# Major Research Instrumentation Program: (MRI)

U.S. National Science Foundation is accepting applications until January 29, 2027. It lists awards of up to $4 million, $50 million in total.

## The full list

This record is a row of this list. Pay by card with no account. Prices exclude VAT. CSV and Excel files with the columns this page does not show (contact name, contact email, contact phone, title, agency, department and 9 more), which open on your screen as soon as the payment clears and come by email.

- [Open federal grant opportunities](https://specstream.ai/data/grants): 1,202 rows, open and forecast opportunities on Grants.gov on the build day, $60.10, or the new rows each week for $19 a month. Buy: https://specstream.ai/data/grants

SpecStream is the live web data engine for teams and agents. It reads every open and forecast federal opportunity on Grants.gov each morning, and this page is that reading. Describe your organization once and the grants that fit arrive in your sheet, CRM, Slack or agent as they are posted.

## Key facts

- Opportunity number: 27-500
- Status: Posted, open
- Posted: November 6, 2026
- Closes: January 29, 2027
- Award ceiling: $4,000,000
- Award floor: $100,000
- Total funding: $50,000,000
- Cost sharing: Not required
- Funding instrument: Grant
- Category: Science and Technology and other Research and Development
- Assistance listing: 47.041 Engineering; 47.049 Mathematical and Physical Sciences; 47.050 Geosciences; 47.070 Computer and Information Science and Engineering; 47.074 Biological Sciences; 47.075 Social, Behavioral, and Economic Sciences; 47.076 STEM Education (formerly Education and Human Resources); 47.078 Polar Programs; 47.079 Office of International Science and Engineering; 47.083 Integrative Activities; 47.084 NSF Technology, Innovation, and Partnerships; None None
- Contact: U.S. National Science Foundation · grantsgovsupport@nsf.gov · 703-292-4203

## Who can apply

- Others (see text field entitled "Additional Information on Eligibility" for clarification)

\*Who May Submit Proposals: Proposals may only be submitted by the following: -Institutions of Higher Education (IHEs): Two- and four-year IHEs (including community colleges) accredited in, and having a campus located in the US, acting on behalf of their faculty members. Special Instructions for International Branch Campuses of US IHEs: If the proposal includes funding to be provided to an international branch campus of a US institution of higher education (including through use of sub-awards and consultant arrangements), the proposer must explain the benefit(s) to the project of performance at the international branch campus, and justify why the project activities cannot be performed at the US campus.Non-profit, non-academic organizations: Independent museums, observatories, research laboratories, professional societies and similar organizations located in the U.S. that are directly associated with educational or research activities.Tribal Nations: An American Indian or Alaska Native tribe, band, nation, pueblo, village, or community that the Secretary of the Interior acknowledges as a federally recognized tribe pursuant to the Federally Recognized Indian Tribe List Act of 1994, 2

## What the agency says

The Major Research Instrumentation (MRI) Program ( MRI Website ) increases access to multi-user scientific and engineering instrumentation for research and training in the operation of the proposed equipment. An MRI award supports the acquisition of a multi-user research instrument through direct purchase from a vendor, or for the personnel and components required to develop an instrument with new capabilities that opens new opportunities to advance the frontiers in science and engineering research. MRI instruments are generally too costly and/or not appropriate for support through other NSF programs. MRI encourages proposals from early-career researchers, from all geographic regions, including EPSCoR jurisdictions , and from emerging research institutions, where MRI can significantly build capacity for research. The program especially welcomes proposals for instruments that will advance discovery in one or more national R&D priority areas , including capability for scientifically justified integration with SI-enabled workflows.

[The notice on Grants.gov](https://www.grants.gov/search-results-detail/364243) [Full announcement](http://www.nsf.gov/publications/pub_summ.jsp?ods_key=nsf27500)

## Other open grants from the U.S. National Science Foundation

| Opportunity | Status | Closes | Award ceiling | Total funding | Record |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| [PFE: Research Initiation in Engineering Formation (PFE: RIEF)](https://specstream.ai/data/grants/pfe-research-initiation-in-engineering-formation-pfe-rief-363764) 20-558 | Open | Nov 10 | Not listed | $3,000,000 | [grants.gov](https://www.grants.gov/search-results-detail/363764) |
| [Applied Mathematics](https://specstream.ai/data/grants/applied-mathematics-358569) PD-16-1266 | Open | Nov 16 | Not listed | Not listed | [grants.gov](https://www.grants.gov/search-results-detail/358569) |
| [Astronomy and Astrophysics Research Grants](https://specstream.ai/data/grants/astronomy-and-astrophysics-research-grants-342959) 22-624 | Open | Nov 16 | Not listed | $50,000,000 | [grants.gov](https://www.grants.gov/search-results-detail/342959) |
| [Plasma Physics](https://specstream.ai/data/grants/plasma-physics-350018) PD-23-1242 | Open | Nov 16 | Not listed | Not listed | [grants.gov](https://www.grants.gov/search-results-detail/350018) |
| [National Science Foundation Translation to Practice (NSF TTP)](https://specstream.ai/data/grants/national-science-foundation-translation-to-practice-nsf-ttp-359966) 25-540 | Open | Nov 17 | $2,000,000 | $30,000,000 | [grants.gov](https://www.grants.gov/search-results-detail/359966) |
| [National Science Foundation Fostering Interdisciplinary Networks to Develop Emergent and Responsive Solutions Foundry (NSF FINDERS FOUNDRY)](https://specstream.ai/data/grants/national-science-foundation-fostering-interdisciplinary-networks-to-de-361604) 26-507 | Open | Nov 18 | Not listed | $8,500,000 | [grants.gov](https://www.grants.gov/search-results-detail/361604) |

· [Everything closing in January 2027](https://specstream.ai/data/grants/closing/2027-01)

Read from the Grants.gov API, last updated 2026-11-10. The agency's notice on Grants.gov is the official record; check it before you apply.