In 1979, congress directed the National Science Foundation to form what would become the Established Program to Stimulate Competitive Research, funding innovation across the country. This was in response to a concern – that the U.S. was excluding the scientific contributions of researchers in many states – including Kentucky – and leaving both the researchers and students behind. Since 1986, Kentucky NSF EPSCoR has stewarded these federal funds with great care and become a catalyst for stimulating the development of a strong and sustainable Commonwealth research community.

Kentucky’s Established Program to Stimulate Competitive Research (KY NSF EPSCoR) works in collaboration with the National Science Foundation (NSF), to strengthen research and education in science and engineering. 

To learn more about NSF EPSCoR on a national level, please visit: https://www.nsf.gov/od/oia/programs/epscor/