Geoinformatics | 21 583

Opportunity Information: Apply for 21 583

The National Science Foundation (NSF), through its Division of Earth Sciences (EAR), is soliciting proposals under the funding opportunity titled "Geoinformatics" (Funding Opportunity Number 21-583). This program focuses on building and improving cyberinfrastructure for the Earth sciences, meaning the digital systems, platforms, tools, and services that help researchers collect, manage, share, analyze, and preserve Earth science data and software. The overall intent is to strengthen the technical backbone that Earth scientists rely on to answer research questions, collaborate across institutions, and make research outputs more usable and reusable over time.

A key feature of this opportunity is that it is organized into three tracks that reflect the typical lifecycle of a geoinformatics resource. The Catalytic Track is meant for early-stage, pilot-style efforts. These are development projects that test new ideas, demonstrate feasibility, and create initial working capabilities that can later scale. The Facility Track is designed for more mature resources that are ready for broader implementation and ongoing operation. In practice, this track supports cyberinfrastructure that one or more Earth science communities depend on, where reliability, user support, and sustained operations are central needs rather than one-time development. The Sustainability Track addresses what happens when valuable data systems and software products need to persist beyond initial grant funding. It supports the creation and rollout of sustainable funding or business models that can preserve and maintain high-value data and software so they remain available and useful to Earth science research in the long run, including during transitions such as sunsetting or moving to a stable long-term home.

In administrative terms, this is a discretionary grant program in the Science and Technology and other Research and Development category, listed under CFDA 47.050. The sponsoring agency is NSF. The opportunity was created on May 6, 2021, with an original closing date of August 16, 2021. NSF anticipated making around 10 awards. The listing shows an award ceiling of 0, which typically indicates that a fixed maximum award amount is not specified in the synopsis and applicants should rely on the full solicitation and program guidance for budget expectations and constraints. Eligibility is listed broadly as "Others" with additional details to be referenced in the solicitation's eligibility section.

Overall, the program is aimed at strengthening Earth science research by supporting digital infrastructure at multiple stages: launching new pilots, scaling and operating widely used community resources, and ensuring long-term preservation and maintenance of important Earth science data and software through realistic sustainability planning.

• The National Science Foundation in the science and technology and other research and development sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Geoinformatics" and is now available to receive applicants.
• Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 47.050.
• This funding opportunity was created on May 06, 2021.
• Applicants must submit their applications by Aug 16, 2021. (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 10 candidate(s).
• Eligible applicants include: Others (see text field entitled Additional Information on Eligibility for clarification).

Apply for 21 583

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