Greetings,

We are excited to share this new opportunity from NSF. The Responsible Design, Development, and Deployment of Technologies (ReDDDoT) program invites proposals from multidisciplinary, multi-sector teams. More information about the award can be found in the synopsis and links below.

NSF Responsible Design, Development, and Deployment of Technologies (ReDDDoT) 

OSP Deadlines: Departments or areas may require additional time for proposal review and submission. Please discuss a timeline with your grants administrator.

      Phase 1: April 1, 2024.

      Phase 2: April 15, 2024. 

Sponsor Deadlines:

      Phase 1: April 8, 2024. Planning Grants, Translational Research Coordination Networks, Workshops

      Phase 2: April 22, 2024. Project proposals

Award Amount: 

      Phase 1: Planning Grants: up to $300,000 for no more than 2 years.

                      Translational Research Coordination Networks: up to         

                           $500,000 each for 3 to 4 years.

                      Workshops: up to $75,000 each for up to one year.

      Phase 2: Project Proposals: $750,000 to $1,500,000 for 3 years.

The Responsible Design, Development, and Deployment of Technologies (ReDDDoT) program invites proposals from multidisciplinary, multi-sector teams that examine and demonstrate the principles, methodologies, implementations, and impacts associated with responsible design, development, and deployment of technologies in practice. 

In FY 2024, the Planning Grant, Translational Research Coordination Network, and Phase 2 Project proposals should all focus on one or more of the following three technology areas: artificial intelligence, biotechnology, or natural and anthropogenic disaster prevention or mitigation including, but not limited to, climate change mitigation and environmental sustainability. Projects that cover multiple of these priority areas, and/or include other areas in addition to one or more of the priority areas are also welcome. Workshop proposals, on the other hand, may choose foci from the full range of key technology areas and national, societal, and geostrategic challenges described in Section 10387 of the CHIPS and Science Act of 2022.

The broad goals of the ReDDDoT program include:   

• Stimulating activity and filling gaps in research, innovation, and capacity building in the responsible design, development, and deployment of technologies;  
• Creating broad and inclusive communities of interest that bring together key stakeholders to better inform practices for the design, development, and deployment of technologies;   
• Educating and training the science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) workforce on approaches to responsible design, development, and deployment of technologies;  
• Accelerating pathways to societal and economic benefits while developing strategies to avoid or mitigate societal and economic harms; and 
• Empowering communities, including economically disadvantaged and marginalized populations, to participate in all stages of technology development, including the earliest stages of ideation and design. 

A key goal of the program is to support and strengthen collaborations across disciplines and sectors, for example, academia, industry, and non-profits. The program also aims to ensure that ethical, legal, and societal considerations and community values are embedded across technology lifecycles to generate products that promote the public’s well-being and mitigate harm.

In FY 2024, the ReDDDoT program has two deadline dates, one for Phase 1 proposals and the other for Phase 2 proposals.

• Phase 1: Planning Grant, Translational Research Coordination Network, and Workshop Proposals. The objectives for proposals in Phase 1 should be around building transdisciplinary and multi-sector communities and collaborations to explore and prepare for work focusing on the key ReDDDoT program goals.

• Phase 2: Project Proposals. The Phase 2 opportunity is intended for projects with an established track record in the priority areas with teams that have experience in use-inspired and translational activities in responsible design, development, and deployment. Projects covering multiple priority areas and/or including other areas in addition to the priority areas are welcome. 

Informational Webinar: The ReDDDoT program is hosting an informational webinar on Friday, February 9, 2024, at 2 PM ET to provide a program overview and answer questions about the funding opportunity. Register for the webinar here.

Office Hours: The ReDDDoT program manager will also host a virtual office hour session on Friday, February 16, 2024, at 2 PM ET to answer questions about the funding opportunity and the proposal submission process. Following the Q&A portion, there will be track/topic-specific breakout sessions – for ReDDDoT, the tracks are AI, biotech, and natural and anthropogenic disaster prevention or mitigation. Register for the virtual office hour session here.

For more information about this opportunity, please see the full solicitation here: https://new.nsf.gov/funding/opportunities/responsible-design-development-deployment/nsf24-524/solicitation.

Questions from FAS or SEAS faculty about this opportunity may be directed to research_development@fas.harvard.edu.