Dr. Arden Bement, Director of the National Science Foundation, has signed Important Notice No. 130, “Transformative Research.” The document may be accessed electronically at http://www.nsf.gov/publications/pub_summ.jsp?ods_key=in130

The Important Notice details NSF’s implementation of the National Science Board’s motion to enhance support of transformative research at the Foundation. In addition, the notice highlights the change to the Intellectual Merit Review Criterion to specifically include review of the extent to which a proposal also suggests and explores potentially transformative concepts.

Effective Oct. 1, 2007, the Grant Proposal Guide and new funding opportunities issued after this date will incorporate the change to the Intellectual Merit Criterion. Proposals received after January 5, 2008 will be subject to the revised merit review criterion.