In a move to tackle pressing scientific challenges through novel and innovative research partnerships, the US National Science Foundation (NSF) has said that $1.5 billion is being made available to support the NSF X-Labs initiative.
The NSF X-Labs are teams of independent researchers, engineers and entrepreneurs, supported by milestone-based federal funding, focused on solving specific scientific challenges that traditional university and industry labs cannot easily solve on their own.
The first round of funding is inviting proposals for research in two areas. The first is an X-Lab to build a new generation of scientific instruments drawing on quantum sensing, AI-driven computational imaging and entirely new chemical modalities. The second area of research is development of novel components to transfer quantum information and integrate heterogeneous quantum systems, essential for moving beyond classical computing systems.
With the NSF X-Labs initiative aimed at supporting the next generation of US scientific entrepreneurs more effectively, the NSF says that the initiative is grounded in the recognition that many of the technology acceleration and translation challenges of today require new approaches executed by coordinated, interdisciplinary teams.
Michael Kratsios, assistant to the President and director of the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy said: “By backing a new generation of independent research organisations, we are giving entrepreneurial teams of scientists and engineers the autonomy, resources and milestone-driven focus to tackle challenges that were difficult to pursue in conventional academic and industry labs, opening up brand new lines of inquiry.”
The NSF X-Labs are supported by a US Government memorandum to strengthen the country’s science and technology ecosystem. Released during the final quarter of 2025, the memorandum sets out five R&D budgetary priorities for 2027. These priorities include: ensuring US leadership in critical and emerging technologies; making new energy technologies available, and ensuing biosafety and biosecurity.
The NSF adds that NSF X-Labs teams will move beyond traditional research outputs, such as scientific publications, and have sufficient resources and independence to transition critical technology from early concept or prototypes to commercially viable platforms ready for private investment to help scale and deploy them.
Further reading:
- Why quantum computing matters to chemical companies
- Autonomous labs and AI to boost biotech research
- 10 innovations that could transform chemistry
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