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.Apply for 23 619
- 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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AccelNet (NSF) Grant Opportunity FAQs
What is the NSF AccelNet opportunity?
Accelerating Research through International Network-to-Network Collaborations (AccelNet) is a National Science Foundation (NSF) program that supports structured, international collaboration at scale. Its central idea is to build and strengthen "networks of networks" (NoN), meaning connected groups of research teams and existing collaborations that coordinate plans, share capabilities, and move forward faster together than they could separately.
What problem is AccelNet trying to solve?
AccelNet is designed for the reality that modern science often requires tightly coordinated international teamwork across disciplines, cultures, institutions, and countries. The program emphasizes that certain scientific challenges are too large for any single team or nation, and progress depends on intentional cooperation and coordinated planning across multiple networks.
What does "network of networks (NoN)" mean in this program?
In AccelNet, a network of networks refers to interconnected groups of research teams and existing collaborations that intentionally align their strategies and activities. The focus is on creating synergy across participating networks so the combined effort becomes stronger than the sum of its parts.
What are the main goals of AccelNet?
AccelNet has two core purposes: (1) leverage prior NSF investments that built research capacity and use that foundation to launch international network-of-networks activities that keep accelerating a scientific area even after the award ends, and (2) recruit, train, and support a diverse U.S.-based workforce prepared to participate in and lead complex international, multi-team collaborations.
Is workforce development a central requirement or a secondary benefit?
Workforce development is a primary expected outcome, not an add-on. AccelNet expects attention to diversity and practical international competence, such as coordinating across institutions, time zones, languages, norms, data practices, and research cultures.
What research areas are eligible under AccelNet?
The scope is broad: proposals may be in any research area that NSF funds. AccelNet particularly welcomes topics connected to major "grand challenges" recognized by research communities and/or NSF, as long as international cooperation is essential to achieving the goals.
What makes a proposal a good fit for AccelNet (based on the description provided)?
A strong fit is a proposal that clearly shows the research area will advance faster because of deliberate, structured international coordination in planning and networking. It is not enough that collaborators happen to be in different countries; the proposal needs to justify why intentional international coordination is necessary and how it will be organized.
What outcomes does NSF expect successful AccelNet projects to demonstrate?
Successful proposals are expected to demonstrate three outcomes: (1) acceleration of scientific progress at a pace that would be unrealistic without deliberate international coordination, (2) improved competitiveness of network members for future research funding after the award period, and (3) development of a diverse, U.S.-based cohort trained to operate in and lead international, multi-team collaborations, often implying meaningful roles for students and early-career researchers.
What kinds of activities does AccelNet fund?
AccelNet expects detailed, credible plans for collaborative networking activities that create synergy across the full network-of-networks. Examples mentioned include coordinated workshops, shared roadmaps, training and exchange mechanisms, community-building efforts, and (when relevant) data and tool harmonization and other practices that help integrate efforts across participating networks.
Is AccelNet simply funding meetings and workshops?
No. While workshops can be part of the approach, NSF expects thoughtful structures and integrated activities that strengthen coordination across the entire network-of-networks, rather than a stand-alone series of meetings.
How is AccelNet organized?
AccelNet is organized into two tracks that reflect different stages of readiness: a Design Track for building alignment and capacity to form an integrated international network-of-networks, and an Implementation Track for executing an international network-of-networks that is ready to operate.
What is the AccelNet Design Track?
The Design Track supports teams that need time and resources to build capacity and alignment across groups to launch an integrated international network-of-networks. It is framed as building on prior NSF research awards, using those earlier efforts as a starting point for designing a larger, more synergistic international structure.
What is the AccelNet Implementation Track?
The Implementation Track supports teams that are ready to put an international network-of-networks into action. It builds on prior research or networking awards, including (as examples) an AccelNet Design award or an NSF Research Coordination Networks (RCN) award.
How does the Implementation Track work (Phase 1 vs Phase 2)?
Implementation has two phases. Phase 1 funds activities exclusively focused on establishing and running the network-of-networks itself and is broadly open to PIs (including, but not limited to, teams that previously held Design Track awards). Phase 2 supports early concept research that emerges from Phase 1 networking and is only available to Phase 1 awardees who identify a critical research gap during the first 18 to 24 months that the network is well-positioned to address.
Who can apply for Implementation Phase 2?
Only Phase 1 awardees are eligible for Phase 2, and Phase 2 depends on identifying a critical research gap during the first 18 to 24 months of Phase 1 that the network-of-networks is well-positioned to address.
Do applicants need prior NSF awards to apply?
The program description emphasizes building on prior NSF investments. The Design Track is specifically framed around building from prior NSF research awards. The Implementation Track is described as building on prior research or networking awards (including AccelNet Design or NSF RCN), while also noting Phase 1 is open broadly to PIs, including but not limited to prior Design Track teams.
What does AccelNet mean by "international competence" for the U.S.-based workforce?
The description points to practical readiness for international collaboration, including the ability to coordinate across institutions, time zones, languages, norms, data practices, and different research cultures.
What is the funding instrument and what type of program is this?
The opportunity uses an NSF grant funding instrument and is categorized as science and technology research and development.
How many awards does NSF expect to make?
The opportunity record indicates an expected 14 awards.
What NSF program areas or disciplines does AccelNet cover?
The opportunity 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), which signals that AccelNet spans NSF directorates and scientific domains rather than being limited to a single discipline.
What is listed as the award ceiling for this opportunity?
The listing shows an award ceiling of 0. In this kind of summary field, that typically indicates the ceiling is not specified in the record and applicants should consult the full program solicitation for budget guidance and constraints.
What does the eligibility field say?
The eligibility field points to "Others" with additional clarification available in the full solicitation.
What were the key dates shown in the opportunity record?
The opportunity was created on August 26, 2023. The record shows an original closing date of December 11, 2023.
What are the expected deliverables or results of an AccelNet award?
Based on the description, AccelNet deliverables emphasize durable coordination mechanisms and community-building at scale: a functioning and synergistic international network-of-networks, structured networking activities that accelerate progress, strengthened readiness of members to compete for future funding, and a pipeline of U.S.-based researchers trained for international, multi-team science.
How should applicants think about "cooperation vs competition" in AccelNet?
AccelNet is framed around the idea that cooperation is often the most effective way to push a field forward when challenges require multi-team, multinational coordination. The program supports intentional structures that enable collaborators to plan together, align complementary strengths, and synchronize effort across an international network-of-networks.
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