NSF bets $1.5B on X-Labs to unlock breakthrough science
The National Science Foundation announced NSF X-Labs, a decade-long initiative pledging up to $1.5 billion to fund independent, milestone-driven research teams outside traditional institutions, aiming to turn early concepts into commercially viable platforms. Initial topics cover Scientific Instrumentation for Sensing and Imaging and Quantum Systems: Interconnects and Integrated Photonics, with additional areas to be announced as the program progresses.