NSF Trailblazer Engineering Impact Award
Closed Posted
- Opportunity number
- 26-502
- Agency
-
National Science Foundation
- Applications due
- Award size
- Not on record
Opportunity facts
- Assistance listings
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- 47.041 Engineering
- Funding instrument
- Grant
- Category
-
- Science and Technology and other Research and Development
- Eligible applicants
-
- Other
- Points of contact
- Full announcement
Opportunity details come from Grants.gov. Updated .
About this opportunity
The NSF Trailblazer Engineering Impact Award (TRAILBLAZER) is a grant program from the National Science Foundation designed to support individual investigators proposing novel research projects with transformative potential. The program specifically seeks engineers and scientists who can pursue innovative research directions distinct from their previous work, targeting critical national priority areas such as artificial intelligence, bioengineering, quantum engineering, robotics, and nuclear engineering. Ideal candidates will demonstrate a distinctive track record of innovation and creativity, with proposals aimed at catalyzing new industry capabilities or addressing significant national challenges. Applicants will be evaluated based on the novelty of their research approach, potential for national impact, and ability to advance fundamental or applied research. The solicitation has a proposal due date of July 24, 2026, with an informational webinar planned for early 2026 to provide additional guidance and answer questions about the program.
While specific award amounts are not detailed in the solicitation, the NSF Engineering program typically provides grants ranging from $200,000 to $3,000,000, with project durations of 1-5 years. Funded researchers will be required to participate in an annual meeting and potentially additional activities as part of the TRAILBLAZER cohort. The research can be conducted at academic institutions nationwide, with a focus on advancing scientific knowledge and technological capabilities. Successful grantees will be expected to leverage their research to potentially develop new industries, enhance the country's technological leadership, and make substantial progress toward addressing critical national technological and scientific challenges.
Synopsis
The NSF Trailblazer Engineering Impact Award (TRAILBLAZER) program supports individual investigators who propose novel research projects with the potential to innovatively and creatively address new areas of fundamental or applied research, catalyze development of new industries or capabilities that increase the leadership position for the country, and/or make significant progress towards addressing a national need or grand challenge, particularly in current priority areas including, but not limited to, artificial intelligence (AI), bioengineering, quantum engineering, robotics, and nuclear engineering. TRAILBLAZER will support engineers and scientists who leverage their distinctive track record of innovation and creativity to pursue new research directions that are distinct from their previous or current research areas. All funded TRAILBLAZER projects will form an NSF TRAILBLAZER cohort, and principal investigators will be expected to participate in an annual meeting. TRAILBLAZER investigators may also be invited to additional activities. INFORMATIONAL WEBINAR:The Emerging Frontiers and Multidisciplinary Activities (EFMA) Office will host an informational webinar in early calendar year 2026 to discuss the TRAILBLAZER program and answer questions about the FY 2026 TRAILBLAZER solicitation. Details on how to join this webinar will be posted on theDirectorate for Engineering and EFMA Websites.
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