priority embedded in the call is broadening participation in STEM. The Ideas Lab will seek and prioritize proposals that can demonstrate measurable increases in diversity and in the participation of underrepresented minorities in STEM fields. This means the program is not only looking for strong technical ideas, but also for credible, results-oriented plans that expand who gets to contribute to and benefit from the research, such as through team composition, training pipelines, community partnerships, mentoring structures, and clearly defined participation and outcome metrics.
Organizationally, the opportunity is jointly run across several NSF units, reflecting its cross-cutting nature. On the engineering side, it involves the Division of Electrical, Communications and Cyber Systems (ECCS) and the Division of Civil, Mechanical and Manufacturing Innovation (CMMI) within the Directorate for Engineering (ENG). On the geosciences side, it includes the Division of Ocean Sciences (OCE) and the Office of Polar Programs (OPP) within the Directorate for Geosciences (GEO). It also spans biological sciences through the Division of Environmental Biology (DEB) and the Division of Biological Infrastructure (DBI) within the Directorate for Biological Sciences (BIO), and it connects to computing and data capabilities through the Office of Advanced Cyberinfrastructure (OAC) in the Directorate for Computer and Information Science and Engineering (CISE). This multi-directorate structure signals that competitive efforts are expected to bridge disciplines, potentially linking engineering technology development with ocean, polar, freshwater, or ecological science use cases and with the computing infrastructure needed to manage, transmit, and interpret data.
In terms of program logistics, this is a discretionary NSF grant opportunity in the science and technology research and development category. Eligibility is described as unrestricted (open to any type of entity), subject to any additional eligibility details contained in the full solicitation text. The opportunity was created on July 22, 2022, with an original closing date of March 1, 2023. NSF anticipated making around eight awards. The listed award ceiling is shown as 0 in the provided source data, which typically indicates that the ceiling is not specified in that field and that applicants should rely on the solicitation for budget expectations and limits.
Overall, this opportunity is best understood as NSF using the Ideas Lab model to catalyze new, field-ready underwater and under-ice technology concepts that can substantially improve real-time environmental awareness (sensing, communications, navigation, and mapping) across a wide range of aquatic settings, while also making diversity and inclusive participation a visible, evaluated, and measurable part of what "high impact" means for funded projects.Apply for 22 617
- The National Science Foundation in the science and technology and other research and development sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Engineering Technologies to Advance Underwater Sciences" and is now available to receive applicants.
- Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 47.041, 47.050, 47.070, 47.074.
- This funding opportunity was created on Jul 22, 2022.
- Applicants must submit their applications by Mar 01, 2023. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
- The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 8 candidate(s).
- Eligible applicants include: Unrestricted (i.e., open to any type of entity above), subject to any clarification in text field entitled Additional Information on Eligibility.
[Watch] Creating a grant proposal using the step-by-step wizard inside the applicant portal:
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
What is the name of this NSF funding opportunity?
The opportunity is titled Engineering Technologies to Advance Underwater Sciences and is identified as Funding Opportunity Number 22-617.
What type of funding mechanism is this (standard grant vs. something else)?
This opportunity supports an NSF Ideas Lab, which is a highly interactive, short-duration workshop designed to help participants form teams around bold, cross-disciplinary ideas. It is not framed as a typical call where applicants submit fully formed projects from the start.
What is an NSF Ideas Lab in practical terms?
An Ideas Lab is structured to bring together researchers and engineers with different expertise, help them identify a shared grand challenge, and rapidly develop creative, high-impact project concepts that can later turn into funded proposals.
What is the main goal of the Ideas Lab described in this solicitation?
The core goal is to accelerate the development of new engineering technologies that enable real-time, highly reliable capabilities to sense, communicate, localize, navigate, and map in aquatic environments.
What environments or settings are in scope for the technology development?
The opportunity is intentionally broad and includes oceans as well as inland waters and frozen-water systems such as lakes, rivers, and glaciers.
What kinds of technical capabilities does NSF emphasize as challenging underwater?
The solicitation highlights several underwater challenges, including:
- Robust communications (noting that radio frequency methods often fail underwater, while acoustic or optical links can involve tradeoffs)
- Accurate localization and navigation (because GPS is unavailable underwater)
- High-quality mapping in difficult conditions (e.g., limited visibility, turbidity, currents, ice cover, complex terrain)
Is the solicitation focused on single technologies or integrated systems?
It frames the needs as an integrated technology challenge and suggests that successful projects may combine multiple advances to achieve dependable end-to-end performance in real field conditions.
What technical areas might be relevant to competitive concepts under this opportunity?
Based on the solicitation description, relevant areas may include combinations of:
- Hardware development and engineering design
- Sensing modalities and instrumentation
- Signal processing
- Robotics or autonomous systems
- Embedded systems
- Cyberinfrastructure and data workflows for managing/transmitting/interpreting data
What does "real time" and "high reliability" imply in the context of this Ideas Lab?
The opportunity emphasizes technologies that can deliver dependable performance in real field conditions, not just in controlled settings. The intent is to support systems that work reliably despite underwater and under-ice constraints.
How does sustainability or environmental responsibility factor into the opportunity?
The underlying motivation includes enabling better scientific research and supporting sustainable and environmentally responsible economic development. In practice, that points to solutions that operate effectively in difficult underwater conditions while minimizing ecological disturbance and supporting responsible use of aquatic resources.
Is broadening participation in STEM part of the evaluation emphasis?
Yes. A major stated priority is broadening participation in STEM. The Ideas Lab will seek and prioritize proposals that can demonstrate measurable increases in diversity and in the participation of underrepresented minorities in STEM fields.
What kinds of participation plans are implied by the solicitation?
The description indicates NSF is looking for credible, results-oriented plans to expand participation, which may include elements like team composition, training pipelines, community partnerships, mentoring structures, and clearly defined participation and outcome metrics.
Which NSF units are involved in running this opportunity?
The opportunity is jointly run across multiple NSF units and directorates, including:
- Directorate for Engineering (ENG): Division of Electrical, Communications and Cyber Systems (ECCS); Division of Civil, Mechanical and Manufacturing Innovation (CMMI)
- Directorate for Geosciences (GEO): Division of Ocean Sciences (OCE); Office of Polar Programs (OPP)
- Directorate for Biological Sciences (BIO): Division of Environmental Biology (DEB); Division of Biological Infrastructure (DBI)
- Directorate for Computer and Information Science and Engineering (CISE): Office of Advanced Cyberinfrastructure (OAC)
What does the multi-directorate structure suggest about the expected projects?
It signals that competitive efforts are expected to bridge disciplines, potentially linking engineering technology development with ocean, polar, freshwater, or ecological science use cases and with the computing infrastructure needed to manage, transmit, and interpret data.
What category is this opportunity listed under?
It is described as a discretionary NSF grant opportunity in the science and technology research and development category.
Who is eligible to apply?
Eligibility is described as unrestricted (open to any type of entity), subject to any additional eligibility details contained in the full solicitation text.
When was this opportunity created, and what was the original closing date?
The opportunity was created on July 22, 2022, and the original closing date was March 1, 2023.
How many awards did NSF anticipate making?
NSF anticipated making approximately eight awards.
Is there a maximum award amount (award ceiling) listed?
The provided source data shows the award ceiling as 0, which typically indicates the ceiling is not specified in that field. Applicants are expected to rely on the full solicitation for budget expectations and limits.
What is the overall "best fit" summary of what NSF is trying to fund here?
Overall, the opportunity uses the Ideas Lab model to catalyze new, field-ready underwater and under-ice technology concepts that substantially improve real-time environmental awareness (sensing, communications, navigation, and mapping) across a wide range of aquatic settings, while making diversity and inclusive participation a visible, evaluated, and measurable component of impact.
Browse more opportunities from the same category: Science and Technology and other Research and Development
Next opportunity: Forestry Management Support, Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst (JBMDL)
Previous opportunity: NIJ FY 2022 Invited to Apply - American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS) Science & Technology Policy Fellows (STPF)
Applicant Portal:
Are you interested in learning about about how to apply for this government funding opportunity? You can create a free applicant account and receive instant access to our applicant portal that many business owners like you have benefited from.
Apply for 22 617
Applicants also applied for:
Applicants who have applied for this opportunity (22 617) also looked into and applied for these:
| Funding Opportunity |
|---|
| Professional Research Experience Program (PREP) Apply for 2022 NIST PREP 01 Funding Number: 2022 NIST PREP 01 Agency: Department of Commerce, National Institute of Standards and Technology Category: Science and Technology and other Research and Development Funding Amount: Case Dependent |
| NSF Astronomy and Astrophysics Postdoctoral Fellowships Apply for 22 621 Funding Number: 22 621 Agency: National Science Foundation Category: Science and Technology and other Research and Development Funding Amount: Case Dependent |
| Inclusion across the Nation of Communities of Learners of Underrepresented Discoverers in Engineering and Science (NSF INCLUDES) Apply for 22 622 Funding Number: 22 622 Agency: National Science Foundation Category: Science and Technology and other Research and Development Funding Amount: Case Dependent |
| Natural Resource INRMP Support, BMGR Apply for W9126G 22 2 SOI 4276 Funding Number: W9126G 22 2 SOI 4276 Agency: Department of Defense, Fort Worth District Category: Science and Technology and other Research and Development Funding Amount: $188,000 |
| Forestry Management Support, Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst (JBMDL) Apply for W9126G 22 2 SOI 4237 Funding Number: W9126G 22 2 SOI 4237 Agency: Department of Defense, Fort Worth District Category: Science and Technology and other Research and Development Funding Amount: $319,787 |
| PRI Bilateral US-Israeli Apply for EP IDS 22 001 Funding Number: EP IDS 22 001 Agency: Department of Health and Human Services, Assistant Secretary for Preparedness and Response Category: Science and Technology and other Research and Development Funding Amount: $2,000,000 |
| Protective Equipment for Responders Apply for DHS ST 18 108 FR02 Funding Number: DHS ST 18 108 FR02 Agency: Department of Homeland Security, Office of Procurement Operations - Grants Division Category: Science and Technology and other Research and Development Funding Amount: Case Dependent |
| EAR Postdoctoral Fellowships Apply for 22 625 Funding Number: 22 625 Agency: National Science Foundation Category: Science and Technology and other Research and Development Funding Amount: Case Dependent |
| DoD Peer Reviewed Cancer, Career Development Award – Scholar Option Apply for W81XWH 22 PRCRP CDA SO Funding Number: W81XWH 22 PRCRP CDA SO Agency: Department of Defense, Dept. of the Army -- USAMRAA Category: Science and Technology and other Research and Development Funding Amount: Case Dependent |
| DoD Peer Reviewed Cancer, Behavioral Health Science Award Apply for W81XWH 22 PRCRP BHSA 2 Funding Number: W81XWH 22 PRCRP BHSA 2 Agency: Department of Defense, Dept. of the Army -- USAMRAA Category: Science and Technology and other Research and Development Funding Amount: Case Dependent |
| DNN R&D UNIVERSITY PROGRAM: CONSORTIUM FOR NUCLEAR FORENSICS Apply for DE FOA 0002781 Funding Number: DE FOA 0002781 Agency: Department of Energy, NNSA Category: Science and Technology and other Research and Development Funding Amount: $25,000,000 |
| FY2023 Phase I Release 1 Apply for DE FOA 0002783 Funding Number: DE FOA 0002783 Agency: Department of Energy - Office of Science, Office of Science Category: Science and Technology and other Research and Development Funding Amount: $250,000 |
| Naval Engineering Education Consortium (NEEC) Broad Agency Announcement for FY23 Apply for NSWC IHD BAA N00174 23 0001 Funding Number: NSWC IHD BAA N00174 23 0001 Agency: Department of Defense, NSWC Indian Head Category: Science and Technology and other Research and Development Funding Amount: $500,000 |
| FY22 Short Line Safety Institute Program Apply for FR RRD 22 003 Funding Number: FR RRD 22 003 Agency: Department of Transportation, DOT - Federal Railroad Administration Category: Science and Technology and other Research and Development Funding Amount: $2,500,000 |
| Engineering with Nature Research Program - Microbial Induced Calcite Precipitation (MICP) Apply for W81EWF 22 SOI 0037 Funding Number: W81EWF 22 SOI 0037 Agency: Department of Defense, Dept. of the Army -- Corps of Engineers Category: Science and Technology and other Research and Development Funding Amount: $150,000 |
| Advancing Informal STEM Learning Apply for 22 626 Funding Number: 22 626 Agency: National Science Foundation Category: Science and Technology and other Research and Development Funding Amount: $3,500,000 |
| FY23 vannevar Bush Faculty Fellowship Program Apply for N00014 22 S F009 Funding Number: N00014 22 S F009 Agency: Department of Defense, Office of Naval Research Category: Science and Technology and other Research and Development Funding Amount: $3,000,000 |
| Joint Base Langley Eustis (JBLE) Natural Resources Support Apply for W9126G 22 2 SOI 4646 Funding Number: W9126G 22 2 SOI 4646 Agency: Department of Defense, Fort Worth District Category: Science and Technology and other Research and Development Funding Amount: $1,375,000 |
| CISA Cyber Security Awareness Month Campaign Apply for IS CSA 22 001 Funding Number: IS CSA 22 001 Agency: Department of Homeland Security, Office of Procurement Operations - Grants Division Category: Science and Technology and other Research and Development Funding Amount: $549,996 |
| CISA Cyber Security Awareness Month Campaign Apply for DHS 22 CISA 128 CSA001 Funding Number: DHS 22 CISA 128 CSA001 Agency: Department of Homeland Security, Office of Procurement Operations - Grants Division Category: Science and Technology and other Research and Development Funding Amount: $549,996 |
Grant application guides and resources
It is always free to apply for government grants. However the process may be very complex depending on the funding opportunity you are applying for. Let us help you!
Apply for Grants
Inside Our Applicants Portal
Access Applicants Portal
- Grants Repository - Access current and historic funding opportunities with ease. Thousands of funding opportunities are published every week. We can help you sort through the database and find the eligible ones to apply for.
- Applicant Video Guides - The grant application process can be challenging to follow. We can help you with intuitive video guides to speed up the process and eliminate errors in submissions.
- Grant Proposal Wizard - We have developed a network of private funding organizations and investors across the United States. We can reach out and submit your proposal to these contacts to maximize your chances of getting the funding you need.
Premium leads for funding administrators, grant writers, and loan issuers
Thousands of people visit our website for their funding needs every day. When a user creates a grant proposal and files for submission, we pass the information on to funding administrators, grant writers, and government loan issuers.
If you manage government grant programs, provide grant writing services, or issue personal or government loans, we can help you reach your audience.
Learn More
Request more information:
Would you like to learn more about this funding opportunity, similar opportunities to "22 617", eligibility, application service, and/or application tips? Submit an inquiry below:
Don't forget to subscribe to our grant alerts mailing list to receive weekly alerts on new and updated grant funding opportunities like this one in your email.