Opportunity Information: Apply for 25 511
The Experiential Learning for Emerging and Novel Technologies (ExLENT) opportunity is a National Science Foundation (NSF) grant program led jointly by the Directorate for STEM Education (EDU) and the Directorate for Technology, Innovation and Partnerships (TIP), in partnership with Micron Technology, Inc. through the Micron Foundation. The central aim is to fund hands-on, experiential learning programs that help people from a wide range of educational and professional backgrounds gain practical, workforce-relevant experience in fast-growing emerging technology areas. The solicitation highlights fields such as advanced manufacturing, advanced wireless, artificial intelligence, biotechnology, quantum information science, semiconductors, and microelectronics, with an overall emphasis on preparing participants to enter or advance in technology careers where learning-by-doing is often essential.
A major theme of ExLENT is broadening participation and strengthening the talent pipeline for emerging technologies by reaching learners who have historically had limited access to traditional STEM pathways. NSF explicitly recognizes that building a competitive workforce cannot rely only on conventional degree routes; it must also include nontraditional learners, people coming from different career backgrounds, and individuals who have paused or left formal education and may be seeking re-skilling or upskilling. The program frames this as both an economic competitiveness issue and a national needs issue, pointing to large-scale challenges like climate change and clean energy that require a STEM workforce with varied perspectives and the ability to translate research and engineering advances into real-world solutions. It also notes that as technologies evolve, workforce preparation must account for emerging concerns such as security, safety, and privacy, which can reshape job roles and required competencies.
The program lays out three key goals. First, it seeks to expand access to career-enhancing experiential learning for a broader and more diverse population, including adult learners and others facing barriers to formal STEM education. Second, it aims to promote cross-sector partnerships, particularly between organizations working directly in emerging technology domains and organizations that specialize in workforce development and education. Third, it prioritizes workforce development that aligns with regional economic needs, consistent with TIPs mission, meaning projects are expected to connect training and experiential learning to real labor-market demand and local or regional innovation ecosystems.
Eligibility to submit proposals is limited to specific applicant types. Eligible applicants include U.S.-based for-profit organizations (including small businesses) with strong capabilities in scientific or engineering research or education; non-profit, non-academic organizations such as museums, observatories, research labs, and professional societies tied to education or research activities in the United States; and accredited two- and four-year institutions of higher education (including community colleges) with a U.S. campus submitting on behalf of faculty. Federally recognized Tribal Nations may apply, as may state and local governments, especially those involved in education and workforce development. Other Federal agencies and Federally Funded Research and Development Centers (FFRDCs) may be able to participate, but they must follow NSF policy guidance in the Proposal and Award Policies and Procedures Guide (PAPPG), which sets limitations and conditions for those entities.
From a funding standpoint, this is a discretionary NSF grant opportunity (Funding Opportunity Number 25-511) within the science and technology research and development category. The award ceiling is listed as $1,000,000 per award, with an anticipated total of about 35 awards. The original closing date is February 20, 2025. The opportunity is associated with multiple NSF CFDA numbers (including 47.041, 47.049, 47.050, 47.070, and others), reflecting NSF-wide coverage across several directorates and program areas that support STEM education and technology innovation.
Overall, ExLENT is best understood as a workforce-centered emerging technology initiative that prioritizes inclusive, cohort-based experiential learning models, encourages strong partnerships between technology employers and workforce educators, and ties training outcomes to regional workforce needs. The intent is not only to teach concepts, but to help participants build practical experience and job-ready skills in rapidly changing technology sectors where hands-on exposure can be the deciding factor for career entry and advancement.Apply for 25 511
- The National Science Foundation in the science and technology and other research and development sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Experiential Learning for Emerging and Novel Technologies" and is now available to receive applicants.
- Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 47.041, 47.049, 47.050, 47.070, 47.074, 47.075, 47.076, 47.079, 47.083, 47.084.
- This funding opportunity was created on 2024-11-19.
- Applicants must submit their applications by 2025-02-20. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
- Each selected applicant is eligible to receive up to $1,000,000.00 in funding.
- The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 35 candidate(s).
- Eligible applicants include: Others.
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Experiential Learning for Emerging and Novel Technologies (ExLENT) - FAQs
What is the Experiential Learning for Emerging and Novel Technologies (ExLENT) opportunity?
ExLENT is a National Science Foundation (NSF) grant program focused on funding hands-on, experiential learning programs that help people gain practical, workforce-relevant experience in fast-growing emerging technology areas.
Which NSF groups lead ExLENT?
The opportunity is led jointly by NSF's Directorate for STEM Education (EDU) and the Directorate for Technology, Innovation and Partnerships (TIP).
Is there an external partner involved in this program?
Yes. ExLENT is in partnership with Micron Technology, Inc. through the Micron Foundation.
What is the central aim of the program?
The central aim is to fund experiential, learning-by-doing programs that provide practical experience aligned with real workforce needs in emerging and novel technologies.
What kinds of learning models does ExLENT emphasize?
The program emphasizes hands-on, experiential learning and highlights inclusive, cohort-based experiential learning models intended to build job-ready skills through practical exposure.
Which technology areas are highlighted in the solicitation?
The solicitation highlights emerging technology fields such as advanced manufacturing, advanced wireless, artificial intelligence, biotechnology, quantum information science, semiconductors, and microelectronics.
Is the program only intended for traditional students in degree programs?
No. NSF explicitly notes that workforce competitiveness cannot rely only on conventional degree routes and that the program should include nontraditional learners and people coming from different educational and career backgrounds.
Who is the program trying to reach?
ExLENT aims to broaden participation by reaching learners who have historically had limited access to traditional STEM pathways, including adult learners, people facing barriers to formal STEM education, and individuals seeking re-skilling or upskilling.
Why does NSF frame this program as a national needs and competitiveness issue?
The program links workforce development to national-scale challenges (such as climate change and clean energy) and emphasizes the need for a STEM workforce with varied perspectives that can translate research and engineering advances into real-world solutions.
Does the opportunity mention workforce concerns beyond technical skills?
Yes. It notes that evolving technologies bring emerging concerns such as security, safety, and privacy, which can change job roles and required competencies.
What are the three key goals of ExLENT?
The program describes three core goals: (1) expand access to career-enhancing experiential learning for a broader and more diverse population; (2) promote cross-sector partnerships between emerging-technology organizations and workforce development/education organizations; and (3) prioritize workforce development aligned with regional economic needs and labor-market demand.
What does "cross-sector partnership" mean in this context?
Based on the solicitation description, it refers to partnerships especially between organizations operating in emerging technology domains (for example, technology employers or R&D-centered entities) and organizations that specialize in workforce development and education.
How important is regional workforce alignment for proposed projects?
Regional alignment is a stated priority. Projects are expected to connect training and experiential learning to real labor-market demand and local or regional innovation ecosystems, consistent with TIP's mission.
Who is eligible to submit proposals?
Eligibility is limited to specific applicant types, including certain U.S.-based for-profit organizations, non-profit non-academic organizations tied to U.S. education or research activities, accredited U.S. two- and four-year institutions of higher education (including community colleges), Federally recognized Tribal Nations, and state and local governments (especially those involved in education and workforce development).
Can for-profit companies apply?
Yes. U.S.-based for-profit organizations (including small businesses) are eligible if they have strong capabilities in scientific or engineering research or education.
Can non-profit organizations apply even if they are not universities?
Yes. Eligible non-profit, non-academic organizations include entities such as museums, observatories, research labs, and professional societies tied to education or research activities in the United States.
Can community colleges apply?
Yes. Accredited two-year institutions of higher education, including community colleges with a U.S. campus, are included as eligible applicants when submitting on behalf of faculty.
Are Federally recognized Tribal Nations eligible?
Yes. Federally recognized Tribal Nations may apply.
Are state and local governments eligible?
Yes. State and local governments may apply, especially those involved in education and workforce development.
Can other Federal agencies or FFRDCs apply?
Other Federal agencies and Federally Funded Research and Development Centers (FFRDCs) may be able to participate, but they must follow NSF policy guidance in the Proposal and Award Policies and Procedures Guide (PAPPG), including any limitations and conditions for those entities.
What is the Funding Opportunity Number for ExLENT?
The Funding Opportunity Number listed is 25-511.
What type of grant is this?
This is described as a discretionary NSF grant opportunity in the science and technology research and development category.
What is the maximum award size?
The award ceiling is listed as $1,000,000 per award.
How many awards does NSF anticipate making?
The opportunity indicates an anticipated total of about 35 awards.
What is the application deadline?
The original closing date is February 20, 2025.
Does this opportunity connect to multiple NSF program areas?
Yes. It is associated with multiple NSF CFDA numbers (including 47.041, 47.049, 47.050, 47.070, and others), reflecting NSF-wide coverage across several directorates and program areas supporting STEM education and technology innovation.
What kinds of outcomes does the program appear to prioritize?
Based on the description, ExLENT prioritizes workforce-centered outcomes: practical experience, job-ready skills, and training that is clearly connected to labor-market demand in rapidly changing technology sectors where hands-on exposure can be critical for career entry and advancement.
Is the focus more on teaching concepts or building real experience?
The opportunity emphasizes that the intent is not only to teach concepts, but also to help participants build practical experience and workforce-relevant skills through experiential learning.
Is ExLENT best described as a research grant or a workforce development initiative?
From the provided description, ExLENT is best understood as a workforce-centered emerging technology initiative that funds experiential learning programs and emphasizes partnerships and regional workforce needs.
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