The National Science Foundation (NSF) is an independent agency of the U.S. federal government established in 1950 to support fundamental research and education in all non-medical fields of science and engineering. With an annual budget of approximately $9.9 billion in fiscal year 2023, the NSF funds about 25% of all federally supported basic research conducted by United States' colleges and universities. In certain fields, such as mathematics, computer science, economics, and the social sciences, the NSF is the primary source of federal backing. The NSF's mission is "to promote the progress of science; to advance the national health, prosperity, and welfare; and to secure the national defense".
The NSF doesn't conduct research itself; instead, it provides research funding to external organizations through grants and cooperative agreements. In fiscal year 2020, the NSF received 42,400 proposals and awarded 12,100, resulting in a funding rate of 28%. The agency is organized into various directorates, each encompassing several disciplines, including Engineering, Geosciences, Mathematical and Physical Sciences, and STEM Education. NSF also supports initiatives like the Convergence Accelerator and the Established Program to Stimulate Competitive Research (EPSCoR).
