Innovation and Organizational Sciences (IOS)

The Innovation and Organizational Sciences (IOS) program funds fundamental, theory‑driven research that advances scientific understanding of innovation, organizational effectiveness, competitiveness, dynamics, change, and evolution. Proposals may examine individuals, groups, organizations, cross‑organizational phenomena, or institutional arrangements using a wide range of qualitative and quantitative methods (e.g., surveys, experiments, network analyses, case studies). Eligible topics span organization theory, strategy, behavior, sociology, psychology, economics, entrepreneurship, public administration, information and communication sciences, and decision‑management sciences. Research must be generalizable and not merely applied implementation studies. The program supports up to 20 awards per competition, with total estimated funding of $3.2 million; award sizes vary, and proposals are accepted on an annual cycle (e.g., February 2 and September 3 each year). • Target audience: universities, research institutes, and other entities capable of conducting rigorous, theory‑based social‑science research. • Funding mechanism: NSF grant (no cost‑sharing required). • Expected deliverables: peer‑reviewed scholarly outputs (journal articles, conference papers), data sets, and theoretical models that can be applied broadly across sectors. • No mandatory pre‑bid meeting or site visit. • Primary contact: Jacqueline Meszaros (NSF).