by The Grants Resource Center, Graeff, Frank
The National Science Foundation (NSF) is seeking input to determine new research questions that will guide the agency’s research efforts. These questions are known as the 10 “Big Ideas.” NSF has recently announced its NSF 2026 Idea Machine prize competition, allowing stakeholders to propose new ideas for the next decade of research priorities.
The current Big Ideas are long-term research and process ideas that identify areas for future federal investment at the frontiers of science and engineering. Current examples include “The Future of Work at the Human-Technology Frontier,” “Navigating the New Arctic,” and “Harnessing Data for 21st Century Science and Engineering,” among others. NSF forms and revamps their grant portfolio to bring insight into these questions, so participants in the 2026 Idea Machine will help shape future NSF grants for years to come.
The Idea Machine will open up later this month, and provide cash rewards and public exposure through a blue-ribbon panel for the most meritorious entries. To stay updated on how to participate, click here. To read about how the Big Ideas currently shape NSF policy, click here.