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.Apply for 21 598
- 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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NSF Advanced Technological Education (ATE) Program FAQs
What is the NSF Advanced Technological Education (ATE) program?
The National Science Foundation (NSF) Advanced Technological Education (ATE) program is a grant opportunity intended to strengthen the education and preparation of skilled technicians for high-technology industries that are central to the U.S. economy. It supports education innovations that connect classroom learning with real workforce needs, particularly in science and engineering technician fields.
What is the main goal of the ATE program?
The main goal is to improve technician training and build stronger pathways into technical careers by supporting educational improvements and collaborations that make technician education more relevant to employers and emerging technologies.
Which institutions are the primary focus of ATE?
ATE is centered on two-year Institutions of Higher Education, especially community colleges. While eligibility is listed as unrestricted, the program focus and requirements make two-year colleges and their partners the most common and best-aligned applicants.
What kinds of activities can ATE funding support?
ATE funds a wide range of activities that directly improve technician education. Common examples 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 college faculty and secondary school teachers.
Does ATE support curriculum development and modernization?
Yes. Developing or modernizing curricula is a common ATE project type, especially when improvements are aligned with industry standards and workforce needs in high-technology fields.
Does ATE support career pathway development?
Yes. ATE supports projects that create and scale career pathways, helping students move from education into technician careers in fields tied to science and engineering.
Does ATE support lab-based learning improvements?
Yes. Strengthening laboratory-based learning is specifically highlighted, particularly when lab instruction is aligned with industry standards and current technology expectations.
Is professional development for educators an allowable activity?
Yes. ATE supports professional development for both college faculty and secondary school teachers, emphasizing that instructor expertise and up-to-date technical skills are essential for student success.
Does ATE fund research?
ATE invites applied research proposals that produce practical, evidence-based knowledge about what works in technician education, with the intent of improving programs and outcomes across the field.
What does it mean that ATE projects must be "faculty driven"?
Faculty driven means that the leadership and core design of the project should come from educators who are directly involved in technician training. In other words, educators play the central role in shaping and leading the work.
Do courses and programs supported by ATE have to be credit-bearing?
Yes. ATE requires that courses and programs supported by the grant must be credit-bearing.
What types of credentials are emphasized in ATE-funded programs?
The primary focus is on credit programs leading to recognized credentials, such as certificates and associate degrees.
Can ATE-funded materials be used for incumbent worker training?
Yes. While the main focus is on credit-bearing programs for students, the materials and resources developed through ATE projects may also be used for incumbent worker education to support upskilling or reskilling as technologies evolve.
How important are partnerships in ATE proposals?
Partnerships are a major priority. A defining feature of ATE is collaboration among partners across grades 7-12, colleges and universities, industry, and economic or workforce development organizations to strengthen pipelines into technical careers.
What kinds of partners does NSF encourage applicants to work with?
NSF explicitly encourages connections with organizations that improve training relevance, employer engagement, and student outcomes. Examples mentioned include the NIST Manufacturing Extension Partnership (MEP) network, Manufacturing USA Institutes, and NSF Industry-University Cooperative Research Centers (I/UCRC) awardees.
Why does ATE encourage collaboration with the NIST Manufacturing Extension Partnership (MEP) network?
Partnerships with the NIST MEP network are encouraged as a way to better align education programs with the needs of regional manufacturers and increase the workforce relevance of technician training.
How can Manufacturing USA Institutes be involved in ATE projects?
Manufacturing USA Institutes are cited as potential partners that can help address workforce development challenges in advanced manufacturing sectors, helping technician education stay connected to emerging technologies and industry needs.
What is the purpose of partnering with NSF I/UCRC awardees?
Partnering with NSF Industry-University Cooperative Research Centers (I/UCRC) awardees is encouraged to strengthen ties between education, research, and industry innovation, helping ensure technician education aligns with current and emerging technology directions.
How does ATE address equity and workforce participation?
Equity and workforce participation are central themes. ATE encourages proposals from Minority Serving Institutions (MSIs) and from other organizations that can demonstrate strong strategies to recruit, retain, and support completion for students from groups historically underrepresented in STEM.
Which types of Minority Serving Institutions (MSIs) are specifically highlighted?
NSF highlights 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.
What is the CFDA number for this program?
The program is listed as CFDA 47.076.
What type of grant program is this?
This is described as a discretionary NSF grant program under the science and technology research and development category.
What is the funding opportunity number for this ATE listing?
The funding opportunity number provided is 21-598.
What was the original closing date listed for this opportunity?
The original closing date listed is October 14, 2021.
How many awards did NSF anticipate making under this opportunity?
NSF anticipated making around 80 awards.
What is the maximum award amount (award ceiling)?
The stated award ceiling is $7,500,000, indicating support for a range of project sizes from smaller improvement efforts to large, multi-partner initiatives depending on scope and structure.
Is eligibility restricted to certain entity types?
Eligibility is listed as unrestricted, meaning a wide range of entity types may apply. However, because the program is centered on two-year institutions and has specific requirements (such as faculty-driven leadership and credit-bearing programs), two-year colleges and their partners are typically the best fit.
What education levels can be involved in ATE collaborations?
ATE emphasizes collaboration across grades 7-12, colleges and universities, industry, and economic or workforce development organizations to build stronger pipelines into technical careers.
What makes ATE different from a general workforce training grant?
Based on the details provided, distinguishing features include its community-college-centered approach, the requirement that supported programs be credit-bearing, the expectation that projects are faculty driven, and its strong emphasis on cross-sector partnerships that keep technician education aligned with real employer needs and emerging technologies.
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