Regional Resilience Innovation Incubator | 24 595

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

What is the NSF Regional Resilience Innovation Incubators (R2I2) program?

R2I2 is a National Science Foundation (NSF) cross-directorate funding opportunity led by the Directorate for Geosciences (GEO) and the Directorate for Technology, Innovation and Partnerships (TIP). The program is designed to help communities and researchers collaborate on team-based, community-engaged projects that translate recent advances in climate change and Earth system science into practical, high-impact solutions to climate-related challenges.

What is the central goal of R2I2?

The central goal is to turn climate change and Earth system science advances into usable solutions that address real climate-related challenges. The program emphasizes co-design with the people and institutions that will actually use the outcomes, so projects are grounded in local knowledge, real decision needs, and realistic pathways to deployment rather than remaining purely research or planning efforts.

What does "community-engaged" and "co-designed" mean in this program?

Based on the program description, R2I2 expects project teams to work directly with community members and institutions that will use the results. The intent is for solution concepts to be shaped by local knowledge and decision-making needs, with an eye toward feasible deployment and real-world use.

How is R2I2 structured?

R2I2 is a two-phase effort. Phase 1 (the focus of this solicitation) funds pilot projects for concept creation and refinement. NSF expects to run a separate Phase 2 solicitation in fiscal year 2026, contingent on funding.

What is Phase 1 intended to support?

Phase 1 supports pilot projects that incubate and sharpen solution concepts. This includes building partnerships, defining a regional climate problem in a concrete way, translating science into usable decision support or technology directions, and demonstrating early feasibility so the concept is positioned for real-world implementation.

Is Phase 2 funding available now?

No. The information provided states that NSF expects to run a separate Phase 2 solicitation in fiscal year 2026, contingent on funding.

Who will be eligible to apply for Phase 2?

Only Phase 1 awardees will be eligible to apply for Phase 2.

How will Phase 2 proposals be selected?

Phase 2 selections will depend on two things: (1) the merit review of the Phase 2 proposal, and (2) how well the team performed during Phase 1.

What regions are eligible for project focus?

Projects are expected to focus on climate challenges tied to one or more of the ten U.S. climate regions identified in the Fifth National Climate Assessment: Northeast, Southeast, U.S. Caribbean, Midwest, Northern Great Plains, Southern Great Plains, Northwest, Southwest, Alaska, and Hawaii and U.S. Affiliated Pacific Islands.

Can a project address more than one climate region?

Yes. Projects may propose solutions that apply across more than one of the listed climate regions, as long as the rationale is strong.

Will NSF fund projects in every region?

Not necessarily. NSF states it will consider geographic diversity when building its award portfolio, but it does not guarantee a set number of awards per region. Depending on proposal quality and fit, NSF may fund multiple projects in one region and none in another.

What is the R2I2 National Office (RNO)?

The solicitation includes support for a separate award to create a R2I2 National Office (RNO). The RNO is intended to support coordination and collective implementation across the overall R2I2 set of awards, helping align activities, share lessons learned, and strengthen the program as a coherent network.

Is the National Office (RNO) the same as a regional incubator pilot project?

No. The information provided describes the RNO as a separate award distinct from the multiple regional incubator pilot projects funded under the solicitation.

Who is eligible to apply for this opportunity?

Eligibility is broad and includes the following U.S.-based entities: for-profit organizations (including small businesses) with strong research or education capabilities and an innovation focus; non-profit, non-academic organizations (such as museums, observatories, independent research labs, and professional societies); state and local governments; U.S.-accredited two-year and four-year institutions of higher education (including community colleges); federally recognized Tribal Nations; and NSF-sponsored Federally Funded Research and Development Centers (FFRDCs), with the condition that they do not charge costs already covered by other federal funds.

Are for-profit companies allowed to apply?

Yes. U.S.-based for-profit organizations (including small businesses) are eligible if they have strong research or education capabilities and an innovation focus.

Are state and local governments eligible to apply?

Yes. State and local governments are explicitly listed as eligible applicants.

Are Tribal Nations eligible to apply?

Yes. Federally recognized Tribal Nations are explicitly listed as eligible applicants.

Are community colleges eligible to apply?

Yes. U.S.-accredited two-year institutions of higher education, including community colleges, are included in the eligible applicant categories.

Can Federally Funded Research and Development Centers (FFRDCs) apply?

Yes. NSF-sponsored FFRDCs are eligible provided they do not charge costs already covered by other federal funds.

What are the requirements for the Principal Investigator (PI) and co-PIs?

The PI and any co-PIs must be appointed at an eligible submitting organization.

Does the Phase 1 PI have to remain the PI for Phase 2?

No. The Phase 1 PI does not have to remain the PI for Phase 2. However, any changes in PI/co-PI roles should be clearly justified in the Phase 2 submission.

Is there a continuity requirement between Phase 1 and Phase 2 project leadership?

Yes. For Phase 2, at least one PI or co-PI from the Phase 1 award must be included as a PI or co-PI on the related Phase 2 proposal.

Can funds be routed to an international branch campus of a U.S. institution?

Yes, but with conditions. If a proposal routes funds to an international branch campus of a U.S. institution (including via subawards or consultants), the proposal must clearly explain why the work must be performed at the branch campus and what specific benefits it brings compared to doing the work at the U.S. campus.

What is the Funding Opportunity Number for this NSF solicitation?

The Funding Opportunity Number is 24-595.

What type of grant opportunity is this?

This is an NSF discretionary grant opportunity in the science, technology, and research and development category.

What CFDA numbers are associated with this opportunity?

The opportunity is associated with CFDA numbers 47.050 and 47.084.

When was this opportunity created?

The opportunity was created on 2024-08-09.

What is the application closing date listed?

The original closing date listed is 2025-01-16.

What is the maximum award amount (award ceiling)?

The listed award ceiling is $2,000,000.

What kinds of outcomes is NSF trying to encourage through R2I2 Phase 1?

Phase 1 is designed to produce refined, deployable solution concepts by strengthening partnerships, clearly defining the regional climate problem, translating science into usable decision support or technology directions, and demonstrating early feasibility so the concept is ready for implementation.

Does the program prioritize deployment over purely academic research?

The description emphasizes solutions with realistic pathways to deployment and use by communities and institutions, rather than projects staying at a purely research or planning stage.