The Science and Technology Centers (STC): Integrative
Partnerships program supports exceptionally innovative, complex research and
education projects that require large-scale, long-term awards. STCs focus on
creating new scientific paradigms, establishing entirely new scientific
disciplines, and developing transformative technologies which have the
potential for broad scientific or societal impact. STCs conduct world-class
research through partnerships among institutions of higher education, national
laboratories, industrial organizations, other public or private entities, and
via international collaborations, as appropriate. They provide a means to
undertake potentially groundbreaking investigations at the interfaces of
disciplines and/or highly innovative approaches within disciplines. STCs may
involve any area of science and engineering that NSF supports. STC investments
support the NSF vision of creating and exploiting new concepts in science and
engineering and providing global leadership in research and education.
Centers provide a rich environment for encouraging
scientists, engineers, and educators to take risks in pursuing discoveries and
new knowledge. STCs foster excellence in education by integrating education and
research, and by creating connections between learning and inquiry so that
discovery and creativity fully support the learning process. Objectives of the STC program are to:
- Support potentially groundbreaking investigations at the
interfaces of disciplines or highly innovative approaches within disciplines;
Support research and education of the highest quality, in
a center-based environment, where the whole is greater than the sum of its
parts;
Exploit opportunities in science, education, engineering
and/or technology where the complexity of the research agenda requires the
advantages of scope, scale, flexibility, duration, equipment, and facilities
that a Center can provide;
Support the creation of new scientific paradigms,
establishment of new scientific disciplines, and development of transformative
technologies;
Foster science and engineering in service to society;
Engage and develop the Nation's intellectual talent,
including groups underrepresented in science, mathematics and engineering, in
the conduct of research and education activities;
Increase the participation of minority-serving
institutions in center-scale science and engineering research;
Promote organizational connections and linkages within
and among campuses, and beyond (e.g.,K-12 educational institutions; state,
local and Federal agencies, national labs, industry, and international
collaborations), capitalizing upon cyberinfrastructure, communication
technologies and other modern advances to facilitate these linkages;
Focus on integrative learning and discovery and the
preparation of U.S. students for a broad set of career paths; and
Support research collaborations that energize the
Nation's economic competitiveness, sustain its global leadership in science and
engineering, expand the geography of innovation, and improve the quality of
life for everyone.
Estimated Number of Awards: up to 5
Anticipated Funding Amount: $30,000,000 Cost sharing: Inclusion of voluntary committed cost sharing is
prohibited.
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