The National Science Foundation initiated the Academic Research Infrastructure Program: Recovery and Reinvestment (ARI-R²) in May of 2009. The ARI-R² program will invest in the repair, renovation, or in exceptional cases, the replacement of existing research facilities. It will not support the construction of new research facilities. In 2005, NSF estimated that academic institutions then had at least $3.6 billion in deferred projects to repair and renovate science and engineering research facilities (FY05 Survey of Science and Engineering Research Facilities.) As a result of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009, NSF will invest $200 million in the nation's research facilities and research training infrastructure. This investment will advance the science and engineering research enterprise at many institutions. The ARI-R² program will:
- Update existing research facilities at institutions of higher education (including graduate and undergraduate institutions, among which are included community colleges) and other non-profit research organizations.
- Enable academic departments, disciplinary and cross-disciplinary units, or multi-organization consortia to renovate research facilities through the addition or augmentation of cyberinfrastructure, other than general-purpose computing systems or data storage systems, to create environments that enhance research and integrate research with education.
- Improve access to and increase use of next-generation research facilities for researchers, educators, and students.
- Assist research organizations, including those that have historically received limited federal research and development funds, to improve their science and engineering research environments.
The funding will include approximately 100 awards ranging from $250,000 to $2 million; approximately 6-10 awards ranging from $2 million to $5 million; and approximately 3-5 awards ranging from $5 million to $10 million. The award duration for ARI-R² grants up to $2 million is up to three years; award duration for grants over $2 million and up to $10 million is up to four years.
