WASHINGTON, D.C. - Today, the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) announced a funding opportunity for up to $24 million for new grants under the Established Program to Stimulate Competitive Research (DOE EPSCoR). The grants, to be awarded competitively based on peer review, are aimed to help institutions in eligible states conduct research while building capabilities in these regions to compete more successfully for other federal R&D funding awards.

“American leadership in science requires a continual strengthening of our research capabilities at universities and other institutions across the nation,” said Dr. Chris Fall, Director of the DOE Office of Science. “These grants will advance basic research in energy while engaging institutions in underserved regions and expanding the community of researchers engaged in this important effort.”

The funding opportunity is specifically focused on fostering early-stage energy research collaborations between institutions in EPSCoR states and the DOE national laboratories, as a means of building research capabilities in underserved areas.  

Applications will be accepted for new grants. Awards will be for up to three years. The Department anticipates that $24 million will be available for this program in Fiscal Year 2020, contingent on congressional appropriations.

Final applications for this funding opportunity are due on March 27, 2020, by 5 p.m. Eastern time. Preliminary applications are required and are due on January 16, 2020 by 5 p.m. Eastern time.

The full text of the Funding Opportunity Announcement, issued by the Office of Basic Energy Sciences within the Department’s Office of Science, can be found here.