NSF Trailblazer Engineering Impact Award deadline 2026
The current listed application deadline is July 23, 2026. Use this page to verify timing fast, then move into the full grant record for planning, comparison, and drafting.
Application Countdown
Use this page as the fast check for timing, then jump into the full grant record for filters, drafting, and comparison.
Quick facts
- Opportunity number
- Not listed
- Last updated
- December 11, 2025
- Expected awards
- Not listed
Deadline summary
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 lim...
Key dates
Before you apply
Eligibility snapshot
*Who May Submit Proposals: Proposals may only be submitted by the following: -Non-profit, non-academic organizations: Independent museums, observatories, research laboratories, professional societies and similar organizations located in the U.S. that are directly associated with educational or research activities. -Institutions of Higher Education (IHEs): Two- and four-year IHEs (including community colleges) accredited in, and having a campus located in the US, acting on behalf of their faculty members. Special Instructions for International Branch Campuses of US IHEs: If the proposal includes funding to be provided to an international branch campus of a US institution of higher education (including through use of sub-awards and consultant arrangements), the proposer must explain the benefit(s) to the project of performance at the international branch campus, and justify why the project activities cannot be performed at the US campus. *Who May Serve as PI: The PI must hold a tenured or tenure-eligible faculty appointment at the Associate or Full Professor rank or equivalent at an organization that is eligible to submit as described under "Who May Submit Proposals." Additionally, the PI must have an appointment in an Engineering School or College and/or have earned an Engineering Doctorate degree. If the proposal is submitted by a non-profit, non-academic organization, the PI must meet the following requirements: (1) the PI has a continuing appointment that is expected to last the 3 years of a TRAILBLAZER award; and (2) the appointment has substantial research responsibilities. Prior or concurrent funding support for other projects that overlap with the proposed TRAILBLAZER project will preclude eligibility for a TRAILBLAZER award. Only single PI TRAILBLAZER proposals will be accepted in response to this solicitation.Collaborative proposals,as described in PAPPG ChapterII.E.3.a.andII.E.3.b,are not allowed.Any proposal submittedwith subawards,or as separate submissions from multiple organizations,will be returned without review.