Spectrum Innovation Initiative: National Radio Dynamic Zones | 22 579

Opportunity Information: Apply for 22 579

The National Science Foundation (NSF) Spectrum Innovation Initiative: National Radio Dynamic Zones (SII-NRDZ) opportunity focuses on a growing problem: more and more critical users are competing for limited electromagnetic spectrum. Commercial needs like wireless communications, navigation, and telemetry increasingly bump up against scientific and public-interest uses such as radio astronomy, Earth observation, geospace science, polar research, and safety-of-life systems like air traffic control. Because technology keeps expanding what can be done wirelessly, nearly every sector is looking for additional spectrum access. NSF frames the payoff as broad and concrete: faster and more reliable communications, new scientific discoveries (especially in astronomy and Earth sciences), smarter and more energy-efficient cities, safer and higher-capacity transportation corridors, and better weather forecasting. The central idea is that many of these benefits cannot be reached through traditional, static spectrum management alone, and instead require more dynamic spectrum sharing, meaning approaches that let diverse users operate closer together in time, space, or frequency while still preventing harmful interference.

At the heart of the program is the concept of a "radio dynamic zone." In practical terms, a radio dynamic zone is a defined geographic area or three-dimensional volume where spectrum access is managed automatically, with mechanisms intended to control electromagnetic energy that enters the zone, leaves the zone, or is generated within it. Rather than relying only on fixed allocations and large protective buffers, the radio dynamic zone idea emphasizes more responsive, data-driven coordination that can adapt to real conditions and changing demand. NSF is interested in maturing this concept through extended real-world testing, not just simulations or lab prototypes.

A major deliverable envisioned by SII-NRDZ is a set of extended field trials lasting roughly 6 to 12 months. These trials are meant to happen at sites where dynamic zone techniques can tangibly improve spectrum access for specific facilities or applications. By running longer trials, the program aims to uncover the operational realities that short tests can miss: how systems behave across seasons, under changing network loads, during unusual propagation conditions, and alongside routine operations of sensitive instruments. NSF expects these trials to build practical understanding and confidence in spectrum sharing methods, with the longer-term goal of enabling wider adoption of dynamic sharing approaches and informing the eventual creation of a permanent, highly capable National Radio Dynamic Zone facility somewhere in the United States. That future facility is envisioned as an at-scale research and experimentation platform where new spectrum-using and spectrum-managing technologies can be tested under realistic conditions.

The opportunity is explicitly interdisciplinary and is designed to bring together several communities that do not always work side by side. This includes spectrum sharing researchers (for example, those working on sensing, coordination algorithms, or interference modeling), domain experts who deeply understand the requirements of particular applications or scientific instruments, site or mission experts who know how specific facilities actually operate day to day, and spectrum regulatory specialists who can navigate the legal and policy constraints that shape what is possible. The program highlights that progress in spectrum sharing is not only a technical challenge but also a trust challenge: incumbents and other stakeholders need credible assurances that new sharing mechanisms will prevent harmful interference today and not compromise future operational options. SII-NRDZ activities are structured to help build that trust through careful engineering, risk analysis, and credible demonstrations.

NSF describes two project types under SII-NRDZ. First are SII-NRDZ research studies, which are more traditional NSF grant awards aimed at investigating spectrum sharing solutions, developing risk analysis techniques, or identifying and evaluating promising applications and sites for radio dynamic zone field trials. Second are SII-NRDZ Engineering and Execution Lead awards, which are structured as cooperative agreements and are intended to take results from research studies and turn them into robust, field-ready implementations, while also leading and coordinating the planned extended field trials. This split reflects a pipeline approach: early research to explore and assess options, followed by an execution-focused effort to integrate, harden, deploy, and operate systems in the field.

From the funding notice details provided, the opportunity is an NSF discretionary research and development program (Funding Opportunity Number 22-579) using the grant instrument type, with an award ceiling of $2,000,000 and an anticipated total of about 12 awards. It is associated with multiple NSF CFDA listings (47.041, 47.049, 47.050, 47.070, 47.074, 47.075, 47.076), reflecting the cross-cutting nature of spectrum work across engineering and scientific domains. The original closing date listed is June 20, 2022, and eligibility is noted as "Others" with further clarification in the full solicitation text. Overall, SII-NRDZ is positioned as a bridge between spectrum sharing theory and operational practice, using extended demonstrations and structured collaboration to reduce technical and institutional barriers to more dynamic, efficient spectrum use.

• The National Science Foundation in the science and technology and other research and development sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Spectrum Innovation Initiative: National Radio Dynamic Zones" and is now available to receive applicants.
• Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 47.041, 47.049, 47.050, 47.070, 47.074, 47.075, 47.076.
• This funding opportunity was created on Mar 23, 2022.
• Applicants must submit their applications by Jun 20, 2022. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
• Each selected applicant is eligible to receive up to $2,000,000.00 in funding.
• The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 12 candidate(s).
• Eligible applicants include: Others (see text field entitled Additional Information on Eligibility for clarification).

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