The Smart and Connected Communities (S&CC) program, administered by the National Science Foundation (NSF), seeks to advance research and development that supports the integration of intelligent technologies with civic institutions, natural and built environments, and community functions. The program is backed by several NSF directorates, including the Directorate for Computer and Information Science and Engineering, Engineering, Geosciences, STEM Education, and Social, Behavioral, and Economic Sciences. It aims to fund transformative, high-risk/high-reward scientific and engineering projects that improve community quality of life, focusing on areas such as economic opportunity, health, safety, accessibility, and service efficiency.

The S&CC initiative includes three main funding tracks: Development Grants (SCC-DG), Integrative Research Grants (SCC-IRG), and Large-Scale Research Grants (SCC-LSR). SCC-DG provides up to $150,000 for one year to support early-stage project teams in preparing for future full proposals. SCC-IRG offers up to $1.5 million over three to four years for comprehensive interdisciplinary projects, while SCC-LSR supports projects with budgets between $4 million to $5 million over four to five years that tackle expansive challenges beyond the capacity of smaller grants. The program requires preliminary proposals for SCC-IRG and SCC-LSR to be eligible for full proposal submission.

Eligibility is limited to U.S.-based accredited institutions of higher education and nonprofit, non-academic organizations with a research or educational mission. Proposals must demonstrate interdisciplinary integration, robust community engagement, and a clear plan for evaluation. Researchers are expected to collaborate closely with community stakeholders, including government bodies, nonprofits, and local organizations, to co-design research that is directly responsive to real-world challenges.

Applicants must follow submission guidelines via Research.gov or Grants.gov. Full proposals must comply with the NSF Proposal and Award Policies and Procedures Guide. The solicitation outlines specific requirements for each proposal type, including page limits, required documentation, and project structure. Notably, SCC-DG proposals must include a vision for future research, while SCC-IRG and SCC-LSR must include detailed management and evaluation plans.

Proposals will be evaluated based on NSF's standard merit review criteria of Intellectual Merit and Broader Impacts, with additional attention to interdisciplinary collaboration, stakeholder involvement, and potential for societal benefit. The review process includes external peer reviews and internal NSF assessments, with feedback provided to all applicants. Attendance at the annual PI meeting and submission of a project summary and final video are required for all grantees.

Contact information for program officers across relevant NSF directorates is provided, offering multiple points of contact for applicants. The program strongly encourages participation from underrepresented groups and institutions, aligning with NSF’s broader goals to increase diversity and equity in STEM. Awards are expected to be issued based on proposal quality and availability of funds, with an anticipated total funding amount of $23.26 million and an estimated 20 to 40 awards issued annually.