NSF Convergence Accelerator Pilot Program issues first round of awards

NSF is issuing its first set of awards from the Convergence Accelerator Pilot. The new program is intended to accelerate use-inspired, convergence research in areas of national importance through partnerships between academic and non-academic stakeholders. The Convergence Accelerator (C-Accel) pilot program focuses on two of the NSF’s “10 Big Ideas” and emphasizes the importance of deliverable-oriented, multidisciplinary teams. The two Big Idea tracks are “harnessing the data revolution” (Track A) and the “future of work at the human-technology frontier” (Track B). In its first round, C-Accel recently awarded $39 million to 43 teams across the nation.

Click here to view the list of Track A awardees. Click here to view the list of Track B awardees. More information on the C-Accel program can be found here.

Other key characteristics of the program include intensive education and mentorship, proactive and intentional project management, and the use of basic research to feed project deliverables. The C-Accel program represents a new effort within NSF to encourage partnerships, especially public-private partnerships, drawing participants from academia, foundations, government, nonprofits and industry to advance ideas from concepts to tangible deliverables.