The U.S. National Science Foundation is an independent federal agency that supports science and engineering in all 50 states and U.S. territories. NSF was established in 1950 by Congress to promote the progress of science, advance the national health, prosperity and welfare, and secure the national defense.
The Community Research Infrastructure for Computer and Information Science and Engineering (CIRC) program aims to support the CISE community by financing the development and enhancement of research infrastructure. This includes creating or improving world-class facilities and resources that cater to focused research agendas within computer and information science and engineering. The program emphasizes developing user services and engagement to attract and support a vibrant research community. A principal goal is to establish research infrastructure that encourages community involvement and leadership, ensuring sustainability and enabling advancements that current infrastructure does not permit. The CIRC program notably seeks to ensure broad access to this infrastructure, particularly for researchers from minority-serving and predominantly undergraduate institutions, and non-profit, non-academic organizations. It supports four kinds of awards: Planning Community Infrastructure, Exploratory Development, Medium Community Infrastructure, and Grand Community Infrastructure, each designed to facilitate different stages and scales of infrastructure development, from planning and exploratory phases to the creation and expansion of community research infrastructure.