The U.S. National Science Foundation's EPSCoR program pursues a mission to enhance the research competitiveness of targeted jurisdictions (state, territory or commonwealth) by strengthening science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) capacity and capability through a diverse portfolio of investments from talent development to local infrastructure.  The EPSCoR program envisions its jurisdictions as recognized contributors to the national and global STEM research enterprise. The program:

• Catalyzes research capability across and among jurisdictions.
• Establishes STEM professional development pathways.
• Broadens participation of diverse groups and institutions in STEM.
• Effects engagement in STEM at national and global levels.
• Impacts jurisdictional economic development.

EPSCoR is part of NSF's Broadening Participation portfolio.

Want to know more? Read about it in NSF's Science Matters blog post, "NSF 101: Geographic diversity through EPSCoR."

Impacts and outcomes

NSF EPSCoR has impacted researchers across the nation.  In the past five years alone, the program's RII awards have accomplished the following:

• EPSCoR-supported outreach engaged over 6,800 faculty in academic institutions, more than 18,000 K-12 teachers and over 309,000 K-12 students.

• 486 underrepresented minority graduate and undergraduate students involved in EPSCoR projects attained their degrees.

• EPSCoR jurisdictions have received 64 new patents and leveraged over $1.4 billion in new awards.

Learn more about EPSCoR's impact on the Impacts and Outcomes webpage.