The timeline for the NSF 2026 Idea Machine. NSF plans to announce approximately four winning ideas next summer. Click to enlarge.
(Image credit - NSF)
Last week, the National Science Foundation announced
Through Oct. 26, NSF will accept proposals from eligible
The winners will receive $26,000 cash awards, but NSF says that the real reward is that winning entries could help shape its programs and research agendas. The agency will also showcase up to 100 of the top submissions on the competition website.
The timeline for the NSF 2026 Idea Machine. NSF plans to announce approximately four winning ideas next summer. Click to enlarge.
(Image credit - NSF)
For the purpose of the competition, NSF defines a Big Idea as a compelling research challenge that is “large in scope, innovative in character, and requires a long-term commitment.” A Big Idea must also “attract creative contributions from many researchers,” “cross traditional scientific boundaries,” and lead to “significant societal and scientific impact that would benefit many stakeholders.” NSF explains that proposals should also fit within the agency’s mission
The initial set of 10 Big Ideas, first announced
Earlier this year, NSF incorporated
Suzi Iacono, head of NSF’s Office of Integrative Activities, and Deb Olster, chair of the NSF 2026 Working Group, are leading the NSF 2026 Fund and competition. FYI spoke with them earlier this summer.
Iacono said the competition was originally proposed as “NSF 2050” to celebrate NSF’s upcoming centennial, but NSF leadership preferred to call it “NSF 2026” in honor of the 250th anniversary of the U.S. and the “valuable contributions NSF has made to the nation.”
Calling the competition a form of “crowdsourcing,” Olster says it provides NSF an opportunity to reach the public and the agency’s non-traditional audiences. Iacono explained that NSF wants to “engage all of our stakeholders and really reach out very broadly, to high school science classes but also to professional societies.” The agency also “certainly welcome[s] and expects” entries from its more traditional academic partners, says Olster.
Iacono says that anyone who has a Big Idea and wants to share it with NSF should submit it, emphasizing that,
NSF is open for business in Big Ideas.
Iacono and Olster said it is not clear yet whether the ideas that emerge from the competition will be treated on par with the original 10. Depending on the ideas that are put forward, Iacono said they could become new programs or integrated into existing programs. It is also unclear whether winning ideas will lead to new funding requests or research funding opportunities. Iacono explained that any budget allocations would be the result of “a long process.” She elaborated,
We’re advertising it as ‘This is where Big Ideas 2.0 could come from,’ but there might be some small ideas, or there might be some medium ideas. We imagine that these could be seen and might be picked up in our center-scale research programs, or in our research traineeship programs. … Depending on what kinds of areas are important for investment at that point in time, they could pick up these themes.
In conclusion, Iacono encouraged potential entrants who may be on the fence to submit an idea, stressing:
This is an opportunity to really help shape the fundamental, basic research agenda of the nation by helping NSF with its long-term planning. Yes, there are some prizes involved as well, but … the real excitement is to have a voice in the mission of a really important agency. You have a chance to impact the future of the nation, the quality of life, the future direction of science and technology.