MS-CC Research Catalyst Program

The Research Catalyst Program is designed to directly support researchers and faculty in advancing their research objectives through funded partnerships that leverage cyberinfrastructure (CI).

Through the MS-CC Research Catalyst Program, we aim to build connections between researchers and campus information technology leaders, connect campuses to national CI resources, and set them toward broader CI opportunities, including NSF’s Campus Cyberinfrastructure (CC*) program. This program may fund up to $200,000 per selected project.

Check back for details on when our next cohort will be open for applications.

Researchers, faculty, and administrators at Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) and Tribal Colleges and Universities (TCUs) are encouraged to apply,

First Five NSF-Approved Projects Announced

Click below to learn about the five projects awarded in 2025. This program is supported by MS-CC’s NSF award #2234326.

Learn More About the 2025 RCP Projects

Program Objectives

The Research Catalyst Grant Program will:

Directly fund researchers, faculty, and administrators at HBCUs and TCUs for one-year projects.
Provide insights into CI-related research activities on these campuses.
Foster connections between researchers, campus IT leadership, and national CI resources, including Internet2.
Enhance campus CI infrastructure and capabilities.
Educate researchers and faculty about CI resources and potential applications.
Inform on new approaches to increase and accelerate CI-research capacity at MS-CC campuses.

Projects the program will consider include but are not limited to:

Network Infrastructure: Upgrades to improve research lab connectivity through hardware and service investments.
Identity and Access Management Fast-track: Enhancements through InCommon and/or eduroam memberships, including associated implementation costs. For those who are ready to implement today.
Computational Resources: Acquisition and deployment of local or cloud-based HPC/HTC clusters, AI/ML computing resources, and related infrastructure.
Research Data Development: Support for data collection and transfer technologies, including IoT data acquisition, remote sensing, local storage, and high-speed transfer solutions.

The MS-CC Research Catalyst Program is designed to make broadly applicable funding available with a broad scope to support diverse research goals.

Who Should Apply?

We welcome applications from researchers, faculty, and administrators across all disciplines, including, but not limited to, STEM fields, humanities, natural sciences, and beyond, who:

Require CI resources to advance their research.
Are interested in exploring CI in their research.
Seek guidance and support in utilizing national CI infrastructure and resources.

Why Apply?

This grant program provides:

A lower-effort application process compared to more formal and extensive CI grant programs.
Direct CI support from MS-CC and Internet2 experts, such as CI Facilitation services, CI Engineer services, Federation, and eduroam support.
Immediate access to a network of CI resources, tools, and expertise.

Program Timeline

Program announcement: July 24, 2026
Application deadline: August 21, 2026, at 4:30 PM MDT
Review period: August 24, 2026, through September 15, 2026
Selection announcement: By September 15, 2026
Agreement finalization: By September 30, 2026
Project start: October 1, 2026

How to Apply

Project description, objectives, and intended impact.
CI needs, and how this program will support them.
Expected and measurable outcomes and how they contribute to the campus CI landscape. Outcomes must specifically advance science drivers and/or enhance cyberinfrastructure supporting research on the campus.