The Experimental Program to Stimulate Competitive Research (EPSCoR) is a joint program of the National Science Foundation (NSF) and 27 U.S. states and territories including Delaware. The program seeks to develop a more equitable distribution of Federal R&D funds across the country by promoting the development of a state's science and technology (S&T) resources through partnerships involving the state's universities, industry, government, and the Federal research and development (R&D) enterprise.
States receiving EPSCoR status are eligible for the following:
- NSF EPSCoR Research Infrastructure Improvement (RII) grant - States can apply for infrastructure improvement grants of up to $9 million over three years. A 50% non-federal match is required.
- NSF EPSCoR co-funding support - NSF can elect to provide co-funding support for highly rated grant proposals that fall just below the funding cut off for a particular program. A state's EPSCoR status is registered automatically when a proposal is submitted through NSF FastLane.
- NSF EPSCoR Outreach - NSF will provide training for a state's researchers on NSF priorities, programs, and policies
Delaware was designated a NSF EPSCoR State and an NSF EPSCoR planning grant was awarded to the Delaware Biotechnology Institute (DBI) at the University of Delaware (UD) in January 2003.
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This material is based on work supported by the National
Science Foundation under Grant No. EPS-0408729.
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Over the next 18 months, DBI, along with the Delaware State EPSCoR Committee, worked with State
representatives to secure a commitment from the State of for matching funds which would enable Delaware to
submit an RII grant proposal. Led by DBI, a partnership of Delaware's institutions of higher education:
University of Delaware, Delaware State University, Wesley College, and the Delaware Technical and Community
College, developed the Delaware RII grant proposal and submitted it on July 17, 2004.
The grant proposal is a critical component of Delaware’s strategic thrust in the life sciences and
biotechnology, and focuses on building inter- and intra-institutional, interdisciplinary research capability
in the arena of Complex Environmental Systems. The theme was chosen based on its relevance to
Delaware’s science and technology needs, the potential to contribute broadly to the national research
agenda, and the value it will bring to the research and education missions of the four participating
institutions. Program components include research, outreach, ethics and public policy, and economic
development.
The Partnership was awarded their first EPSCoR RII grant in March 2005 with David Weir of the Delaware
Biotechnology Institute as the Principal Investigator and the University of Delaware as the lead institution.
Funding for the grant consists of $6 million from NSF plus $3 million in matching funds from the
State of Delaware for a total of $9 million over a three year period starting March 1, 2005.
