The National Science Foundation established EPSCoR in 1979 in response to Congressional concerns about the geographic concentration of federal support for academic research and development. EPSCoR is designed to expand and enhance the research capability of scientists in states that traditionally have lacked strong university-based research efforts, and, to compete more successfully for a portion of the current federal academic research and development budget.

Congress began expanding EPSCoR beyond NSF in 1990. Today, EPSCoR is a family of competitive, merit-based programs at seven federal research and development agencies: the National Science Foundation (NSF), the National Institutes of Health (NIH), the Departments of Defense (DoD), Energy (DOE), and Agriculture (USDA), the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA), and the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). NSF EPSCoR currently operates in the jurisdictions shown in blue on the map below. The list of eligible states varies somewhat for the other Federal agencies.

• NSF EPSCoR Call for Proposals (every 3 years)
• 1980 MT one of first 5 states to submit for award
• 1980-present MT has had NSF EPSCoR award funding
• Lead institution to submit, administer programs, budgets and reporting
• 1980-2004 MSU lead
• 2004-2007 UM lead
• 2007-2010 MSU lead
• 1980-1994 NSF requires 100% : 100% match (NSF:Match - institutional, state or third party)
• 1994 NSF ruling changes match to 100% : 50%
• Prior to 1994 MT institutions used indirect costs for required match
• 1994 MT legislature formed Montana Science & Technology Alliance (MSTA) to help provide match
• 1999 MT legislature formed Montana Board of Research & Commercialization Technology (MBRCT) to take over for MSTA
• Currently handles all research and/or economic development requests
• Proposals for funding are competitive
• Legislature approved funding for MBRCT through 2010
• 2005 NSF ruling: Match is no longer required, however, strong institutional support must be shown
• 2008 NSF EPSCoR expands its proposal offerings to include:  RII Track-1, RII Track-2, C2, Workshops and Outreach programs
• 2009 NSF ruling: Match is reinstated 100% : 20%

• 1982-2000 – Broad ranging, general proposals in Environmental Sciences areas (UM, MSU, MTECH)
  • Award funding ranged up to $1.0M per year
• 2000 – NSF proposals must narrow research foci (2-4 areas maximum); Increase support for women and underrepresented groups; Increase support for economic development; Create state-wide proposal management team
  • Award requested: NSF $9.0M (over 3 years) and MBRCT $3.0M (last 2 years of award)
• 2001-2004 – Research Focus Areas: Biomolecular Structure and Dynamics (UM), Function and Integrated Analysis of Complex Biological Systems (UM & MSU), Nanotechnology (MSU), Undergraduate Research (MTECH), Tribal Colleges liaison hire and technology support; Sub-program Projects: faculty enhancements, graduate student stipends, undergraduate research, summer undergraduate diversity research, visiting scholars, Small Business Innovative Research (SBIR) Phase 0 & 1.5, technician support, state competitive grant awards, invited speakers, external technical assistance, minority outreach, conference hosting, multi-medial recruitment, mid-range equipment
  • Award: NSF $9.0M (over 3 years) and MBRCT $3.0M (last 2 years of award)
• 2003 – NSF proposals must narrow research foci (2 areas maximum); Increase support for women and underrepresented groups; Increase support for economic development; Increase support for K-12 and community outreach; Create state-wide proposal management team
  • Award requested: NSF $9.0M and MBRCT $4.5M over 3 years
• 2004-2007 Research Focus Areas: Biomolecular Structure and Dynamics (UM); Neuroscience (UM & MSU); Bioengineering (MSU); Bioinspired Nanomaterials (MSU); Undergraduate Research (MTECH); Science Fairs; Tribal College faculty hires; Sub-program Projects: faculty enhancements, graduate student stipends, undergraduate research, summer undergraduate diversity research, visiting scholars, SBIR, invited speakers, women and minority outreach, conference hosting, women in science transition support, faculty buyout, community outreach, science education platforms, technicians, science learning complex
  • Award: NSF $9.0M and MBRCT $4.5M over 3 years
• 2006 – NSF proposals must narrow research foci (1-2 areas maximum): Increase support for women and underrepresented groups; Increase support for economic development; Increase support for K-12 and community outreach; Create state-wide proposal management team; Create state-wide grant assessment and reporting teams
  • Award requested: NSF $9.0M over 3 years
• 2007-2010 Research Focus Areas: Large Rivers Ecosystems (UM); Research Computational Cyberinfrastructure (UM); Hydrogen and the Environment (MSU); Undergraduate Research (MTECH); Tribal College faculty hires; Sub-program Projects: graduate student stipends, undergraduate research, visiting scholars, seminar speakers, SBIR, spectrUM Discovery Area, K-12 outreach, management, evaluation, sustainability
  • Award: NSF $9.0M over 3 years
• 2008 – NSF proposal for new RII Track-2 Cyberinfrastructure building, collaborative research with 1 or more other EPSCoR jurisdictions
  • Award requested:  NSF $6.0M/split between jurisdictions over 3 years
• 2009-2012 Research Focus Area:  Develop an integrated sensor and ecological informatics system at Flathead Lake Biological Station (MT) and Hancock Biological Station (KY); Data analization through the National Center for Supercomputing Applications (NCSA) in Urbanana-Champaign, IL
  • Award: NSF $6.0M/split between MT and KY over 3 years