NSF ELEGANT Solutions Offering (NSF-OTASO-FY26-ELEGANT)

Executive summary

NSF ELEGANT puts up to $150M over six years into moving low-dimensional (2D) semiconductor materials from lab demonstrations toward 300 mm manufacturing. U.S. companies and universities can lead an Expert Performer Team in one of five themes. Proposals are due December 18, 2026, 5:00 PM ET.

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ELEGANT uses Other Transaction Agreements with Go/No-Go gates every two years, and it expects industry to commit to funding the work after the government phases end.

Solicitation at a glance

• Agency: National Science Foundation, Directorate for Technology, Innovation and Partnerships (TIP)
• Opportunity: Ecosystem for Low-dimensional Electronics: Growth, Assembly, Nanoelectronics, and Translation (ELEGANT)
• Solicitation: NSF-OTASO-FY26-ELEGANT
• Award vehicle: Other Transaction Agreement
• Funding: Up to $150M over six years (Theme 1 $43M, Theme 2 $35M, Theme 3 $42M, Theme 4 $12M, Theme 5 $6M, Ecosystem Coordinator $12M)
• Due date: December 18, 2026, 5:00 PM ET

Think your company qualifies? Talk with BW&CO before the December 18 deadline.

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What is ELEGANT?

An NSF TIP program that funds one Ecosystem Coordinator and multiple Expert Performer Teams to translate low-dimensional semiconductor technology into platforms U.S. manufacturers can adopt.

What problem is NSF trying to solve?

Silicon scaling is nearing its limits. NSF wants low-dimensional materials to reach the reproducibility, process maturity and industry validation needed for real chip manufacturing.

Priority capability areas: the five translation themes

• Theme 1, Manufacturable Materials Platform ($43M): 300 mm material demonstrations suitable for foundry qualification
• Theme 2, Process Technology and Process Design Kit ($35M): reproducible 300 mm process flows and PDKs
• Theme 3, Device, Circuit and Full-Chip Demonstration ($42M): devices and circuits validated by industry partners
• Theme 4, Manufacturing Readiness and Transition ($12M): a manufacturing readiness package for an industry funding decision
• Theme 5, AI-Enabled Acceleration ($6M): AI tools that speed up the other themes

Funding and award terms

• Up to $150M over six years, subject to available funds
• Three government-funded phases of about 24 months each, with Go/No-Go reviews
• A Phase 4 in which industry takes over funding
• Competing teams may be funded in Phase 1, especially in Themes 1 and 3, then down-selected

Eligibility

• U.S.-based incorporated entities: universities, for-profit companies, nonprofits or formal consortia.
• The Principal Director must be a full-time employee of the lead organization.
• Sub-awardees must be U.S.-based; no foreign sub-awardees.
• Apply as the Ecosystem Coordinator or as an Expert Performer Team, not both. An organization may submit separate proposals for different themes.
• Active SAM.gov registration is required.

How to apply

• Download the OTASO from SAM.gov.
• Pick your role and theme.
• Write the proposal: up to 25 pages for an Expert Performer Team (20 for the Coordinator), 12-point font, single PDF, plus appendices for budget, CVs, IP plan and letters of commitment.
• Email it to pkbreen@nsf.gov by December 18, 2026, 5:00 PM ET, with the subject line given in the solicitation.

What happens after you submit?

• Compliance review, then merit review.
• Pre-award negotiation: Go/No-Go criteria and the first Annual Project Plan.
• Phase 1: about 24 months, then a Go/No-Go review.

Is this opportunity a good fit for your company?

Strong fit for companies working on 2D materials, low-dimensional semiconductors, 300 mm process tools, device integration or AI for semiconductor process development, especially with industry partners ready to write letters of commitment. Weak fit for early lab-stage work without a manufacturing path.

How BW&CO can help

BW&CO has helped deep-tech and dual-use founders secure more than $350M in non-dilutive funding. For NSF programs like ELEGANT, we help you:

• Choose the right theme and role
• Build the team and industry letters of commitment
• Translate your roadmap into Go/No-Go milestones and KPIs
• Structure a six-year milestone budget
• Write a 25-page proposal NSF can score easily

Plan your ELEGANT proposal

Frequently asked questions

What is ELEGANT?

An NSF program to translate low-dimensional semiconductor technology toward 300 mm manufacturing.

How much funding is available?

Up to $150M over six years, split across five themes and an Ecosystem Coordinator.

Can a company lead a team?

Yes. U.S.-based for-profit companies are eligible to lead.

Can foreign organizations participate?

No foreign sub-awardees are allowed.

What type of award is it?

An Other Transaction Agreement.

When are proposals due?

December 18, 2026, 5:00 PM ET.

How long can the proposal be?

25 pages for an Expert Performer Team, 20 for the Ecosystem Coordinator, excluding the title page and appendices.

Can I submit to more than one theme?

Yes, with separate proposals, but not as both Coordinator and Performer.

Can BW&CO help with an ELEGANT proposal?

Yes. We help teams choose a theme, line up industry partners and write the proposal. Book a call with our team.

Source: NSF-OTASO-FY26-ELEGANT on SAM.gov