Idaho will be eligible to submit one Research Infrastructure Improvement (RII) Track-1 proposal to the National Science Foundation (NSF) in August 2022. The Established Program to Stimulate Competitive Research (EPSCoR) Track-1 awards “provide up to $20 million total over five years to support research-driven improvements to jurisdictions’ physical and cyber infrastructure and human capital development in topical areas selected by the jurisdiction’s EPSCoR steering committee as having the best potential to improve future research and development competitiveness.”
Idaho’s proposal development process for the next RII Track-1 project (2023-2028) is led by the Idaho EPSCoR Office. A next step in the process is to identify “topical areas” (i.e., research themes) that could provide a compelling research focus for an RII Track-1 proposal. As stated in NSF 20-571:
“All elements of the project design are expected to advance the proposal’s overarching vision and serve to improve the jurisdiction’s overall R&D competitiveness in the chosen topical area(s)… Research conducted as part of an RII Track-1 project should be hypothesis- and/or problem-driven. Research in areas of recognized national or global interest is encouraged. Appropriate research topics are those that benefit from a comprehensive and integrative approach, typically relating to a scientific area of significant regional or jurisdictional importance.”
Building on two statewide Listening sessions that were held on March 31 and April 1, virtual statewide Brainstorming Sessions are scheduled for the following two times to allow faculty and staff at Idaho’s research universities to: 1) hear about Idaho’s NSF RII Track-1 priorities and process, 2) learn about Idaho’s initial broad statement of a potential topical area for an RII Track-1, and 3) provide feedback and share ideas for Idaho’s RII Track-1 research topical areas.
May 4 and 7- Informal Discussions with the Division
Prior to these brainstorming sessions, the Division of Research and Economic Development will be hosting informal discussions on sharing ideas about topical areas and what to expect during the upcoming NSF EPSCoR RII Track-1 process.
Registration is not required for these one-hour open sessions
Zoom links to the open sessions are below:
Statewide Brainstorming Sessions will take place:
- 2 p.m. MT on Monday, May 10
- 10 a.m. MT on Tuesday, May 11
University faculty and staff are invited to RSVP by registering for either of these events at: https://www.eventbrite.com/o/idaho-epscor-32795445311
Please contact Vanessa Henry at vanessa@uidaho.edu if you have any questions about registration.