National Science Foundation
Strategic Plan for 2014 – 2018
Strategic Goal 1: Transform the Frontiers of Science and Engineering
The first part of NSF’s mission is “to promote the progress of science” in order to expand and
explore the frontiers of human knowledge, to enhance the ability of the Nation to meet the
challenges it faces, and to create new paradigms and capabilities for scientific, technological,
and (consequently) economic leadership in an increasingly fast-paced, competitive world. NSF
supports fundamental, interdisciplinary, high-risk, and potentially transformative research in
science and engineering, and the education of the next generation of the STEM workforce to
continue this transformation. NSF welcomes proposals for original research, from both
individuals and groups, and for novel discovery tools in the form of advanced instrumentation,
data analysis, computation, and facilities. By relying on the insight and creativity of the Nation’s
research communities, the merit review process, and efforts to broaden participation, NSF
strives to create opportunities for major transformational advances. Proposals, whether
submitted in response to open funding opportunities or for formal targeted solicitations, are
competitively merit reviewed for intellectual merit and broader impacts by independent
subject matter experts. Investment in competitively selected proposals continually expands
the knowledge base from which innovation springs, in keeping with mandates from the
National Science Board, Congress, and the Administration. The special role of NSF is to
encourage broadly creative efforts that may not fit within those fields that are the domain of
specific mission agencies, e.g., energy, defense, health, or agriculture. This strategy has a long
and proven record of producing new ideas, developing important new fields of research, and,
periodically, transforming the way we do science, education, and business, and changing the
way we live. Instrumental to the creation of new knowledge is the preparation of future
research leaders and tomorrow’s STEM workforce who are equipped with up-to-date
knowledge and the experience needed to address society’s current and future challenges.
Investing in the development of the next generation of researchers, scholars, and knowledge
workers is one of NSF’s most important approaches to transforming the frontiers of science and
engineering.
Strategic Goal 2: Stimulate Innovation and Address Societal Needs through Research and Education
This goal flows from the latter part of the NSF mission statement--“to advance the national
health, prosperity, and welfare; to secure the national defense; and for other purposes.” While
several topics in this broad charge are primary missions of other agencies, NSF makes a unique
contribution. Through targeted solicitations and core programs, the agency is able to focus the
attention of the broader S&E community on fundamental aspects of high priority national
challenges. We guide the community to open up new avenues to address these priorities and
we provide funding to pursue promising approaches. This strategic goal echoes the “broader
impacts” merit review criterion which was developed by the NSB, and it explicitly requires NSF
to engage the community in addressing particularly urgent challenges. The strategy often
necessitates the formation of partnerships with industry, other agencies, and international
sponsors to build capacity, leverage resources, and increase the speed of translation from
discovery to innovation. The educational dimension is a key aspect of this strategic goal. NSF
supports research and development on STEM education and learning to prepare a diverse,
globally competent STEM workforce and a STEM-literate citizenry.
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