The National Science Foundation is sponsoring the Partnerships for International Research and Education (PIRE) program to support innovative, international research and education collaborations. The program advances new knowledge and discoveries at the frontiers of science and engineering and promotes the development of a diverse, globally-engaged U.S. scientific and engineering workforce. PIRE is intended to catalyze change in U.S. institutions by strengthening the capacity for international engagement.

Multi-year awards of up to $2.5 million each are anticipated. The request for proposals can be found at www.nsf.gov/pubs/2009/nsf09505/nsf09505.htm. The deadline for mandatory preliminary proposals is February 26, 2009, and full proposals (by invitation only) are due August 4, 2009.