NSF 23-621: Focused Research Groups in the Mathematical Sciences (MS-FRG)
Closed
This grant is closed. A newer notice from the same program is open now: Major Research Instrumentation Program: (MRI) (NSF 27-500). Status: Closes January 29, 2027 (83 days left). It is in our archive of U.S. National Science Foundation notices from 2026.
U.S. National Science Foundation offered grants of up to $1.5 million (at least $450,000) to the applicants described in the notice. It expected to make about 10 awards worth $12.0 million in total. It is no longer open on Grants.gov.
From the official notice on Grants.gov, last changed August 17, 2026. Checked November 7, 2026.
- Award ceiling$1.5 million
- Award floor$450,000
- Total funding$12.0 million
- Expected awards10
- Cost sharingNot required
- Funding typeGrant
Key dates
| Posted | August 17, 2026 |
|---|---|
| Archived by Grants.gov | August 18, 2026 |
Who can apply
This opportunity was open to the applicants described in the notice.
- Others (see text field entitled "Additional Information on Eligibility" for clarification)
*Who May Submit Proposals: Proposals may only be submitted by the following: -Institutions of Higher Education (IHEs): Two- and four-year IHEs (including community colleges) accredited in, and having a campus located in the US, acting on behalf of their faculty members. Special Instructions for International Branch Campuses of US IHEs: If the proposal includes funding to be provided to an international branch campus of a US institution of higher education (including through use of sub-awards and consultant arrangements), the proposer must explain the benefit(s) to the project of performance at the international branch campus, and justify why the project activities cannot be performed at the US campus.
Is this a realistic fit?
- Past Mathematical and Physical Sciences awards averaged $568,976; this notice allows up to $1.5 million per award.
- Most of the program's money (80% over five years) went to colleges and universities.
- No cost sharing or match is required.
What the grant funds
The purpose of the Focused Research Group activity is to support collaborative groups employing innovative methods to solve specific, major research challenges in the mathematical sciences. A major challenge is an outstanding problem of significant importance that requires the focused and synergistic efforts of a collaborative group to solve, and whose solution will have wide impacts in the mathematical sciences and potentially in other areas. Groups may include, in addition to statisticians and mathematicians, researchers from other science and engineering disciplines appropriate for the proposed research. Risky projects are welcome. Interdisciplinary projects are welcome. Projects should be timely, limited in duration to up to three years, and substantial in their scope and impact for the mathematical sciences. Funded projects that show substantial progress in their first two years may be recommended for a creativity extension for up to an additional two years.
Who has won Mathematical and Physical Sciences grants before
From fiscal 2021 to 2025, Mathematical and Physical Sciences (47.049) awarded $8.5 billion across 14,898 grant awards, an average of $568,976 per award.
| Recipient | State | Awards | Amount |
|---|---|---|---|
| Association of Universities for Research in Astronomy, Inc. | Arizona | 22 | $725 million |
| Associated Universities Inc | Virginia | 18 | $646 million |
| California Institute of Technology | California | 148 | $316 million |
| Cornell University | New York | 179 | $256 million |
| Florida State University | Florida | 92 | $228 million |
Applying now
This notice no longer takes applications. Apply under the newer notice, NSF 27-500, which is open now.
The notice on Grants.gov keeps its full text and attachments, which is useful for planning a resubmission.
Questions people ask
Is NSF 23-621 still open?
No. It is no longer open on Grants.gov. A newer notice is open: NSF 27-500, closes January 29, 2027 (83 days left).
Who can apply for Focused Research Groups in the Mathematical Sciences (MS-FRG)?
U.S. National Science Foundation accepted applications from the applicants described in the notice. The notice adds further conditions, so read its eligibility section.
What is the deadline for Focused Research Groups in the Mathematical Sciences (MS-FRG)?
Closed. Applications are no longer accepted; the program's newer notices are on this page when there are any.
How much funding is available?
Awards of up to $1.5 million each. About $12.0 million in total across about 10 awards.
Who has won Mathematical and Physical Sciences grants before?
The largest recipients over five fiscal years were Association of Universities for Research in Astronomy, Inc., Associated Universities Inc, California Institute of Technology. The program made 14,898 awards worth $8.5 billion in that time.