Sustainable Regional Systems Research Networks | 24 533

Opportunity Information: Apply for 24 533

The National Science Foundation (NSF) is soliciting proposals for Sustainable Regional Systems Research Networks (SRS RNs), a large-scale grant program focused on how interconnected urban and rural communities function together as regional systems. The core idea is that cities, suburbs, small towns, and rural areas are tightly linked through flows of food, energy, water, materials, labor, markets, manufactured goods, health and medical resources, and the ecological processes that support (and are altered by) human activity. NSF is looking to fund convergent research and education that helps transform these regional systems so they become more sustainable in ways that are measurable and equitable for both people and the environment.

SRS RNs are intended to be ambitious, interdisciplinary networks that bring together multiple organizations to tackle "grand challenges" in sustainable regional systems. NSF emphasizes that the work should go beyond what a single institution, a typical center, or standard NSF collaborations could realistically achieve. Projects are expected to span disciplines across science and engineering, including (but not limited to) engineering, chemistry, biology, geosciences, mathematics and statistics, environmental science, data and computational fields, education research, and the social, behavioral, and economic sciences. Alongside research, NSF expects strong education and outreach components, reflecting an interest in training, workforce development, and real-world engagement rather than purely academic outputs.

A major focus of this program is developing new foundational capabilities for sustainable regional systems science, including new data resources, methods, and models that can explain interactions among natural systems (like watersheds, climate, ecosystems), human-built systems (like infrastructure, transportation, energy grids, supply chains), and social systems (like governance, institutions, culture, behavior, and economic structures). NSF also calls for improved understanding of interdependencies between urban and rural areas, including the mutual benefits and trade-offs that appear when pursuing different well-being outcomes. In practical terms, proposals should grapple with questions such as: which sustainability actions help one community but may burden another; how risks and benefits are distributed; and how to design interventions that improve both human well-being and environmental outcomes over time.

NSF also highlights the expectation that SRS RNs will contribute new and generalizable "theories of change" for sustainable regional transformation. That means networks should not only study a single region as a one-off case, but also aim to generate insights, frameworks, and evidence that others can adapt in different places. Another central element is co-production of knowledge, meaning researchers are expected to work with non-academic partners and community stakeholders to shape research questions, interpret findings, and apply results. Social equity is explicitly named as a key concept to be explored across spatial and temporal scales, signaling that proposals should treat equity as a core analytic and practical concern (for example, considering historically marginalized communities, uneven exposure to environmental harms, unequal access to resources and decision-making, and differential capacity to adapt).

The awards are large and long-term: up to $15 million total over a 5-year period. NSF anticipates making about 2 awards, subject to available funds and proposal quality. The intention is to produce outcomes that can inform societal actions for sustainability across urban systems and their connected rural communities, with results that matter for decision-makers, practitioners, and communities, not only for academic literature.

Eligibility to submit proposals includes U.S.-based for-profit organizations (including small businesses) with strong research or education capabilities, non-profit non-academic organizations (such as museums, observatories, and independent research labs) associated with research or educational activities, and accredited U.S. institutions of higher education (two-year and four-year colleges and universities, including community colleges) with a U.S. campus. If a proposal includes funding for an international branch campus of a U.S. institution (including via subawards or consultants), the proposal must clearly explain why the international site is beneficial and why the work cannot be done at the U.S. campus.

NSF builds specific inclusion requirements into the structure of the core partnership. Proposals must include one of two options: either (1) if the core organizations include academic partners, at least one core partner must be a college or university that serves student populations historically underrepresented in STEM, and that institution must receive financial support for at least three faculty participants and at least three students; or (2) include a core partner organization (such as a community group or non-profit) that supports an underrepresented community within the scope of the project, and that partner must receive at least 10 percent of the total budget for the full network. These requirements are meant to ensure that equity is reflected not only in research topics but also in who leads, benefits from, and is resourced within the collaboration.

Regarding participation rules, individuals from other federal agencies or Federally Funded Research and Development Centers (FFRDCs) may be involved through subawards or as unfunded collaborators, but letters of collaboration are required for non-NSF-sponsored FFRDCs and other federal agencies. State and local government participants (including state education offices and local school districts) may be supported via subawards or participate as unfunded collaborators, also requiring a letter of collaboration from their organization. In addition, U.S. scientists, engineers, or educators who are U.S. citizens may participate via subawards or as unfunded collaborators, with a collaboration letter required. The opportunity is an NSF discretionary grant in the science and technology / research and development category (CFDA listings include 47.041, 47.049, 47.050, 47.074, 47.075, 47.076, 47.079, 47.083, 47.084). The original closing date listed is May 15, 2024, under funding opportunity number 24-533.

• The National Science Foundation in the science and technology and other research and development sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Sustainable Regional Systems Research Networks" 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, 47.074, 47.075, 47.076, 47.079, 47.083, 47.084.
• This funding opportunity was created on 2024-01-27.
• Applicants must submit their applications by 2024-05-15. (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 2 candidate(s).
• Eligible applicants include: Others.

Apply for 24 533

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