NSF MERIT REVIEW CRITERIA & funding priorities
Merit Review Criteria Overview
NSF uses two merit criteria to evaluate proposals: intellectual merit (how your research advances knowledge), and broader impacts (how your research benefits society and achieves specific, desired outcomes). Examples of desired outcomes include, but are not limited to: STEM education, public engagement, societal well-being, STEM workforce, partnerships, national security, economic competitiveness, and infrastructure.
In addition to intellectual merit and broader impacts, the following elements are conserved for both review criteria:
- To what extent do the proposed activities suggest and explore creative, original, or potentially transforming concepts?
- Is the plan for carrying out the proposed activities well-reasoned, well-organized, and based on a sound rationale? Does the plan incorporate a mechanism to assess success?
- How well qualified is the individual, team, or organization to conduct the proposed activities?
- Are there adequate resources available (either at the proposer’s home organization or through collaborations) to carry out the proposed activities?
Funding Priorities Overview
NSF has also announced funding priorities in the areas of artificial intelligence, quantum information science, biotechnology, and translational science. These areas align with NSF’s Directorate for Technology, Innovation, and Partnerships (TIP), which mandates to accelerate translation of discovery into societal and economic benefit. These priority areas are not the only domains NSF supports; NSF remains committed to awarding grants and funding in all areas of science and engineering to promote the progress of science, advance the national health, prosperity and welfare, and secure the national defense.
Please see the linked NSF Pages for how NSF supports the following areas, including funding opportunities, news, and resources.
Artificial Intelligence (AI) is technology that enables computer systems to learn, reason, and make decisions, performing complex tasks commonly thought of as requiring human intelligence—like recognizing speech, analyzing data, and solving problems. NSF supports foundational AI research, advancing trustworthy and ethical AI, and broadening access to AI infrastructure.
AI Resources
Quantum Information Science explores how quantum phenomena such as superposition and entanglement can be harnessed to encode, transmit, and process information in fundamentally new ways. NSF supports scalable quantum computing, secure quantum communication, quantum sensing, and hybrid quantum-classical integration.
Quantum Information Science Resources
Biotechnology applies biological systems, organisms, or their derivatives to develop technologies, products, and solutions in health, agriculture, energy, and the environment. NSF supports both fundamental biological discovery and its translation toward a growing U.S. bioeconomy.
Biotechnology Resources
- Expanding the Frontiers of Biotechnology
- Bioeconomy Distinguished Lecture Series
- Center for Genetically Encoded Materials
- Center for Research on Programmable Plant Systems (Cornell)
- InnovATEBIO National Center for Biotechnology Education
- NSF Center for Cellular Construction
- National Ecological Observatory Network
- NSF Engineering Research Center for Cell Manufacturing Technologies
- NSF Engineering Research Center for Cellular Metamaterials
- NSF Science and Technology Center for Quantitative Cell Biology
- NSF-Simons Research Centers for Mathematics of Complex Biological Systems
- CHIPS and Science Act (2022)
Translational Science bridges foundational research and real-world application, ensuring research outputs move toward societal or market use. Under TIP, NSF catalyzes “lab-to-market” pathways, fostering partnerships, infrastructure, and training that help discoveries become practice.
Translational Science Resources
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Artificial Intelligence
Artificial Intelligence (AI) is technology that enables computer systems to learn, reason, and make decisions, performing complex tasks commonly thought of as requiring human intelligence—like recognizing speech, analyzing data, and solving problems. NSF supports foundational AI research, advancing trustworthy and ethical AI, and broadening access to AI infrastructure.
AI Resources:
Quantum Information Science
Quantum Information Science explores how quantum phenomena such as superposition and entanglement can be harnessed to encode, transmit, and process information in fundamentally new ways. NSF supports scalable quantum computing, secure quantum communication, quantum sensing, and hybrid quantum-classical integration.
- Quantum Information Science Resources:
Biotechnology
Biotechnology applies biological systems, organisms, or their derivatives to develop technologies, products, and solutions in health, agriculture, energy, and the environment. NSF supports both fundamental biological discovery and its translation toward a growing U.S. bioeconomy.
- Biotechnology Resources:
- Expanding the Frontiers of Biotechnology
- Bioeconomy Distinguished Lecture Series
- Center for Genetically Encoded Materials
- Center for Research on Programmable Plant Systems (Cornell)
- InnovATEBIO National Center for Biotechnology Education
- NSF Center for Cellular Construction
- National Ecological Observatory Network
- NSF Engineering Research Center for Cell Manufacturing Technologies
- NSF Engineering Research Center for Cellular Metamaterials
- NSF Science and Technology Center for Quantitative Cell Biology
- NSF-Simons Research Centers for Mathematics of Complex Biological Systems
- CHIPS and Science Act (2022)
Translational Science
Translational Science bridges foundational research and real-world application, ensuring research outputs move toward societal or market use. Under TIP, NSF catalyzes “lab-to-market” pathways, fostering partnerships, infrastructure, and training that help discoveries become practice.
- Translational Science Resources: