Advanced computing and data analytics are increasingly
central to S&E innovation and economic prosperity. S&E researchers use
advanced CI systems and tools in close collaboration with the expert CIP
workforce as an interdependent ecosystem. Efficient and effective use of the
advanced CI ecosystem by NSF programs can sometimes be limited by lack of
availability of appropriate CIP expertise, gaps in specialty skills,
organizational distance, or even simple unawareness of needs. For testbeds and
novel CI paradigms, CIPs are often the only link between newly developed
computing capabilities and the research community.

The SCIPE program addresses the growing need for CIP
expertise, the need to address emerging CI requirements, and the need for
organizational recognition and to establish career pathways for the CIP
workforce that supports innovation, development, maintenance, and utilization
of NSF’s advanced CI ecosystem by researchers and educators.

To fulfill these strategic needs, the goals of this
solicitation are to; (i) motivate the creation of researcher-facing CIP
communities or affinity groups centered on S&E domains and or geographic
regions with shared needs for CIPs; (ii) improve CIP workforce diversity,
productivity, scalability, sustainability, and institutional career paths;
(iii) promote recognition of the value of the CIP workforce to all stakeholders
of S&E research; (iv) support the advancement and exchange of CIP best practices,
mentoring and/or professional development and training resources across
institutions; and (v) promote understanding of computation as the third pillar
and data-driven science as the fourth pillar of scientific discovery.

Estimated Number of Awards: Up to four SCIPE awards are
anticipated.

Anticipated Funding Amount: $15,000,000 - Estimated
program budget, number of awards and average award size/duration are subject to
the availability of funds.

Cost sharing: Inclusion of voluntary committed cost
sharing is prohibited.