Accelerating Research through International Network-to-Network Collaborations | 19 501

Opportunity Information: Apply for 19 501

Accelerating Research through International Network-to-Network Collaborations (AccelNet) is a National Science Foundation (NSF) grant program designed to speed up scientific discovery by building strong, coordinated partnerships between existing U.S. research networks and complementary research networks in other countries. The core idea is that many of today s biggest scientific and engineering problems cannot be solved efficiently by isolated teams or single institutions, and often require sustained international coordination, shared infrastructure, and aligned research agendas. AccelNet is aimed at making those large, multi-team collaborations easier to start, easier to run, and more productive by intentionally linking networks that already have momentum and resources, then creating structured ways for them to work together.

A key feature of AccelNet is that it funds the connective tissue of collaboration rather than funding fundamental research as the primary purpose. In practice, that means the program is less about paying for lab experiments or field campaigns as stand-alone research projects and more about supporting the mechanisms that make international, networked research effective. Typical supported efforts can include building governance and coordination structures across networks, organizing joint workshops or working groups, creating shared data practices or interoperable tools, coordinating access to facilities and platforms, developing joint training and mentoring activities, and setting up exchange opportunities that help researchers operate seamlessly across borders and disciplines. The expected outcome is synergy: networks that, once linked, can combine expertise, data, methods, and infrastructure in ways that generate higher-impact science than any single network could accomplish alone.

The solicitation invites proposals to create international networks of networks in research areas that align with either NSF Big Ideas or with scientific challenges identified by the research community that have clear international dimensions. This framing gives teams flexibility to propose around widely recognized NSF priority areas while also allowing emerging, community-driven challenges to compete, as long as the case for needing an internationally coordinated approach is convincing. The program emphasizes strategic linkages, meaning proposers should be prepared to explain why particular networks belong together, what complementary strengths they bring, what gaps the partnership will fill, and how the collaboration will be organized to produce durable value beyond a one-time meeting or short-term interaction.

Another central goal is workforce development, especially preparing the next generation of U.S. researchers to succeed in multiteam international collaborations. Each funded network of networks is expected to include professional development opportunities for students, postdoctoral scholars, and early-career researchers. That can involve training in cross-cultural collaboration, team science practices, project coordination across time zones and institutions, responsible research and data sharing norms, and career development activities that help trainees build international professional networks. The intention is not only to advance research capacity but also to cultivate researchers who are comfortable working in large, distributed teams where coordination and communication are as critical as technical expertise.

The solicitation includes two proposal categories: Catalytic and Full-Scale Implementation. While the provided text does not specify the exact budget ranges or durations, the category names indicate two typical maturity levels. Catalytic proposals generally support early-stage formation or expansion of an international network-of-networks, helping partners establish relationships, align goals, test coordination models, and build a foundation for longer-term collaboration. Full-Scale Implementation proposals generally support more mature, well-defined partnerships that are ready to carry out a robust set of networked activities at scale, with clearer deliverables, broader engagement, and more established coordination mechanisms. In both cases, the evaluation focus is likely to center on the quality and feasibility of the collaboration plan, the expected benefits of linking the networks, and the credibility of the management and engagement approach, rather than on a narrow set of research aims.

From the opportunity data, AccelNet is an NSF discretionary grant program within the Science and Technology and other Research and Development activity category. It is associated with multiple NSF CFDA numbers (47.041, 47.049, 47.050, 47.070, 47.074, 47.075, 47.076, 47.079, 47.083), reflecting that it can span many scientific and engineering fields supported by NSF. The agency listed is the National Science Foundation, the funding opportunity number is 19 501, and the program anticipated making about 9 awards. The listing shows an award ceiling of 0, which typically indicates that the ceiling was not specified in the summary field or is defined elsewhere in the full solicitation. The opportunity was created on Oct 06, 2018, with an original closing date of Feb 28, 2019. Eligibility is listed broadly as Others with additional clarification in the full eligibility text, suggesting that eligible applicants may extend beyond a single standard category and that applicants should consult the full solicitation for specific requirements.

Overall, AccelNet is best understood as NSF support for building and strengthening international, multi-network research ecosystems. It prioritizes coordination, shared capacity, and structured collaboration across borders, and it places a strong emphasis on training and professional development so that early-career researchers gain real experience operating in complex international team-science environments.

• The National Science Foundation in the science and technology and other research and development sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Accelerating Research through International Network-to-Network Collaborations" and is now available to receive applicants.
• Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 47.041, 47.049, 47.050, 47.070, 47.074, 47.075, 47.076, 47.079, 47.083.
• This funding opportunity was created on Oct 06, 2018.
• Applicants must submit their applications by Feb 28, 2019. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
• The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 9 candidate(s).
• Eligible applicants include: Others (see text field entitled Additional Information on Eligibility for clarification).

Apply for 19 501

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