The Established Program to Stimulate Competitive Research (EPSCoR)—originally named the E xperimental Program to Stimulate Competitive Research (EPSCoR) —is a set-aside funding program that began as an effort to avoid an "undue concentration" of federal research funds by providing competitive grant opportunities to states that historically received little federal research and development (R&D) funding. The National Science Foundation's (NSF's) governing board first established the program in 1978 by resolution, and EPSCoR was formally established in statute in 1988. The program was created to increase research and infrastructure capacity, thereby improving the ability of institutions in EPSCoR states to compete for non-set-aside federal R&D funding. EPSCoR is distinct from other NSF programs in this geographically targeted approach. Since the first program began at NSF, EPSCoR and EPSCoR-like programs have been established at other federal agencies, with active programs at the Department of Energy (DOE), National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA), U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), and National Institutes of Health (NIH). In 1992, the EPSCoR Interagency Coordinating Committee (EICC) was established through a Memorandum of Understanding to improve coordination among the programs. NSF serves as the Chair and Executive Secretary of the EICC, which was formally authorized in statute by the America COMPETES Reauthorization Act of 2010 ( P.L. 111-358 ). EPSCoR has long been a program of interest for Congress. Stakeholders and researchers have noted that EPSCoR—as established within NSF—was initially intended to be a limited-duration catalyst to support the development of research capacity and has evolved into a long-term program that also supports education, diversity, and economic development goals. Some Members have expressed interest in supporting EPSCoR as a long-term program, while others have expressed interest in discontinuing its funding. This report provides an overview of the active EPSCoR programs, including eligibility criteria, operations and funding information, findings and recommendations from program assessments, programmatic and policy issues, and recent congressional activity. This report focuses on the EPSCoR program at NSF, but also provides information about, and comparisons to and among, the EPSCoR programs at other federal agencies. EPSCoR eligibility criteria and determinations vary by agency. EPSCoR programs at DOE and NASA follow the NSF's eligibility determinations, while USDA and NIH have established their own criteria. Table 1 lists FY2016 eligible jurisdictions (including eligible states, territories, and the District of Columbia) for agencies with active programs. The following sections describe agency-specific operations and eligibility criteria in further detail. NSF's EPSCoR program was established in 1978 by a resolution of the National Science Board (NSB). Congress directed initial appropriations for the program in FY1979. NSF's EPSCoR was formally established in statute in 1988 to assist states that "historically have received relatively little Federal [R&D] funding" and have "demonstrated a commitment to develop their research bases and improve science and engineering research and education." The America COMPETES Reauthorization Act of 2010 directed NSF to continue the program "with the objective of helping eligible States to develop the research infrastructure that will make them more competitive for Foundation and other Federal research funding." According to NSF, the overall program mission is to advance excellence in science and engineering research and education in order to achieve sustainable increases in research, education, and training capacity and competitiveness that will enable EPSCoR jurisdictions to have increased engagement in areas supported by the NSF. NSF states that EPSCoR's goals are to provide strategic programs and opportunities for EPSCoR participants that stimulate sustainable improvements in their R&D capacity and competitiveness; [and] to advance science and engineering capabilities in EPSCoR jurisdictions for discovery, innovation and overall knowledge-based prosperity. EPSCoR program objectives further include broadening participation of diverse groups in EPSCoR projects and establishing science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) education, training, and professional development opportunities that advance research and workforce development needs identified by each jurisdiction. NSF's EPSCoR program is broadly set up as federal-jurisdiction partnerships. To participate in the EPSCoR program, an eligible jurisdiction is required to form its own EPSCoR steering committee and to develop a science and technology (S&T) plan specific to the jurisdiction's needs and goals. Each steering committee is expected to undertake "a recent comprehensive analysis of the strengths, barriers, and opportunities for further development of its institutions in support of overall objectives in research, education, and innovation." Through these activities, steering committees work closely with partners in academia, government, and the private sector to build statewide networks. The funding awards structure for the NSF EPSCoR program has changed over time. In 1980, NSF awarded the first EPSCoR planning grants to seven states to support establishment of state steering committees, identify barriers to research competitiveness, and suggest possible remedies. Building from that work, five states subsequently developed successful research grant proposals and received five years of initial funding, primarily to support individual investigators. In the 1990s, award levels increased, and the grant focus changed to support for research clusters and statewide proposals for infrastructure development. In the 2000s, NSF's EPSCoR program was moved to the Office of Integrative Activities (OIA) and developed to include the three current investment components: Research Infrastructure Improvement (RII) awards, co-funding, and outreach/workshops. Research Infrastructure Improvement . In FY2016, the RII component included three tracks: RII Track-1 awards provide up to $20 million total over a five-year period to support physical, human, and cyberinfrastructure improvements critical to a jurisdiction's science and technology (S&T) plan (e.g., acquisition of research equipment, establishment of university-private sector partnerships). RII Track-2 (Focused EPSCoR Collaborations [FEC]) awards provide up to $1.5 million per year for up to four years to support the establishment of interjurisdictional teams of investigators from at least two RII-eligible jurisdictions working collaboratively on NSF priority research topics. FY2016 awards supported EPSCoR proposals on two topics: (1) Understanding the Brain, and (2) Sustainable, Food, Energy, and Water Systems. RII Track-3 (Building Diverse Communities) awards provide up to $750,000 per award for an award period of up to five years, with projects serving as a "testbed" for building approaches to broaden participation of underrepresented groups in STEM. Track-3 proposals were first called for in FY2013 as a pilot program. Initial funding supported five proposals including projects to develop and implement chemistry coursework in tribal colleges and test cyber-learning methods for STEM education in rural middle schools. For FY2017, NSF announced an RII Track-4 (EPSCoR Research Fellows) component. These awards provide up to $300,000 over a two-year period for non-tenured investigators to "further develop their individual research potential through extended collaborative visits to the nation's premier private, governmental, or academic research centers." According to the program solicitation, through activities such as accessing unique equipment and developing research collaborations, fellows are expected to improve their individual research competitiveness, and, in turn, to enhance the research capacity of their institutions and jurisdictions. Specific criteria and proposal requirements vary by track. For example, for RII Track-1 awards, cost-sharing is required and an eligible jurisdiction may only submit one proposal. For RII Track-2 and -3 awards, no cost-sharing requirement is listed in the program solicitation and limits on proposal submissions are less restrictive. EPSCoR proposal evaluations follow the merit-based, peer-review process used for the vast majority of NSF's competitive awards. A jurisdiction becomes eligible to participate in the EPSCoR program "if their most recent 3-year funding level of NSF research support is equal to or less than 0.75% of the total NSF Research and Related Activities (RRA) budget." This criterion is commonly used when referring to a jurisdiction as EPSCoR-eligible. Figure 1 shows EPSCoR-eligible jurisdictions for FY2016, as well as year of entry into the program. Table A-1 shows NSF RRA funding received by each jurisdiction for FY2013-FY2015, the three-year total by jurisdiction, and the percentage each three-year total accounts for of NSF's total RRA funding for that period. Co-funding . The co-funding component is not a grant program, but rather an internal, joint funding mechanism, in which project funding is provided by both EPSCoR and another NSF directorate or office. Co-funding awards provide combined support for proposals submitted to NSF's non-EPSCoR awards competitions by investigators in EPSCoR jurisdictions. Proposals deemed meritorious and recommended for funding—but not able to be funded otherwise due to budget limitations—may be evaluated for EPSCoR co-funding consideration. States that have lost eligibility for the RII component remain eligible for three years for the co-funding component. Outreach/Workshops . The outreach/workshop component provides funding for workshops, conferences, and other community-based activities designed to explore new scientific areas, share best practices, and build capacity. Program administrators expect workshops to be multijurisdictional and of interest to the broad EPSCoR community. This funding component also supports travel costs associated with connecting NSF staff across directorates and offices with research and education communities in EPSCoR jurisdictions. States that have lost eligibility for the RII component remain eligible for three years for the outreach/workshop component.