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NASA EPSCoR

Overview

The National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) Experimental Program to Stimulate Competitive Research (EPSCoR) establishes partnerships with government, higher education and industry that are designed to effect lasting improvements in a state's or region's research infrastructure, R&D capacity and hence, its national R&D competitiveness. In addition to the research and technology development, the awards enable faculty development and higher education student support. The EPSCoR program is directed at those jurisdictions that have not in the past participated equably in competitive aerospace and aerospace-related research activities. Twenty-eight states and the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico currently participate. Seven federal agencies conduct EPSCoR programs, including NASA. The goal of EPSCoR is to provide seed funding that will enable jurisdictions to develop an academic research enterprise directed toward long-term, self-sustaining, nationally-competitive capabilities in aerospace and aerospace-related research.

View EPSCoR Directors by State/Jurisdiction

NASA EPSCoR Objectives

  • Contribute to and promote the development of research infrastructure in NASA EPSCoR jurisdictions in areas of strategic importance to the NASA mission
  • Improve the capabilities of the jurisdictions to gain support from sources outside the NASA EPSCoR program
  • Develop partnerships between NASA research assets, academic institutions, and industry
  • Contribute to the overall research infrastructure, science and technology capabilities, higher education, and/or economic development of the jurisdiction
  • Work in close coordination with Space Grant to improve the environment for science, technology, engineering and mathematics education in the jurisdiction

Two Main Components of NASA EPSCoR

  • EPSCoR Research Infrastructure Development, or RID. This component enables jurisdictions to build and strengthen relationships with NASA researchers. The RID has a three-year base period of performance with a potential single, two-year renewable period of performance. Awards are $125,000 per year. NASA intends to announce the RID opportunity every three to five years, pending funding availability.
  • EPSCoR Research Awards solicits topic-specific proposals addressing high-priority NASA research and technology development needs. Awards are up to $750,000 for a three-year performance period. NASA intends to announce the EPSCoR CAN for Research Awards yearly, pending funding availabilty.

Funding Opportunities

NASA-Missouri Space Grant Consortium 2019 Associates Award Competition

Announcement

Solicitation: May 21, 2019
Proposals Due: July 1, 2019
Anticipated Period of Performance: August 15, 2019 – April 30, 2020

Introduction

The NASA-Missouri Space Grant Consortium is requesting proposals to extend the Consortium’s capabilities and enhance collaborations with Missouri academic institutions that are not permanent members. The MOSGC expects to award a total of approximately $70,000 under this solicitation for proposals with anticipated funding levels ranging from $7,500 to $15,000 per proposal. Proposals for lesser amounts will be considered. Note that, excluding fellowships and scholarships, a one-to-one cost share match is required for all funds awarded as a result of this solicitation. The Missouri Space Grant Office reserves the right to partially fund proposals if deemed appropriate.

The main mission of the Consortium is to maintain and enhance, through the State's research universities and corporate partners, the Nation’s workforce capabilities in aerospace and space related science, engineering, and technology; and to aid in the dissemination of NASA related information to students, faculty, researchers, and the general public. The primary goal of the Consortium is to inspire, motivate, recruit, educate, and train students to be competent researchers at all academic levels in order to help meet Missouri’s and NASA’s need for skilled, knowledgeable, diverse, and high-performing professional scientists, engineers, technologists, and educators specializing in the fields of interest to NASA.

Eligibility

Eligibility is limited to accredited academic institutions and informal education providers in Missouri that are not permanent Affiliates of the Consortium.

For more information regarding Missouri NASA EPSCoR, contact Dr. S.N. Balakrishnan, bala@mst.edu.