The Strengthening American Infrastructure (SAI) program, funded by the U.S. National Science Foundation (NSF), aims to foster transformative, human-centered research that enhances American infrastructure. This initiative spans multiple NSF directorates, including those focused on Social, Behavioral and Economic Sciences; Engineering; Biological Sciences; Computer and Information Science and Engineering; STEM Education; Geosciences; Mathematical and Physical Sciences; and the Office of Integrative Activities. The program seeks research that combines social, behavioral, or economic sciences with other scientific disciplines to fundamentally advance how infrastructure is designed, developed, and maintained to improve societal wellbeing and support economic growth.

SAI supports fundamental, use-inspired research that applies interdisciplinary knowledge to enhance infrastructure such as transportation, energy, water systems, computing, healthcare, and more. Projects must demonstrate a strong convergence between at least one social, behavioral, or economic science and one or more STEM fields. Proposals should identify a specific focal infrastructure, clearly define its human-centered relevance, and outline how proposed work will lead to improved usability, equity, resilience, or cost-effectiveness. Modeling of human and infrastructure systems and engagement with stakeholders in government, industry, or communities is encouraged.

Eligible applicants include U.S.-based institutions of higher education (both two- and four-year), nonprofit non-academic organizations like research labs or museums, U.S.-based for-profit organizations including small businesses with relevant capabilities, and federally recognized Tribal Nations. Each individual may serve in a PI, co-PI, or senior/key personnel capacity on only one proposal per deadline cycle. There are no requirements for letters of intent or preliminary proposals.

Applicants must submit full proposals through Research.gov or Grants.gov in accordance with NSF’s Proposal and Award Policies and Procedures Guide. The proposal must include sections titled Focal Infrastructure, Integrative Research, Access and Inclusion, and Stakeholder Engagement. A data management and sharing plan is required. Supplementary materials must include a personnel and partner list and a Management and Coordination Plan. Letters of collaboration are strongly recommended where applicable.

Applications will be evaluated using NSF's standard merit review criteria—Intellectual Merit and Broader Impacts—as well as their alignment with SAI’s goals. Proposals should also explain why the requested budget is appropriate for the scope of the project, which may last up to three years with a budget not exceeding $750,000. Approximately 15 awards are anticipated, pending availability of funds and proposal quality, with a total funding pool of up to $9.6 million.

The next deadlines are April 17, 2025, and March 6, 2026. Program officers available for inquiries include Jeremy Koster (jkoster@nsf.gov), Joseph M. Whitmeyer (jwhitmey@nsf.gov), Thomas Evans (tevans@nsf.gov), among others. Annual PI meetings in Washington, DC are required for awardees, and proposals must budget for this participation. The program supports public-private partnerships and strongly encourages submissions from Minority-Serving Institutions and underrepresented groups in STEM.