NNH20ZEA001N-ULI: D.4 University Leadership Initiative (ULI)
Closed
This grant is closed. Who won this program's grants before is below, and similar open grants are at the end of the page. It is in our archive of NASA Headquarters notices from 2021.
NASA Headquarters offered grants to any type of organization. It expected to make about 3 awards. Applications closed on June 22, 2021.
From the official notice on Grants.gov, last changed March 23, 2021. Checked November 7, 2026.
- Expected awards3
- Award amountsNot given on Grants.gov
- Cost sharingNot required
- Funding typeCooperative Agreement
Other notices with this title
| Notice | Posted | Deadline | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| NNH21ZEA001N-ULI | June 29, 2022 | Closed August 30, 2022 | Closed |
Key dates
| Posted | March 23, 2021 |
|---|---|
| Deadline | June 22, 2021 |
| Archived by Grants.gov | July 22, 2021 |
Who can apply
This opportunity was open to any type of organization.
- Unrestricted (i.e., open to any type of entity above), subject to any clarification in text field entitled "Additional Information on Eligibility"
Is this a realistic fit?
- Most of the program's money (45% over five years) went to nonprofits.
- No cost sharing or match is required.
What the grant funds
University Leadership Initiative (ULI) provides the opportunity for university teams to exercise technical and organizational leadership in proposing unique technical challenges in aeronautics, defining multi-disciplinary solutions, establishing peer review mechanisms, and applying innovative teaming strategies to strengthen the research impact. Research proposals are sought in seven ULI topic areas in Appendix D.4. Topic 1: Safe, Efficient Growth in Global Operations (Strategic Thrust 1) Topic 2: Innovation in Commercial Supersonic Aircraft (Strategic Thrust 2) Topic 3: Ultra-Efficient Subsonic Transports (Strategic Thrust 3) Topic 4: Safe, Quiet, and Affordable Vertical Lift Air Vehicles (Strategic Thrust 4) Topic 5: In-Time System-Wide Safety Assurance (Strategic Thrust 5) Topic 6: Assured Autonomy for Aviation Transformation (Strategic Thrust 6) Topic 7: Zero Emission Aviation This NRA will utilize a two-step proposal submission and evaluation process. The initial step is a short mandatory Step-A proposal due June 22, 2021. Those offerors submitting the most highly rated Step-A proposals will be invited to submit a Step-B proposal. All proposals must be submitted electronically through NSPIRES at https://nspires.nasaprs.com. An Applicant’s Workshop will be held on Thursday April 15, 2021; 1:00-3:00 p.m. ET (https://uli.arc.nasa.gov/applicants-workshops/workshop5).
Who has won Aeronautics grants before
From fiscal 2021 to 2025, Aeronautics (43.002) awarded $357 million across 242 grant awards, an average of $1.5 million per award.
| Recipient | State | Awards | Amount |
|---|---|---|---|
| San Jose State University Research Foundation | California | 2 | $61.8 million |
| The Boeing Company | Missouri | 13 | $59.3 million |
| Georgia Tech Research Corp | Georgia | 13 | $14.9 million |
| Wichita State University | Kansas | 5 | $14.0 million |
| University of Illinois | Illinois | 6 | $14.0 million |
Applying now
This notice no longer takes applications. Agencies often post the same opportunity again under a new number, so check the program's notices on Grants.gov and the similar open grants below.
The notice on Grants.gov keeps its full text and attachments, which is useful for planning a resubmission.
Questions people ask
Is NNH20ZEA001N-ULI still open?
No. It closed on June 22, 2021.
Who can apply for D.4 University Leadership Initiative (ULI)?
NASA Headquarters accepted applications from any type of organization.
What is the deadline for D.4 University Leadership Initiative (ULI)?
Closed June 22, 2021. Applications are no longer accepted; the program's newer notices are on this page when there are any.
Who has won Aeronautics grants before?
The largest recipients over five fiscal years were San Jose State University Research Foundation, The Boeing Company, Georgia Tech Research Corp. The program made 242 awards worth $357 million in that time.