NSF PESOSE Funding Opportunity 2026 | Up to $1.5 Million Grant for Secure Open-Source Ecosystems
Organization
U.S. National Science Foundation (NSF)
Duration
Track 1: Up to 1 year Track 2: Up to 2 years Track 3: Up to 2 years
Fellowship Amount
Track 1: Maximum $300,000 per award Track 2: Maximum $1,500,000 per award Track 3: Maximum $1,500,000 per award Anticipated total programme funding: $40 million
Overview
About the Organization
The U.S. National Science Foundation (NSF) is an independent federal agency supporting science and engineering research and education across the United States. NSF funds research, innovation, technology development and scientific infrastructure.
About the Grant
The Pathways to Enable Secure Open-Source Ecosystems (PESOSE) programme supports the translation of open-source science and engineering research products into safe, sustainable and resilient ecosystems.
The programme covers open-source software, hardware, machine learning models, languages and data platforms. PESOSE has three tracks: Track 1 – Scoping and Planning, Track 2 – Establishing and Expanding, and Track 3 – Improving Safety, Security and Privacy.
How to Apply
Eligible organisations must prepare a full proposal according to NSF 26-506 and the applicable NSF Proposal & Award Policies & Procedures Guide.
Proposals may be submitted through Research.gov or Grants.gov. A lead organisation must submit the proposal, and participating organisations may be included as eligible subawardees. An active UEI through SAM.gov is required for submitting institutions.
Who Can Apply
Eligible proposing organisations include U.S.-based accredited institutions of higher education, eligible U.S. nonprofit research or educational organisations, U.S.-based for-profit organisations with strong science or engineering capabilities, state and local governments, eligible Tribal Nations, and certain federal agencies or FFRDCs subject to NSF rules.
Specific PI appointment, U.S. residency, organisational ownership and legal right-to-work requirements apply. Foreign academic researchers may contribute as Senior/Key Personnel or collaborators in limited circumstances but may not receive NSF support under the stated rule.
Why Apply
The programme provides significant funding to build sustainable open-source communities, improve governance and distributed development, address cybersecurity and privacy risks, strengthen open-source infrastructure, and translate research products into technologies with national and societal impact.
Important Dates
| Event | Date |
|---|---|
| Solicitation Posted | 19 February 2026 |
| Full Proposal Deadline | 1 September 2026 |
| Next Full Proposal Deadline | 2 March 2027 |
| Future Deadlines | First Tuesday in March and September annually |
Full proposals are due by 5:00 PM in the submitting organisation's local time.
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Financial Support
Fellowship Amount: Track 1: Maximum $300,000 per award Track 2: Maximum $1,500,000 per award Track 3: Maximum $1,500,000 per award Anticipated total programme funding: $40 million
Eligibility Criteria
For higher education institutions, PIs and relevant Senior/Key Personnel must meet specified appointment requirements. For other eligible organisations, the PI must normally reside in the United States and act as an employee of the proposing organisation. Additional U.S. ownership and control requirements apply to nonprofit and for-profit proposing organisations.
Important Dates
| 0 | Solicitation Posted: 19 February 2026 |
| 1 | Application Deadline: 1 September 2026 |
| 2 | Next Deadline: 2 March 2027 |
Streams
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