NSF Pledges $67 Mn for Research Threat Defense Center

The National Science Foundation (NSF) is committing $67 million over five years to launch the Safeguarding the Entire Community of the U.S. Research Ecosystem (SECURE) Center, which will serve as an information hub to help identify and counter foreign threats to the U.S. research community.

Of this investment, $50 million will be allocated to the University of Washington, which will lead the SECURE Center. The remaining $17 million will go to Texas A&M University, one of nine other participating institutions that will contribute to the initiative, the NSF announced.

The SECURE Center will oversee five regional centers:

• SECURE Northeast, managed by Northeastern University

• SECURE Southeast, managed by Emory University

• SECURE Midwest, managed by the University of Missouri

• SECURE Southwest, managed jointly by The University of Texas at San Antonio and Texas A&M University

• SECURE West, managed by the University of Washington

Recently, the NSF also announced an investment of over $50 million in its Partnerships for Research and Education in Materials (PREM) program, supporting 15 collaborative research projects across the country. 

This initiative aims to enhance participation and broaden access to materials science facilities, education, training, and career opportunities.

The funding includes grants exceeding $4 million each for 11 partnering institutions over six years, as well as $1 million in seed funding for each of four additional institutions over three years.

"Supporting the scientific talent present in every community in our country is imperative to strengthening the nation's materials research infrastructure, which is central to everything from semiconductors to medical implants. NSF is dedicated to empowering everyone who wants to shape our scientific future for the benefit of their communities and the U.S. research community at large,” NSF Director Sethuraman Panchanathan said.