The National Science Foundation’s (NSF) Advanced Technological Education (ATE) grant program focuses on the education of technicians for the high-technology fields that drive our nation’s economy.
With an emphasis on two-year colleges, the grant aims to promote improvement in the education of science and engineering technicians at the undergraduate and the secondary school levels.
ATE programs often involve partnerships between academic institutions and industry to support curriculum development; professional development of college faculty and secondary school teachers; career pathways; and other activities.
The partnerships and collaborations should respond to employers’ hiring needs for highly-skilled technicians with the ability to learn and embrace change. Projects that focus on secondary teachers and students must demonstrate a clear pathway to a two-year technician education program.
The ATE program supports grant proposals in three major tracks:
- Projects:
- Approximately 20-25 new awards, ranging from $75,000 to $200,000 per year and having a duration of up to three years (maximum budget not to exceed $600,000, including ATE-CN).
- Small grants for institutions new to the ATE program: approximately 12-20 awards for up to $225,000 (each) typically spread over three years. It is expected that the budget request will match the scope of the project.
- Adaptation and Implementation: approximately 10-15 awards each totaling $300,000 to $400,000 typically spread over two to three years.
- Instrumentation Acquisition: approximately four awards each totaling $400,000 to $500,000 typically spread over two to three years.
- Centers:
- Funding will be $5 million spread over five years, with the possibility of a competitive grant renewal for $5 million over an additional five years. It is expected that 1-2 awards may be made each year.
- Resource centers: funding will be $600,000 spread over three-years with the possibility of a competitive renewal for an additional three years. It is expected that one to two awards may be made each year.
- Planning Grants for Centers: one to two new awards for up to $70,000 (each) to develop well-formulated plans for a future center (see Section V.A [“Proposal Preparation”] for additional information).
- Targeted Research on Technician Education: up to 5 new awards, ranging from $150,000 total for up to two years to $800,000 total for up to three years.
Examples of ATE centers near us include:
- Montgomery County Community College’s Northeast Biomanufacturing Center and Collaborative
- Prince George’s Community College’s National CyberWatch Center
- Tidewater Community College’s Southeast Maritime and Transportation Center
You can view a full list of ATE centers here.
DEADLINE: October 05, 2017 (5 p.m. submitter’s local time)
HOW TO APPLY: Find detailed application information here.
