MPS Materials Research Programs (NSF 26-521)

The U.S. National Science Foundation Directorate for Mathematical and Physical Sciences (NSF MPS) issued solicitation NSF 26-521 to consolidate key materials research funding opportunities. This initiative supports fundamental research aimed at expanding human knowledge across foundational areas including biomaterials, ceramics, condensed matter physics, electronic and photonic materials, metallic nanostructures, polymers, and solid-state chemistry. This funding opportunity emphasizes intellectually ambitious and potentially transformative projects that challenge prevailing paradigms. Proposals are not required to deliver immediate commercial products or near-term deployments, but rather build foundational knowledge, pioneer new scientific methods, create essential research datasets, or leverage artificial intelligence and advanced computation to accelerate scientific discovery. Submissions are accepted from eligible U.S. institutions and research organizations on a rolling basis with no fixed deadline. NSF expects to make 200 to 300 awards under standard or continuing grant agreements, providing flexible mechanisms such as up to five years of sustained funding or RAPID/EAGER grants for exploratory work.