Major Research Instrumentation Program
Funds shared research instruments too expensive for an ordinary grant — up to $4 million to buy one or to build one that does not exist yet.
MRI exists for the instruments that fall between grants: multi-user kit that is too costly, or simply the wrong shape, for a normal research award. It pays either to acquire an instrument commercially from a vendor, or to cover the people and equipment needed to develop one with capabilities nothing on the market has.
Both halves matter to NSF. Acquisition removes a barrier where fundamental rese…
Acquisition or development of multi-user research instrumentation for higher education and not-for-profit research organisations, in any science or engineering field NSF supports, including a dedicated track for equipment that conserves or reduces helium consumption.
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Guides for this application
All guides →NSF Biosketch Guide: SciENcv, Format, and Examples
Learn how the NSF biosketch works, what SciENcv is used for, how it differs from current and pending support, and what startup teams should prepare.
DocumentsNSF Data Management Plan Example and Writing Guide
Learn how to write an NSF data management plan, what the plan should include, how it differs from NIH data sharing plans, and how startup applicants should handle data.
Write proposalHow to Write a Grant Proposal Reviewers Can Score
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DocumentsGrant Work Plan Template: Work Packages, Gantt, Milestones, and Risks
Use this grant work plan template to structure work packages, tasks, owners, deliverables, Gantt timing, dependencies, and risk registers.
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