NSF Trailblazer Engineering Impact Award (TRAILBLAZER)

Research
Funding Agency:
Funding Agency
National Science Foundation
RFP# and Website:
RFP# and Website
NSF 26-502
Awards:
Awards

Standard Grant or Continuing Grant
Anticipated Funding Amount:
Anticipated Funding Amount

$15,000,000
Letter of Intent:
Letter of Intent
(required) (due by 5 p.m. submitting organization's local time): January 20, 2026
Limit on Number of Proposals per Organization:
Preliminary Proposal Deadline:
Preliminary Proposal Due Date(s)

   March 10, 2026
Full Proposal Submission Deadline:
Full Proposal Submission Deadline

July 24, 2026 
Contacts:
Contacts

Alias Smith, telephone: (703) 292-8367, email: TRAILBLAZER@nsf.gov
Gregory L. Rorrer, telephone: (703) 292-7470, email: TRAILBLAZER@nsf.gov
TRAILBLAZER Program, email: TRAILBLAZER@nsf.gov
Description

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 the Directorate for Engineering and EFMA Websites.