Accelerating Research through International Network-to-Network Collaborations (AccelNet)

Overview

<p>The goals of the Accelerating Research through International Network-to-Network Collaborations (AccelNet) program are to accelerate the process of scientific discovery and prepare the next generation of U.S. researchers for multiteam international collaborations. The AccelNet program supports strategic linkages among U.S. research networks and complementary networks abroad that will leverage research and educational resources to tackle grand research challenges that require significant coordinated international efforts.</p> <p>AccelNet supports new linkages among networks of researchers in the U.S. and complementary networks abroad that will leverage research and educational resources and assets for the purposes of:</p> <ul> <li>accelerating the process of scientific discovery; and</li> <li>preparing U.S. science and engineering students, postdoctoral scholars, and early-career researchers for success in conducting and leading multiteam international collaborations.</li> </ul> <p>The program seeks to foster high-impact science and engineering by providing opportunities to cooperatively identify and coordinate efforts to address knowledge gaps and research needs. This solicitation invites proposals for the creation of international networks of networks in research areas aligned with a grand challenge identified as a priority by the research community or NSF, such as the NSF Big Ideas or in an active program solicitation. AccelNet awards support the connections among research networks, rather than supporting fundamental research as the primary activity. Each network of networks is expected to engage in innovative collaborative activities that promote synergy of efforts across networks and provide professional development for U.S. students, postdoctoral scholars, and early-career researchers. Two proposal categories covered by this solicitation include: <em>Design and Implementation</em>.</p> <p><strong>Funding Tracks</strong></p> <p>NSF recognizes that some research networks will need time and resources to formulate networks of networks, while others are ready to implement networks of networks.</p> <p><strong>Design Track:</strong> This track will support design efforts for durations of up to 2 years, and for up to a total of $250,000, to enable networks to develop operational links among networks and to design collaborative approaches that would address knowledge gaps. These awards are for networks linked by a common research theme that have preliminary ideas on how to develop the network of network characteristics described herein, but are at an early stage of project design (e.g., identifying research and professional development needs, priorities, and goals, developing partnerships and collaboration strategies). It is not expected that projects be funded first in the Design track prior to being considered in the Implementation track.</p> <p><strong>Implementation Track:</strong> This track will support more established networks of networks for durations of 3 to 5 years, and for up to a total of $2 million, to implement coordination across networks on a research roadmap to advance theory, methods, tools, and/or integration across fields. These awards are to enable networks to coordinate research priorities and resources to address knowledge gaps and overcome research roadblocks. These awards are for networks with an operational core of communication on a common research theme in the U.S. and abroad that already have (a) established an understanding of knowledge gaps across the networks, (b) compelling vision for how synergies across the networks would lead to new research directions and innovation in solution of complex problems, (c) developed scalable team science strategies and logistics, and (d) designed an organizational structure that supports collaborative involvement in leadership and broad participation in activities by network members. Examples of supported activities to foster such connections include, but are not limited to, synthesis efforts to integrate and transfer knowledge, personnel exchanges, interdisciplinary international training, data exchanges, working groups, developing and disseminating products and practices, and the adoption of existing cyber tools to enable linkages between the U.S. network and counterpart networks in other countries or regions. </p> <p>For<em> both tracks</em>, the program expects to make awards covering a range of budget requests, commensurate with the scale and scope of each project. The proposed international networks of networks may vary in size and maturity, but a minimum of three research networks must be linked. These may include a combination of domestic, foreign, or inherently multinational research networks. Proposers are encouraged to outline virtual, hybrid, or other alternative approaches to international collaboration that would enhance travel or substitute in the event travel is not undertaken.</p>