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Lead organizations submitting a project proposal on behalf of a project team must be a SMART USA member at the time of project proposal submission to SMART USA.

All other project team members receiving funds, such as sub-awardees, must join SMART USA before any research project funding agreement is signed. Please include a letter of commitment or support from each nonmember sub awardee at the time of proposal submission.

Added July 17, 2025

Institute cash refers to funds received by the Institute from members as payment for their dues.

Added July 17, 2025

Employees of member organizations who are based outside the United States may follow the progress of the projects. However, with prior approvals from SMART USA, they can also actively lead and engage with research. For more information, please consult Article XII of the membership agreement.

Added July 17, 2025

Any individual who is legally authorized to work in the United States including U.S. citizens, permanent residents, and individuals holding valid work visas is eligible to participate on a proposal team as a collaborator or liaison. Those affiliated with a SMART USA member organization may also serve as the lead Principal Investigator (PI) when submitting a proposal. Eligibility is subject to the terms outlined in the membership agreement. Please refer to Section 13.2 and Article XII of the membership agreement for full details.

Added July 17, 2025

Yes, an organization may overcommit its anticipated allocation when submitting proposals. However, if projects are selected that require funding beyond the anticipated allocation, the organization will be required to provide additional dues that result in an annual project budget that matches the budget proposal. Note that federal funds are allocated on a first-come, first-served basis to match the committed cash dues as we continue to enroll members. 

Added July 14, 2025

Yes, sub awardees can join as a member and their annual dues plus the 0.5x multiplier can be included in the project budget. Their portion of funds will only be committed by SMART USA when they become member and pay their annual dues as per the agreement. Please include a letter of commitment or support from each nonmember sub awardee.

Added July 14, 2025

Yes, you can upgrade your annual dues as part of the proposal. The annual dues plus the 0.5x multiplier can be included in the project budget. The portion of funds will only be committed when you pay the additional amount of annual dues as per the agreement amendment.  Please note once membership dues are increased to a higher amount, they will remain at the higher level for the remainder of the term.

Added July 14, 2025

No template is provided for the required PowerPoint slide.

This single slide is designed to provide a high-level overview of the project’s budget, funding, duration, objectives, and key deliverables for quick review by the SMART USA Project Portfolio Board. Specific formatting requirements are not provided.  

In the OpenWater proposal submission form, you will find a field where you can upload the requested slide. 

Added July 10, 2025

The Budget form spreadsheet is located within the OpenWater proposal submission form. Once you begin the proposal submission process, click on the SMART USA Budget link found in the Preliminary Budget Upload section.

Added July 10, 2025

The Research Overview Catalog Page is required with all proposal submissions, as indicated on the last page of the OpenWater proposal submission form.

One Research Overview Catalog Page is required for each organization listed as part of the project. 

SMART USA provides strict guidelines in the OpenWater template for the research catalog page. Each section of the form has specific limits that must be adhered to when adding your research into our online Research Catalog form. To ensure that each organization on the proposal gets to display their work appropriately, please include one catalog page per organization in your submission.

Added July 9, 2025

Each project as a whole must satisfy the required cost share ratios. However, each member is also responsible for meeting their own membership requirements. Membership requirements can be fulfilled through participation in multiple projects.

Added July 8, 2025

SMART USA will award at least 9 different teams across $50M of total funding for this solicitation. Projects can be as small as $500K and as large as $20M (for some topic areas). Please scope your project size and team with the necessary members to achieve your objectives and the Institute technical targets.

Added July 8, 2025

Yes!  The project award budgets show how cash and in-kind from membership dues will be spent.  There are no additional cost share contributions above membership dues necessary for project awards.

Added July 2, 2025

Yes, an organization may submit multiple proposals. However, no individual may serve as Principal Investigator (PI) on more than two proposals.

Added July 1, 2025

This $50M solicitation is for collaborative projects. Funding for proprietary projects is separate from this solicitation.

Added July 1, 2025

View the Commercial Viability and Domestic Production (CVDP) Plan Guidebook here.

Find CVDP Office Hours here.

Please review the Cost Share Definition and Guidance here.

Read and download the Microelectronics & Advanced Packaging Technologies Roadmap here

For questions regarding this call for funding, please email proposals@smartusatwins.org.

Additional FAQs will be added as needed. For questions regarding this call for funding, please email proposals@smartusatwins.org.