Opportunity Information: Apply for 21 598

The National Science Foundation (NSF) Advanced Technological Education (ATE) program is a grant opportunity designed to strengthen the education and preparation of skilled technicians for high-technology industries that are central to the US economy. The program is centered on two-year Institutions of Higher Education, especially community colleges, and aims to improve technician training in science and engineering fields through education innovations that connect classroom learning with real workforce needs. A defining feature of ATE is its emphasis on collaboration, bringing together partners across grades 7-12, colleges and universities, industry, and economic or workforce development organizations to build stronger pipelines into technical careers.

ATE funds a wide range of activities that directly improve technician education. Common project types include developing or modernizing curricula, creating and scaling career pathways, and strengthening laboratory-based learning aligned with industry standards. The program also supports professional development for both college faculty and secondary school teachers, recognizing that instructor expertise and up-to-date technical skills are essential for student success. In addition to program and curriculum work, ATE invites applied research proposals that generate practical, evidence-based knowledge about what works in technician education, with the goal of improving programs and outcomes broadly across the field.

Projects funded through ATE must be faculty driven, meaning the leadership and core design should come from educators who are directly involved in technician training. Another key requirement is that courses and programs supported by the grant must be credit-bearing. While the primary focus is on credit programs leading to recognized credentials (such as certificates and associate degrees), the materials and resources developed through ATE projects may also be used for incumbent worker education, which can help current employees upskill or reskill as technologies evolve.

Partnerships are a major priority in this opportunity, and NSF explicitly encourages applicants to connect with organizations that can enhance training relevance, employer engagement, and student career outcomes. Examples include collaborating with the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) Manufacturing Extension Partnership (MEP) network to better align education programs with the needs of regional manufacturers, working with Manufacturing USA Institutes that address workforce development challenges in advanced manufacturing sectors, and partnering with NSF Industry-University Cooperative Research Centers (I/UCRC) awardees to strengthen ties between education, research, and industry innovation. These partnerships are intended to ensure that technician education programs stay connected to current and emerging technologies and that students graduate with skills employers actually need.

Equity and workforce participation are also central themes. ATE encourages proposals from Minority Serving Institutions and from other organizations that can demonstrate strong strategies to recruit, retain, and support completion for students from groups historically underrepresented in STEM. NSF highlights particular interest in proposals from all types of MSIs, including Hispanic Serving Institutions, Historically Black Colleges and Universities, Tribal Colleges and Universities, and Alaska Native and Native Hawaiian Serving Institutions, especially where there is growing student interest in advanced technology careers. The program is clearly positioned to not only improve technical education quality, but also broaden participation in technician pathways that lead to stable, in-demand jobs.

From the opportunity details provided, this is a discretionary NSF grant program (CFDA 47.076) under the science and technology research and development category. Eligibility is listed as unrestricted, meaning a wide range of entity types may apply, although the program focus and requirements effectively make two-year colleges and their partners the most common and best-aligned applicants. The funding opportunity number is 21-598, the original closing date listed is October 14, 2021, and NSF anticipated making around 80 awards. The maximum award amount (award ceiling) is stated as $7,500,000, indicating that the program can support anything from smaller improvement projects to large, multi-partner efforts depending on project scope and structure.

  • The National Science Foundation in the science and technology and other research and development sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Advanced Technological Education" and is now available to receive applicants.
  • Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 47.076.
  • This funding opportunity was created on Jul 09, 2021.
  • Applicants must submit their applications by Oct 14, 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 $7,500,000.00 in funding.
  • The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 80 candidate(s).
  • Eligible applicants include: Unrestricted (i.e., open to any type of entity above), subject to any clarification in text field entitled Additional Information on Eligibility.
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