Accelerating Research through International Network-to-Network Collaborations | 23 619

Opportunity Information: Apply for 23 619

The National Science Foundation (NSF) opportunity titled Accelerating Research through International Network-to-Network Collaborations (AccelNet) is designed for the reality that modern science increasingly depends on tightly coordinated, international teamwork across disciplines, cultures, and institutions. The program is built around the idea that cooperation, not competition, is what most effectively pushes a field forward when the challenges are too large for any single team or country to tackle alone. AccelNet supports the formation and strengthening of international "networks of networks" (NoN), meaning interconnected groups of research teams and existing collaborations that can align their plans, share capabilities, and move faster together than they could separately.

The core purpose of AccelNet is twofold. First, it aims to leverage prior NSF investments that already helped build research capacity, and then use that foundation to launch international network-of-networks activities that continue accelerating a scientific area even after the award ends. Second, it aims to recruit, train, and support a diverse U.S.-based workforce that is genuinely prepared to participate in and lead multi-team international collaborations. That workforce emphasis is not an add-on; it is one of the main outcomes NSF expects, with attention to both diversity and practical international competence (for example, learning how to coordinate across institutions, time zones, languages, norms, data practices, and research cultures).

In terms of scope, AccelNet is broad: any research area that NSF funds can be proposed, especially topics tied to major "grand challenges" recognized by research communities and/or by NSF. What matters most is whether the proposed international cooperation is essential to achieving the goal. NSF is looking for proposals that make a strong case that the research area will advance faster because of intentional, structured international coordination in planning and networking, not just because collaborators happen to be located in different countries.

Successful proposals are expected to demonstrate three outcomes. The first is acceleration of scientific progress at a rate that would be unrealistic without deliberate international coordination, particularly around shared planning, complementary expertise, and synchronized effort across the network-of-networks. The second is improved competitiveness of the network members for future research funding after the award period, meaning the collaboration should leave teams better positioned to win subsequent grants and sustain the work. The third is the development of a diverse, U.S.-based, internationally capable cohort of researchers trained to operate in and lead complex multi-team collaborations, which typically implies meaningful roles for students, early-career researchers, and other developing talent in network activities.

A key practical requirement is that proposals include detailed and credible plans for collaborative networking activities that create synergy across the entire network-of-networks. In other words, this is not simply funding for a series of meetings. NSF expects thoughtful structures and activities that integrate efforts across participating networks, such as coordinated workshops, shared roadmaps, training and exchange mechanisms, community-building efforts, data and tool harmonization where relevant, and other intentional practices that make the whole network stronger than the sum of its parts.

AccelNet is organized into two tracks that reflect different stages of readiness. The Design Track supports teams that need time and resources to build capacity and alignment across groups so they can launch a truly integrated international network-of-networks. This track is specifically framed as building on prior NSF research awards, using those earlier efforts as a starting point to design a larger, more synergistic international structure. The Implementation Track supports teams that are ready to put an international network-of-networks into action, building on prior research or networking awards such as an AccelNet Design award or an NSF Research Coordination Networks (RCN) award. Implementation is structured in two phases. Phase 1 funds activities that are exclusively about establishing and running the network-of-networks itself, and it is open broadly to PIs (including, but not limited to, teams that previously held Design Track awards). Phase 2 is more targeted: it supports early concept research that grows out of Phase 1 networking and is only available to Phase 1 awardees who, during the first 18 to 24 months, identify a critical research gap that the network is well-positioned to address.

From the opportunity record, the funding instrument is a grant under NSF, categorized as science and technology research and development. It references multiple NSF CFDA numbers (47.041, 47.049, 47.050, 47.070, 47.074, 47.075, 47.076, 47.079, 47.083, 47.084), signaling that the program spans NSF directorates and scientific domains rather than being limited to a single discipline. The listing indicates an expected 14 awards, and the eligibility field points to "Others" with additional clarification in the full solicitation. The opportunity was created on August 26, 2023, with an original closing date of December 11, 2023, and it lists an award ceiling of 0, which typically indicates that the ceiling is not specified in that summary field and applicants should consult the full program solicitation for budget guidance and constraints.

Overall, AccelNet is best understood as NSF support for structured international research community-building at scale, where the deliverables are strong coordination mechanisms, a durable and synergistic international network-of-networks, and a pipeline of U.S.-based researchers trained to thrive in the practical realities of international, multi-team science.

• 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, 47.084.
• This funding opportunity was created on Aug 26, 2023.
• Applicants must submit their applications by Dec 11, 2023. (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 14 candidate(s).
• Eligible applicants include: Others (see text field entitled Additional Information on Eligibility for clarification).

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