Harnessing the Data Revolution (HDR): Institutes for Data-Intensive Research in Science and Engineering | 21 519

Opportunity Information: Apply for 21 519

The National Science Foundation (NSF) grant opportunity "Harnessing the Data Revolution (HDR): Institutes for Data-Intensive Research in Science and Engineering" (Funding Opportunity Number 21-519) is designed to build a small set of large, high-impact research institutes that push forward data-driven discovery across science and engineering. It sits under NSF's broader "Big Ideas" framework introduced in 2016, which identified 10 long-term priority areas where the U.S. could make major advances by encouraging cross-disciplinary, convergent research. Although proposals are submitted through NSF's Office of Advanced Cyberinfrastructure (OAC) within the Directorate for Computer and Information Science and Engineering (CISE), the program is explicitly cross-cutting: once proposals are received, they are overseen by a team of NSF program directors spanning multiple disciplines, reflecting the expectation that successful institutes will connect domain science, engineering, and data science in a tightly integrated way.

At its core, the HDR initiative aims to enable new modes of data-intensive research that make it possible to ask and answer fundamental questions at the frontiers of science and engineering. NSF is using this solicitation to establish a cohort of "HDR Institutes" that can act as national-scale hubs for innovation in the way data is collected, managed, analyzed, shared, and translated into scientific and engineering breakthroughs. The institutes are intended to accelerate discovery and innovation across a broad range of research domains, rather than focusing narrowly on one field. A key theme is that modern research is increasingly shaped by diverse, high-volume, high-velocity, and complex datasets, and that breakthroughs often require advances not only in algorithms, but also in the underlying systems, tools, and cyberinfrastructure that make data-intensive work feasible and reproducible at scale.

The solicitation emphasizes that HDR Institutes should lead by harnessing diverse data sources and by developing and applying new methodologies, technologies, and infrastructure for data management and analysis. In practical terms, this points to institutes that can contribute foundational advances in data science (for example, new statistical or machine learning approaches, novel data representations, improved privacy-preserving analytics, or methods that strengthen interpretability and robustness), while also delivering usable systems and workflows (such as scalable data pipelines, data integration frameworks, curated data resources, or platforms that enable collaboration and reuse). Importantly, NSF frames the institutes as bridges between communities: they are expected to support convergence among science and engineering researchers and data-focused experts working in foundations, systems, applications, and cyberinfrastructure. The intent is not just parallel workstreams, but genuine co-design, where domain needs shape data science research directions and new data capabilities, in turn, open up fresh lines of inquiry in the domains.

Another central goal is national impact through collaboration around critical challenges. The opportunity statement highlights that HDR Institutes should enable breakthroughs via collaborative, co-designed programs that formulate innovative data-intensive approaches to address pressing national needs. This signals that institutes are expected to be more than research groups; they should function as organizing structures that convene partners, set shared agendas, and create sustained programs that integrate research, infrastructure, and community-building. While the text provided does not list specific challenge areas, NSF's framing implies topics where data-intensive approaches can meaningfully transform outcomes, such as health, environment, resilience, advanced manufacturing, or other societally important areas, depending on the institute's chosen focus and partnerships.

From an administrative and funding standpoint, this is a discretionary NSF grant program in the science and technology research and development category, with multiple CFDA listings (47.041, 47.049, 47.050, 47.070, 47.074, 47.075, 47.076, 47.079, 47.083), reflecting its cross-directorate scope. The award ceiling is $20,000,000, and NSF anticipated making about 7 awards under this solicitation. The opportunity was created on October 23, 2020, with an original closing date of January 21, 2021. Eligibility is listed as "Others (see text field entitled Additional Information on Eligibility for clarification)," which commonly indicates that eligibility may extend beyond a narrow set of institution types, but the specific eligible applicant categories would be defined in the full solicitation text.

Overall, the HDR Institutes opportunity is NSF's attempt to invest in durable, institute-scale efforts that can simultaneously advance the theory and practice of data science, build or leverage cyberinfrastructure, and deliver tangible scientific and engineering advances through deeply collaborative, cross-disciplinary programs. The program is positioned for ambitious teams that can demonstrate both intellectual leadership in data-intensive methods and the ability to create an integrated institute structure capable of serving a broader research community while tackling complex, data-driven questions of national importance.

• The National Science Foundation in the science and technology and other research and development sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Harnessing the Data Revolution (HDR): Institutes for Data-Intensive Research in Science and Engineering" and is now available to receive applicants.
• Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 47.041, 47.049, 47.050, 47.070, 47.074, 47.075, 47.076, 47.079, 47.083.
• This funding opportunity was created on Oct 23, 2020.
• Applicants must submit their applications by Jan 21, 2021. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
• Each selected applicant is eligible to receive up to $20,000,000.00 in funding.
• The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 7 candidate(s).
• Eligible applicants include: Others (see text field entitled Additional Information on Eligibility for clarification).

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