The mission of EPSCoR is to assist the National Science Foundation in its statutory function: "to strengthen research and education in science and engineering throughout the United States and to avoid undue concentration of such research and education."
EPSCoR goals are to:
- provide strategic programs and opportunities for EPSCoR participants that stimulate sustainable improvements in their R&D capacity and competitiveness, and
- advance science and engineering capabilities in EPSCoR jurisdictions for discovery, innovation, and overall knowledge-based prosperity.
The consortium-based science and engineering research and a diverse workforce development that are sustained beyond the project period are the primary drivers for RII Track-2 investments. The project description must include a strong rationale for the establishment of the consortium and place the chosen project in a regional, national, or thematic context. The project should be of sufficient scope to demonstrate that the combined resources of the consortium are required to facilitate discovery and innovation, and enable the development of a broadly inclusive science and engineering workforce with appropriate knowledge and skills to tackle scientific challenges and find solutions of benefit to society. Over the long term, RII Track-2 investments are expected to result in lasting improvements to the jurisdictions' abilities to more successfully pursue significant jurisdictional, inter-jurisdictional,and regional opportunities of national and international importance in science and engineering research and education. Non-EPSCoR and international collaborations may be included but no EPSCoR funds should be directed to these institutions.
Central to the success of the proposal is the clear demonstration that the consortium is well-positioned to produce project results that cannot be obtained by any single partner working independently. The proposal must clearly identify the roles and contributions of each partner in the project, anticipated increase in research capacity and competitiveness, and benefits to the nation and society.
To ensure maximum impact of limited EPSCoR funds, requests for funding must:
- Add significantly and measurably to research capability in S&T areas of high priority to the consortium as a whole and tomember jurisdictions, as appropriate;
- Engage the full diversity of the consortium's resources in STEM workforce development;
- Contribute to the consortium's strategy for future research and innovation; and
- Present a detailed strategy to generate subsequent, sustained non-EPSCoR funding from federal, jurisdictional, or private sector sources.
The proposed RII Track-2 activities should not duplicate other ongoing RII activities in the jurisdictions; but may leverage and build upon the existing RII infrastructure. Examples of RII Track-2 activities that are consistent with NSF EPSCoR program objectives include, but are not limited to: