Foundational Research in Robotics
Funds foundational robotics — and asks three questions of every proposal: is there a robot, does it gain a capability, is robotics essential.
This programme is run jointly by NSF's computing and engineering directorates, and it funds robotic systems that are demanding both computationally and physically.
NSF defines a robot for its own purposes: intelligence embodied in an engineered construct, able to process information, sense, plan, and move within or substantially alter its working environment. Intelligence here is broad — any meth…
Foundational robotics research on systems with significant computational capability and physical complexity — intelligence, computation and embodiment together or separately, provided the work is justified in the context of a class of robots and makes a fundamental contribution to robotics.
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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.
Where to applyGrants for Robotics Startups: SBIR, Defense, NSF, and Pilot Funding
A practical guide to grants for robotics startups, including SBIR/STTR, NSF, DoD, NASA, field validation, TRL, pilot evidence, budgets, and commercialization strategy.
Write proposalHow to Write a Grant Proposal Reviewers Can Score
Learn how to write a grant proposal around reviewer criteria, evidence, work packages, budget logic, and commercialization for deeptech and R&D funding.
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