Open 26-502 CFDA 47.041 Discretionary

NSF Trailblazer Engineering Impact Award

Posted by U.S. National Science Foundation

Opportunity snapshot. This Grants.gov announcement — NSF Trailblazer Engineering Impact Award — is cataloged under number 26-502 and tied to CFDA assistance listing 47.041, posted by U.S. National Science Foundation. Grants.gov currently shows the opportunity as open, first posted on December 12, 2025. The funding category is Discretionary, delivered as a grant.

Award economics. The award range on file is Varies by applicant. The agency has projected $15.0 million in total estimated funding for this announcement. Cost sharing is not required, so applicants do not need to commit matching funds to be competitive on this opportunity. Federal award ranges are often upper bounds; actual allocations reflect program appropriations, the strength of the applicant pool, and the evaluation committee's scoring.

Deadline and action path. Applications close on July 24, 2026 — roughly 49 days from today. Every Grants.gov submission requires an active SAM.gov registration and a Unique Entity ID. Review the Eligibility section below carefully — federal eligibility categories (nonprofit, state or local government, tribal, individual, educational institution, small business) have distinct registration and reporting requirements. Pre-application outreach to the listed agency contact is permitted and often welcomed — it helps clarify scope and scoring priorities.

Award Range

Varies by applicant

Close Date

July 24, 2026

Posted

December 12, 2025

Est. Total Funding

$15,000,000

Instrument

Grant

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 theDirectorate for Engineering and EFMA Websites.

Eligibility

25

Official Listing on Grants.gov

View full details, application forms, and submission instructions.

View on Grants.gov

Parent Grant Program

CFDA 47.041

Engineering Grants

National Science Foundation

View program →

Agency Contact

NSF grants.gov support<br/>grantsgovsupport@nsf.gov

Key Dates

Posted December 12, 2025
Close Date July 24, 2026
Archive Date August 23, 2026
Last Updated December 12, 2025

Frequently Asked Questions

What is this grant opportunity?
This is a federal funding opportunity titled "NSF Trailblazer Engineering Impact Award", offered by U.S. National Science Foundation. It is associated with CFDA program 47.041. 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 a...
Is this opportunity still open?
Yes, this opportunity is currently open for applications. The closing date is July 24, 2026.
How much funding is available?
The award range for this opportunity is Varies by applicant. Total estimated funding: $15,000,000.
How do I apply?
Applications for federal grant opportunities are typically submitted through Grants.gov. Visit the official listing at grants.gov for application instructions, required documents, and submission deadlines.

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Disclaimer: This information is sourced from Grants.gov and SAM.gov and is for informational purposes only. Opportunity details, deadlines, and eligibility requirements change frequently. Always verify current information directly on Grants.gov before applying. PlainGrants is not affiliated with any federal agency.

Read our methodology — how this data is sourced, computed, and verified.

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