OIA's Integrative Activities (IA) section provides sustained strategic investments and coordination for programs that support research across NSF, including academic research infrastructure and instrumentation. The IA section also fosters other agency activities, such as supporting and expanding NSF's honorary award programs.

The section prototypes and coordinates large-scale cross-directorate initiatives, including:

• Growing Convergence Research
• Major Research Instrumentation (MRI)
• Mid-scale Research Infrastructure – Track 1 (MSRI-1)
• Science and Technology Centers (STC)

The section administers several prestigious honorary awards and professional internship programs for aspiring scientists and engineers:

• Alan T. Waterman Award
• National Medal of Science
• Presidential Early Career Award for Scientists and Engineers (PECASE)
• Summer Scholars Internship Program