NSF Trailblazer Engineering Impact Award (Trailblazer)
ID: 356244Type: Posted
Overview

Buyer

National Science Foundation (NSF)

Award Range

$0 - $3M

Eligible Applicants

Others

Funding Category

Science and Technology and other Research and Development

Funding Instrument

Grant

Opportunity Category

Discretionary

Cost Sharing or Matching Requirement

Yes
Timeline
    Description

    The National Science Foundation (NSF) is offering the Trailblazer Engineering Impact Award (TRAILBLAZER), a federal grant aimed at supporting innovative research projects that address national needs and advance U.S. leadership in engineering and science. Eligible applicants include non-profit, non-academic organizations and institutions of higher education, with specific requirements for principal investigators, including a tenured faculty appointment and a focus on engineering. This program is critical for fostering novel research directions and collaboration among funded projects, with a total estimated funding of $15 million and individual awards up to $3 million. Proposals are due by April 15, 2025, and interested parties can find more information and support by contacting grantsgovsupport@nsf.gov.

    Point(s) of Contact
    Files
    No associated files provided.
    Similar Opportunities
    Trailblazer Award for New and Early Stage Investigators (R21 Clinical Trial Optional)
    National Institutes of Health
    The National Institutes of Health (NIH) is offering the Trailblazer Award for New and Early Stage Investigators, a federal grant aimed at fostering innovative biomedical research that integrates engineering with life sciences. This funding opportunity, under the R21 Exploratory/Developmental Research Grant mechanism, allows for up to $400,000 in direct costs over a three-year period for projects that require minimal preliminary data, encouraging high-risk, high-reward research. The initiative is designed to enhance diversity within the research community and is open to a wide range of eligible applicants, including various educational institutions and community organizations. Interested parties should note that the application submission period opens on January 16, 2025, and closes on January 8, 2026; for further inquiries, applicants can contact NIH Grants Information at grantsinfo@nih.gov.
    Accelerating Research Translation
    U.S. National Science Foundation
    The U.S. National Science Foundation (NSF) is offering a federal grant opportunity titled "Accelerating Research Translation" aimed at enhancing the capacity of Institutions of Higher Education (IHEs) to translate academic research into practical solutions that benefit the public. The program seeks proposals that build robust translational research ecosystems across the U.S., with a focus on fostering economic impacts through various tracks tailored to different levels of research translation readiness. This initiative is critical for advancing U.S. scientific and economic leadership by supporting diverse educational and entrepreneurial activities, technology transfer, and collaborative efforts among IHEs. The estimated total program funding is $178 million, with individual awards ranging from $3 million to $8 million depending on the track, and proposals are due by January 15, 2026. For further information, interested parties can contact NSF grants.gov support at grantsgovsupport@nsf.gov.
    Trailblazer Award for New and Early Stage Investigators (R21 Clinical Trial Optional)
    National Institutes of Health
    The National Institutes of Health (NIH) is offering the Trailblazer Award for New and Early Stage Investigators through the R21 Clinical Trial Optional grant mechanism, aimed at fostering innovative research that integrates engineering and physical sciences with biomedical sciences. This funding opportunity encourages exploratory, proof of concept, or high-risk projects, specifically those that do not require extensive preliminary data, allowing applicants to propose novel research approaches. Eligible applicants include a diverse range of institutions and organizations, with funding of up to $400,000 available over a maximum of three years. Interested parties should submit their applications electronically via Grants.gov by the close date of January 7, 2026, and can direct inquiries to grantsinfo@nih.gov for further information.
    NSF National Innovation Corps Teams (NSF National I-Corps (TM) Teams) program
    U.S. National Science Foundation
    The U.S. National Science Foundation (NSF) is offering the National Innovation Corps Teams (NSF National I-Corps™ Teams) program, a federal grant aimed at fostering innovation and entrepreneurship among NSF-funded researchers. This program seeks to support the commercialization of "deep technologies" derived from foundational research in science and engineering by providing entrepreneurial education, mentoring, and funding to accelerate the translation of research into marketable products, processes, and services. With an estimated total program funding of $12 million and a minimum award floor of $50,000, proposals can be submitted at any time, and interested applicants can reach out to NSF grants.gov support at grantsgovsupport@nsf.gov for assistance.
    Environmental Engineering
    National Science Foundation
    The National Science Foundation (NSF) is offering a federal grant opportunity titled "Environmental Engineering," aimed at supporting transformative research in the interdisciplinary field of environmental engineering. The program seeks proposals that apply scientific and engineering principles to prevent and mitigate pollution, enhance ecological health, and remediate contaminated environments, with a focus on innovative biogeochemical processes and sustainable resource management. With an estimated total program funding of $10 million and an expected 103 awards, proposals can be submitted at any time, and interested applicants can reach out to NSF grants.gov support at grantsgovsupport@nsf.gov for assistance. For more details, visit the NSF program description at http://www.nsf.gov/funding/pgmsumm.jsp?pimsid=505692.
    Research in the Formation of Engineers
    National Science Foundation
    The National Science Foundation (NSF) is offering a grant opportunity titled "Research in the Formation of Engineers" aimed at advancing the understanding of professional formation within the engineering field. This initiative seeks proposals that either address fundamental questions of professional formation through Research Projects or develop innovative approaches to engineering education through Design and Development Projects. The NSF emphasizes the importance of creating an inclusive engineering profession responsive to national priorities and workforce needs, with a total estimated funding of $5.6 million available for this program. Proposals can be submitted at any time, and interested applicants can reach out to NSF grants.gov support at grantsgovsupport@nsf.gov for assistance.
    Interfacial Engineering
    National Science Foundation
    The National Science Foundation (NSF) is offering a federal grant opportunity titled "Interfacial Engineering," aimed at supporting fundamental research on atomic- and molecular-scale interfacial phenomena and the engineering of interfacial properties, processes, and materials. The program encourages innovative proposals that address long-standing challenges or emerging research areas in chemical and biochemical processes, with a focus on improving chemical process efficiency and resource utilization. With an estimated total program funding of $3,200,000 and an expected 113 awards, proposals can be submitted at any time, and interested applicants are encouraged to contact the NSF grants.gov support team at grantsgovsupport@nsf.gov for assistance. For more details, visit the NSF program description at http://www.nsf.gov/funding/pgmsumm.jsp?pimsid=506071.
    Notice of Intent to Publish a Funding Opportunity Announcement for Trailblazer Award for New and Early-Stage Investigators (R21 Clinical Trial Optional)
    National Institutes of Health
    The National Institutes of Health (NIH) plans to publish a Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) for the Trailblazer Award aimed at New and Early-Stage Investigators, with a focus on integrating engineering and physical sciences with life and biomedical sciences. This grant opportunity, utilizing the R21 activity code, encourages innovative research projects that may be exploratory, developmental, or high-risk high-impact, and aims to foster collaborations that open new areas of biomedical investigation. Interested applicants, particularly those with expertise in engineering and quantitative sciences, should prepare to submit their applications once the NOFO is officially released, with an estimated synopsis post date of November 21, 2025, and a projected award date of October 1, 2026. For further inquiries, potential applicants can contact Randy King at the National Institute of Biomedical Imaging and Bioengineering via email at Randy.King@nih.gov or by phone at 301-451-0707.
    Disability and Rehabilitation Engineering
    National Science Foundation
    The National Science Foundation (NSF) is offering a federal grant opportunity titled "Disability and Rehabilitation Engineering," aimed at supporting fundamental engineering research that enhances the quality of life for individuals with disabilities. The program encourages innovative proposals that advance knowledge in areas such as neuroengineering, rehabilitation robotics, and assistive technologies, with a focus on high-risk/high-reward projects that can lead to transformative outcomes. With an estimated total program funding of $5 million and no cost-sharing requirements, proposals can be submitted at any time, and interested applicants are encouraged to contact the NSF grants.gov support at grantsgovsupport@nsf.gov for assistance. For more details, visit the NSF program description at http://www.nsf.gov/funding/pgmsumm.jsp?pimsid=506065.
    Multilateral Partnerships Leveraging Excellence
    National Science Foundation
    The National Science Foundation (NSF) is offering a grant opportunity titled "Multilateral Partnerships Leveraging Excellence," aimed at fostering international multilateral research partnerships to address pressing global challenges. Proposals are sought that require collaboration across at least two countries outside the U.S. and focus on urgent research or societal issues, particularly in critical and emerging technology fields. This initiative emphasizes the importance of diverse expertise and perspectives in advancing impactful research outcomes, with a total estimated funding of $2.5 million and individual awards starting at $200,000 for projects lasting up to three years. Interested applicants can submit proposals at any time and should contact NSF grants.gov support at grantsgovsupport@nsf.gov for assistance or further information.