Office of Research
NSF X-Labs Initiative – AI for Physical Systems
The U.S. National Science Foundation (NSF), Directorate for Technology, Innovation and Partnerships (TIP), announces the next NSF X-Labs Other Transaction Agreement Solutions Offering (OTASO) – AI for Physical Systems.
Decades of progress in digital AI have positioned the U.S. to redefine how intelligent systems interact with the physical world. The next frontier of AI requires developing intelligent, adaptive, and scalable systems for complex physical environments. NSF is seeking NSF X-Labs teams to develop early-stage technologies that enable breakthroughs to accelerate entirely new forms of AI integration in physical systems, including advanced sensors, robotics, embodied systems, human-robot interfaces, and cyber-physical systems. Teams applying to this topic will produce innovative platform technologies that benefit a broad range of application domains critical to U.S. competitiveness and security, which may include healthcare, national defense, emergency response, advanced manufacturing, and scientific discovery.
For the Phase 0 deadline on January 7, 2027, NSF requires a maximum 8-page proposal including concise, comprehensive information and details on how the team will support the efforts outlined in the solicitation.
There is a Q&A introductory webinar on October 14, 10 am Pacific Time.
NSF will release two additional X-Labs topics this fall: From Sequence to Function and Computation at the Limit of Physics. NSF issued a Request for Information seeking feedback on potential topics for future NSF X-Labs funding opportunities. Responses are due by Oct. 30, 2026.
Application Instructions
To submit a pre-proposal for AI for Physical Systems, please send as one combined pdf labeled with PI’s Lastname, Firstname:
- A one‐page letter of intent with a description of proposed aims and approach.
- If the final application requires a statement of broader impacts, please summarize your plans to address the specific requirements on an additional page.
- CV (not biosketch) of the PI including past grant funding.
to limitedsubs@uw.edu by 5:00 PM Wednesday, October 21, 2026. Late pre-proposals will not be considered. Proposals are due to the sponsor 1/7/2027 so you will need to have your materials in to the Office of Sponsored Programs by 10/28/2026 if given the go‐ahead by the Limited Submissions review committee.
Inquiries and Contact Information
Investigators who identify a grant, award or fellowship program that restricts the number of applications that can be submitted from an Institution should immediately contact their Chairperson, Associate Dean for Research (or Dean, if no ADR) and the Office of Research (see below) if they intend to prepare a response. Failure to do so, or to meet the deadlines for submission of pre-proposal, will preclude submission of the application through the Office of Sponsored Programs.
For general inquiries, or to request a listing of a limited submission opportunity that should be but is not already listed, please email us at limitedsubs@uw.edu.