EMERGING FRONTIERS IN RESEARCH AND INNOVATION (EFRI-2026/27): Wave-Based Computing ( EFRI-WBC)

<p>The Emerging Frontiers in Research and Innovation (EFRI) program serves a critical role in helping the NSF Directorate for Engineering focus on important emerging areas in a timely way. The EFRI program invests in potentially transformative ideas that offer the opportunity for significant shifts in foundational engineering knowledge. EFRI-funded research must have strong potential for long-term impact on strategic technology priorities and/or national science and technology (S&amp;T) missions identified in the Administration's Fiscal Year (FY) 2028 Research and Development (R&amp;D) Budget Priorities Memorandum. Such impacts need not be fully realized within the duration of the research period; however, proposers are expected to articulate how a proposal is use-inspired and may lay the foundations for stated priorities. This EFRI solicitation leverages a portfolio of both two-year EArly-concept Grants for Exploratory Research (EAGER) awards and larger four-year awards in response to <em>Science: A New Golden Age</em>, which calls for a more flexible set of funding mechanisms that match the scientific challenges they seek to address.</p><p>The&nbsp;<strong>EFRI</strong>&nbsp;<strong>Wave-Based Computing (WBC)</strong>&nbsp;solicitation will support foundational and transformative research to advance the development of computing approaches that harness the principles of wave dynamics.&nbsp;</p><p>The EFRI WBC solicitation will support two tracks.&nbsp;</p><ul><li><p>Track 1: Exploratory approaches may be funded through EArly-concept Grants for Exploratory Research (EAGER) awards.&nbsp;</p></li><li><p>Track 2:&nbsp;Larger, multidisciplinary projects may be funded through four-year awards of up to $2,000,000.</p></li></ul><p>The EFRI WBC program encourages collaboration with industry. Proposers may consider using a formal mechanism, such as NSF Grant Opportunities for Academic Liaison with Industry (GOALI).</p>