Emerging Frontiers in Research and Innovation - Office Information  (EFRI)

SYNOPSIS

The Office of Emerging Frontiers in Research and Innovation (EFRI) has been established as a result of strategic planning and reorganization of NSF Engineering Directorate (ENG).  Motivated by the vision of ENG to be the global leader in advancing the frontiers of fundamental engineering research, EFRI serves a critical role in helping ENG focus on important emerging areas in a timely manner.  Each year, EFRI will recommend, prioritize, and fund interdisciplinary initiatives at the emerging frontier of engineering research and education. These investments represent transformative opportunities, potentially leading to: new research areas for NSF, ENG, and other agencies; new industries or capabilities that result in a leadership position for the country; and/or significant progress on a recognized national need or grand challenge.

The EFRI process of selecting, announcing, and funding new frontier areas will function throughout the year, ensuring continual input and feedback from the engineering community on promising future research opportunities. This input comes from such diverse sources as workshops, advisory committees, technical meetings, professional societies, proposals and awards, and NSF committees of visitors. From this comprehensive input, ENG identifies, evaluates, and prioritizes those frontier topics that best match the EFRI criteria (transformative, addressing a national need or grand challenge, multi- or inter-disciplinary, an area where the community is poised to respond, and clearly demonstrating ENG's leadership role).

Please see our most current solicitation for a description of currently funded areas.

FUNDED AS PART OF THIS ACTIVITY

EMERGING FRONTIERS IN RESEARCH AND INNOVATION 2009

RELATED URLS

Current EFRI Solicitation