How will research funding be made available to researchers?
NAWI will issue Requests for Proposals (RFPs) to solicit early-stage applied research projects that align with key research priorities. The first RFP was released in 2020, the second RFP was released in May 2021, and the third RFP was released in May 2022.
Who is eligible to apply for research funding?
NAWI will accept proposals from any entity eligible to receive federal R&D funding, that meets the requirements of the RFP.
Must my organization be a member of the NAWI Alliance or Research Consortium to be eligible to submit research proposals?
No, any organization that meets the eligibility requirements of the RFP funding may submit proposals. Membership in the NAWI Alliance is cost-free and will provide access to our library of materials and contact list, which may be helpful in developing a competitive proposal. If your proposal is selected for possible funding, your organization will need to sign our Consortium Agreement describing the terms and conditions for performing research through NAWI.
How much funding will be available through the RFP process, and what is the range of funding for each project?
We have not made a precise determination of the amount of funding that will be available through the RFP process, but we anticipate that the majority of the $100 million of federal funds will be released through our open RFP process.
Will cost share be required at the project level?
Yes, a minimum of 25% cost share will be required by the RFP. For each project, industry engagement (including cost share) will be a factor in selecting proposals for funding. The NAWI organization has already obtained cost share commitments from a number of sources and will work collaboratively with project proposers to identify possible industry partners and cost share sources during the RFP process. However, because of the high importance of industry engagement and support for these research projects, we encourage interested researchers to begin cultivating industry supporters and partners well in advance of the release of the RFP.