NSF Commits $90 Million to Three New Science and Technology Centers, Including Human-Robot Co-Adaptation Hub

The U.S. National Science Foundation is investing $90 million over five years to support three new Science and Technology Centers (NSF STCs), with one center squarely focused on how humans and robots learn to work together. For engineers building service and assistive robotics, the funding signals sustained federal backing for embodied intelligence research.

Each of the three centers will receive $6 million annually for an initial five-year period. After that, the centers will have the opportunity to compete for up to five additional years of support — a structure that rewards sustained results rather than one-off projects.

"Maintaining the United States' leadership in science and technology requires bold research, strong partnerships, and a skilled workforce," stated Brian Stone, who is performing the duties of the NSF director.

An Austin Center Built Around Co-Adaptation

The Center for Human and Robot Co-Adaptation, led by The University of Texas at Austin, will study how people and robots can securely and effectively adapt to one another as service and assistive robots become more common in homes, hospitals, workplaces, and public spaces.

The technical approach combines robotics, AI, and human factors. Researchers will develop new methods that help robots with embodied intelligence learn from people, understand their needs and preferences, and then adapt physically and cognitively to changing environments and different people. The stated aim: secure, useful robotic technologies that can support independent living, healthcare, and other human-centered services.

That's a meaningful framing for manufacturing and automation professionals. The research isn't about robots executing fixed routines — it's about machines that adjust to the humans around them, which is precisely the challenge on any mixed human-robot floor.

Two Companion Centers Round Out the Class

The other two centers in the 2026 class are the Center for Transformative Explorations in Multi-Physics and Engineering of Scientific Turbulence (TEMPEST), led by Michigan State University, and the Center for Genome Intelligence Engineering (GENIE), led by Northwestern University.

"As advances in foundational science and technology open new possibilities, these Science and Technology Centers will help American researchers seize those opportunities, accelerate scientific discovery, and develop the talent and technologies needed to turn innovation into solutions that benefit the American people," Stone said.

Why the STC Model Matters

Since its inception, the NSF STC program has driven the emergence of new fields of discovery, catalyzed strong partnerships, advanced breakthrough technologies, sparked numerous start-up companies, and trained generations of researchers and innovators. The program supports large-scale, transformational research that opens new areas of discovery and drives technological innovation, pairing academic expertise with industry partners to tackle complex, high-risk challenges in foundational research.

The workforce dimension is deliberate. The NSF says the centers will strengthen the nation's scientific and technical workforce by providing students and early-career researchers with hands-on experience in emerging fields. The class of 2026 STCs will focus on strengthening foundational research, advancing critical and emerging technologies, developing the workforce, and translating discoveries into technological advances and national benefits.