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ERI Funding Opportunities

Welcome to the ERI Funding Opportunities Site

College of Engineering campus
Research drives excellence in the College of Engineering by serving as a magnet to attract and retain outstanding faculty and students. Funding opportunities relevant to the College of Engineering will be posted here. If you are interested in pursuing any of these opportunities please contact ERI at eri-pre@iastate.edu for assistance or additional information. New opportunities are posted weekly. To have the new opportunities delivered directly to your inbox please subscribe using your ISU email address. One email per week.

 

 

Academic Innovation Challenge – FY27 Solicitation

NASA

Solicitation: M2M X-Hab

https://lists.epss.net/campaigns/eb249t9v2ma8d/track-url/cs601y2s053a7/e173ed59270ab2eb044e5d52bb1fd99ee2860db3

Posted Date: March 12, 2026

Proposal Due Date: May 01, 2026

The Moon to Mars eXploration Systems and Habitation (M2M X-Hab) 2027 Academic Innovation
Challenge is a university-level challenge designed to develop strategic partnerships and collaborations
with universities. It has been organized to help bridge strategic knowledge gaps and increase knowledge
in capabilities and technology risk reduction related to NASA’s vision and missions. The competition is
intended to link with senior- and graduate-level design curricula that emphasize hands-on design,
research, development, and manufacturing of functional prototypical subsystems that enable functionality
for space habitats and deep space exploration missions. NASA will directly benefit from the challenge by
sponsoring the development of innovative concepts and technologies from universities, which will result
in novel ideas and solutions that could be applied to exploration.
Innovation is the keystone to this challenge. Universities and investigators not normally associated with
the aerospace industry are encouraged to consider their potential contribution to changing the way the
space industry views the solution space.
NASA’s Mars Campaign Office (MCO) anticipates offering multiple awards of up to $15k – $50k each to
design and produce studies or functional products of interest to NASA (see Section 3.2, M2M X-Hab
Proposal Topic List) as proposed by university teams according to their interests and expertise. The
prototypes produced by the university teams (examples of which are shown in Figure 1Figure 1) may be
integrated into existing NASA-built operational prototypes. Universities interested in participating will
submit M2M X-Hab proposals, which will be reviewed by technical experts; subsequent down-selection
will determine which projects will be funded. M2M X-Hab university teams will be required to complete
their products for evaluation by NASA MCO mentors in May 2027. Universities may form collaborations
to perform as a single distributed project team.

Advancing Global Health

Global Health Security

Solicitation: DFOP0017890

https://simpler.grants.gov/opportunity/084076e8-1f77-44f7-a832-35552c54454a

Posted Date: March 30, 2026

Submission of Interest (SOI) Due Date: May 31, 2026

The Department of State is announcing the launch of the Rapid Outbreak Response (ROR) projects, in line with the America First Global Health Strategy, to advance programming that enable timely, effective responses to infectious disease outbreaks by supporting immediate response actions during the earliest stages of an outbreak when rapid intervention can significantly limit transmission and reduce morbidity and mortality. These ROR efforts will capitalize on existing country capacities and partnerships to support swift activation of outbreak response activities, complementing national leadership and established response frameworks.
Projects supported under this addendum will prioritize speed, operational readiness, and flexibility, enabling countries to respond rapidly to evolving epidemiological threats, while maintaining coordination across national, regional, and international actors.
ROR projects will provide life-saving response support across key technical and operational domains, which may include (but are not limited to) coordination and incident management support; point of entry screening and border health measures; medical countermeasures; immunization for outbreak prevention and response; nutrition crisis prevention; infection prevention and control; case management; laboratory strengthening; surveillance and data
collection and use; and operational and logistical support. Activities are expected to be timebound, surge-oriented, culturally adapted and scalable, allowing partners to adapt interventions as outbreak dynamics change.

Generation Of Technical-data for High-strength Aluminum Alloy Material (GOTHAAM)

America Makes

Generation of Technical-data for High-strength Aluminum Alloy Material (GOTHAAM)

Posted Date: March 31, 2026

Proposal Due Date: June 02, 2026

Topics and Awards: This project call seeks to mature a laser powder bed fusion (LPBF) aluminum alloy capable of meeting the performance of aluminum 7075 through the generation of statistically based material property datasets across multiple machine size platforms. Efforts will span three different printer sizes, including a large-format system, to ensure scalability and consistency of material performance. In addition to achieving high strength, the project emphasizes corrosion resistance as a primary requirement, with focused evaluation of intergranular corrosion sensitivity and stress corrosion cracking behavior. Together, this work aims to establish a robust, data-driven foundation for reliable LPBF aluminum materials suitable for demanding aerospace applications.

Delta Qual 2.0

America Makes

Delta Qual 2.0

Posted Date: March 31, 2026

Proposal Due Date: June 02, 2026

Topics and Awards: The Delta Qual 2.0 Project Call advances next‑generation qualification methods for laser powder bed fusion (LPBF) to accelerate deployment, reduce risk, and improve consistency across machines and sites. It focuses on three integrated topics:
Topic 1: Quantitative Measurement-Based Installation Qualification to standardize and strengthen site acceptance and machine performance verification.
Topic 2: Bracketed Qualification for LPBF to define and validate a bounded processing window that permits parameter flexibility without requalification.
Topic 3: Red Team function that provides independent oversight, challenge, and verification of methods and results.
Together, these efforts aim to deliver practical, scalable frameworks that cut qualification cost and time while safeguarding material and part performance.

Dear Colleague Letter Empowering and Educating Children to Thrive in a Digital Era

NSF

Solicitation: 26-017

https://www.nsf.gov/funding/opportunities/dcl-empowering-educating-children-thrive-digital-era

Dear Colleague:

This Dear Colleague Letter (DCL) encourages proposal submissions that empower children to learn, grow, and thrive through the safe and innovative use of advanced technology. The U.S. National Science Foundation (NSF) is interested in proposals that investigate and advance evidence-based strategies, technologies and approaches, including artificial intelligence (Al) and other emerging technologies, to strengthen children’s safety and privacy online, create and expand educational opportunities for children, support and promote their well-being in the digital age, and strengthen the capacity of educators, parents, caregivers and community stakeholders to protect children from online dangers. NSF is also interested in the design of advanced learning environments that help children learn, grow, and thrive in the future across formal and informal educational settings.

The Design and Analysis of Integrated Guidance, Navigation, and Control Systems for Unmanned Air Vehicles

Naval Postgraduate School

Solicitation: 62.10.03.B4011

https://ra.nas.edu/RAPLab10/Opportunity/opportunity.aspx?LabCode=62&ROPCD=621003&RONum=B4011

Posted Date: March 27, 2025

Due Date: Open

We are investigating new ways of solving the multi-rate, asynchronous filtering problems in a frequency-like framework that is compatible with that used for control systems design and with the types of sensor specifications that are usually available from the manufacturers. Furthermore, we are interested in developing new algorithms that lift the usual assumption on the separation of the time scales associated with unmanned air vehicle sensor processing (navigation), vehicle dynamics (control), and kinematics (guidance).

Rapid Response Munitions Testing and Engineering Services Follow-On

DoD

Solicitation: N0017426R1010

https://sam.gov/workspace/contract/opp/ca80ec645a4a49fcb07aead199ffe961/view

Posted Date: March 3, 2026

Due Date: June 6, 2026

NSWC IHD and other Navy and DoD requiring activities require engineering services and rapid response testing support for a variety of programs, which protect and support the warfighter. The engineering services and rapid response testing support are a major requirement of the life-cycle process. Much of the testing support will require specialized test facilities with the capability to handle live ordnance and fixturing, which is able to accommodate extreme size and weights, or underwater. This support shall include engineering services and infrastructure for characterizing, testing, and documenting the performance of weapons, ammunition, munitions, and energetic systems, components and related systems.

Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA) – Speed to Power through Accelerated Reconductoring and other Key Advanced Transmission Technology Upgrades (SPARK)

DOE

Solicitation: DE-FOA-0003580

https://infrastructure-exchange.energy.gov/Default.aspx?utm_medium=email&utm_source=govdelivery#FoaIdde62ae78-ed5c-476c-bd42-d126d61175b9

Concept paper Due Date: April 2, 2026

Full application Due Date: May 20, 2026

SPARK is an opportunity to meet load demand growth and resource adequacy, and to address critical national, interregional, and regional needs. The Office of Electricity (OE) achieves these goals by stimulating investment in power system infrastructure and building partnerships between states, local governments, tribes, and power system operators to enhance reliability and affordability of the electric grid.

Projects submitted under this NOFO must demonstrate measurable improvements in electric grid capacity and system value (usefulness), combining physical capacity gains, which include solutions such as reconductoring or other infrastructure upgrades with operational efficiency and/or flexibility from other Advanced Transmission Technologies (ATTs). Applications must show how these complementary technologies expand transfer capability, strengthen reliability and resource adequacy, and reduce consumer cost impact while utilizing existing rights of way. DOE will prioritize projects that can be implemented quickly to deliver durable physical upgrades and dynamic operational gains that together increase the value, performance, security, resilience, affordability, and reliability of the nation’s electric grid.

Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA) Section 40207 Battery Materials Processing & Battery Manufacturing and Recycling Grant Programs

DOE

Solicitation: DE-FOA-0003585

https://infrastructure-exchange.energy.gov/Default.aspx?utm_medium=email&utm_source=govdelivery#FoaIdde62ae78-ed5c-476c-bd42-d126d61175b9

Due date for Letter of Intent: March 27, 2026

Full proposal due date: April 24, 2026

The Department of Energy (DOE), through its Manufacturing Deployment Office (MDO), part of the Office of Critical Minerals and Energy Innovation (CMEI) is issuing a new Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) for the development of demonstration and commercial facilities to increase the domestic supply of critical minerals and materials for advanced batteries: Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA) Section 40207 Battery Materials Processing & Battery Manufacturing and Recycling Grant Programs.

The activities to be funded under this NOFO are funded through IIJA sections 40207 (b) & (c) and support the broader government-wide approach to expanding and securing America’s energy infrastructure, including by building critical domestic manufacturing and strengthening material supply chains. Batteries are critical for many energy sectors, such as grid resilience, data centers, transportation, drones, and other defense applications. Critical minerals and materials (CMMs) needed for the battery sector include lithium, nickel, cobalt, manganese, graphite, fluorspar, copper, and aluminum. For many of these CMMs, the U.S. is reliant on foreign sources.

This program will:

  • Enhance national security by reducing the reliance of the United States on foreign competitors for critical materials and technologies;
  • Expand the capabilities of the United States in advanced battery component manufacturing;
  • Ensure that the United States has a viable battery materials processing, manufacturing, and recycling industry with sufficient capacity to supply the North American battery supply chain;
  • Deploy innovative processing efficiency, manufacturing, and recycling technologies that can increase U.S. competitiveness and economic viability; and
  • Ensure investments in and provide high-quality jobs that support America’s competitive advantage.

 

Advanced barrier systems for paper packaging

Halo

https://www.halo.science/request_for_solutions/high-barrier-paper-packaging

Posted Date: March 09, 2026

Proposal Due Date: May 01, 2026

We’re proactively developing a next-generation packaging platform that keeps materials in circulation—designed for strong recyclability in paper streams and credible compostability pathways where appropriate. This direction also aligns with evolving policy and infrastructure: frameworks such as the EU Packaging and Packaging Waste Regulation (PPWR) and California Senate Bill 54 (SB54) are accelerating expectations for packaging that is demonstrably recyclable or compostable, increasing market pressure on formats that fall short.

We are seeking coating materials, barrier systems, fiber treatments, or process technologies that enable high-barrier paper-based packaging with strong functional performance and compatibility with high-speed Horizontal Form-Fill-Seal (HFFS) flow-wrap and Stand-up-Pouch (SUP) equipment. The ultimate goal is reliable forming, sealing, and cutting performance at commercial speeds (~100 ppm), along with structural integrity through processing and distribution.

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