# Centers of Research Excellence in Science and Technology (CREST)

Source: https://welltoldgrants.com/grants/23-595-centers-of-research-excellence-in-science-and-technology/  
Official notice: https://www.grants.gov/search-results-detail/348375

> U.S. National Science Foundation is offering grants to the applicants described in the notice. It expects to make $8.0 million in total. Applications close on December 4, 2026.

| Field | Value |
|---|---|
| Opportunity number | 23-595 |
| Agency | U.S. National Science Foundation |
| Status | Open |
| Deadline | December 4, 2026 |
| Award ceiling | not stated |
| Award floor | not stated |
| Expected awards | not stated |
| Total funding | $8.0 million |
| Cost sharing | not required |
| Assistance Listings | 47.076 |

## Who can apply

- Others (see text field entitled "Additional Information on Eligibility" for clarification)

*Who May Submit Proposals: Proposals may only be submitted by the following: -Eligible institutions are MSIs that offer graduate degrees in NSF STEM areas and have enrollments of 50% or more students (based on total student enrollment) who are members of minority groups underrepresented among those holding advanced degrees in science and engineering fields. Proposals are also invited from institutions of higher education that meet the 50% enrollment criterion and primarily serve populations of students with disabilities. Eligibility may be determined by reference to the Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS) of the US Department of Education National Center for Education Statistics (http://nces.ed.gov/ipeds/). Funding of partnering institutions should be requested via subawards in the full proposal; separately submitted collaborative proposals will not be accepted. CREST partnership supplemental funding requests are accepted only from current CREST Center awardees. *Who May Serve as PI: The Principal Investigator (PI) must hold a full-time faculty appointment at the institution submitting the proposal.

## What the grant funds

CREST Center awards provide support to enhance the research capabilities of Minority-serving institutions (MSIs) through the establishment of centers that effectively integrate education and research. CREST Center awards promote the development of new knowledge, enhancements of the research productivity of individual faculty, and an expanded presence of students historically underrepresented in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) disciplines. Successful CREST Center proposals will demonstrate a clear vision and integration of STEM research and education and will align with the mission of the Division of Equity for Excellence in STEM (EES) with respect to the development of a diverse STEM workforce. CREST Centers are also expected to provide leadership by meaningfully involving the efforts of those faculty, students, and postdoctoral researchers who are traditionally underrepresented in STEM at all levels. Centers are required to use evidence-based and innovative strategies to address salient broadening participation and workforce development issues, such as recruitment, retention, and mentorship of participants from underrepresented groups. Successful proposals are expected to achieve national research competitiveness, broaden participation in STEM, and generate sustained, non-CREST funding from federal, state, and/or private-sector sources. Phase I and Phase II CREST Center Awards Preliminary proposals are required for Phase I and Phase II projects. Thus, an invitation from NSF must be received before submitting a full proposal. Both Phase I and Phase II CREST Center awards provide multi-year support for institutions that demonstrate a strong research base. Phase I CREST Center awards provide funding for five years of research on a specific NSF-supported topic. If invited, institutions may submit a Phase II CREST Center proposal requesting funding to continue research in the same disciplinary area as the Phase I Center or may submit a Phase I proposal focused on a disciplinary area that is significantly different from those of the previous award(s). CREST Partnership Supplements CREST Partnership Supplemental funding requests are invited from current CREST Center awardees.

## Questions people ask

### Who can apply for Centers of Research Excellence in Science and Technology (CREST)?

U.S. National Science Foundation accepts applications from the applicants described in the notice. The notice adds further conditions, so read its eligibility section.

### What is the deadline for Centers of Research Excellence in Science and Technology (CREST)?

Closes December 4, 2026 (34 days left). Confirm the date and time in the official notice on Grants.gov.

### How much funding is available?

About $8.0 million in total.