The 2030 Project Fast Grants - Call for Proposals

2024 Call for Research-to-Impact
Fast Grant Proposals – Energy of the Future

In order to mobilize Cornell to support ambitious climate action in this decisive decade, Cornell Atkinson and The 2030 Project: A Cornell Climate Initiative are issuing a special request for proposals for fast grant research-to-impact funding.

This round of fast grants will be focused on projects that will support the development of the energy systems of the future.

We seek to enable faculty to seize urgent and unique opportunities to provide support for impact-oriented climate research to develop the energy of the future, expected to be in the $10,000-$25,000 range. In select cases, the amount awarded could be higher for proposals that make a compelling case for greater funding.

Projects of interest will advance the development of an energy-related technology, policy framework, or practice that would:

1. Eliminate or substantially reduce a major source of greenhouse gas emissions;
2. Expand access to clean energy to support human flourishing;
3. Develop a substitute for an energy intensive technology or process;
4. Support labor or communities through an energy transition; or
5. Prepare energy systems for a climate-change-impacted world.

NOTE: projects with quantifiable, scalable potential are especially welcome: i.e. .5 billion tons or more of annual emission reductions or removal; projects that impact >50,000 people, globally scalable to billions of tons and millions of people.

Topics of interest might include, but are not limited to, accelerating new energy technology and innovation; developing or proposing new policy frameworks for low-emission clean energy, clean electricity, or low-carbon growth; reducing emissions from energy use in buildings, vehicles, or transportation; innovating on how to support the natural environment and ecosystems while minimizing the externalities of new energy systems; alleviating energy poverty or energy cost burdens and supporting community development (“climate/community justice”); supporting the labor or political transition to new energy systems; securing reliable and inexpensive clean electricity systems; developing decarbonized industrial processes and sustainable material extraction; climate finance or other energy-related policy development.

Project proposals will be particularly strong if they do one or more of the following:

1. Better position research teams to submit new research proposals to external public agencies, foundations, or private-sector partners to inform long-term, large-scale efforts.
2. Develop cross-disciplinary collaborations across various colleges or schools within Cornell.
3. Support an equitable transition – improving quality of life, equity, legitimacy, or justice as part of a transition to prevent or prepare for climate change.
4. Launch immediate efforts to inform and support the urgent response to climate change and help advance progress towards publicly articulated public or private climate goals.
   Examples: United States emission nationally defined commitment goal under the Paris Agreement; the Global Methane pledge; NYS CLCPA goals; or a corporate Net-Zero pledge.
5. Build new or deepen partnerships with key non-academic partners, such as a government, company, or organization to turn research into impact.
6. Advance a new entrepreneurial endeavor or enable technology commercialization.

NOTE: 2030 Project funds are subject to the same restrictions as any other university research funding. Applications are open to any Cornell University-eligible Principal Investigator. (Please click here for more details about PI eligibility.)

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Timeline & Proposal Instructions

• Aug. 29, 2024: Request for Proposals opens
  • Apply here
• Sept. 9, 2024: Info Session (virtual)
  • Please click here to RSVP in advance.
• Oct. 18, 2024: Proposals Due
• Nov. 8, 2024: Applicants Notified

Proposal Instructions

Please submit your short proposal via this online form. Succinct feedback will be offered for unselected proposals.

While prior awardees are ineligible to apply, unselected applicants from previous 2030 Fast Grant calls are welcome to apply to the 2024 call. Please address prior proposal feedback in your new proposal. (Feel free to connect with us at the e-mail address below if you need a copy of your previous Fast Grant feedback.)

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Selection Process

Selection will be based on the consistency of proposals with the ambitions of the project described above. Evaluation will be made by a combined group of internal and external stakeholders, with a final decision made by 2030 Project leadership.

Responsibilities

Fast Grant PIs will:

• Meet with the Center leadership to discuss the progress of efforts in research, intended applications, desired impacts, development of Cornell and external partnerships, follow-on funding, and milestones met and/or
• Submit periodic reports describing results and progress relating to each specific metric of success presented in the proposal
• Respond to surveys or other requests for information about the longer-term impacts of the AVF project after the funding ends
• Acknowledge The 2030 Project: A Cornell Climate Initiative and Cornell Atkinson Center for Sustainability in all presentations, reports, and publications stemming at least in part from this funding. Guidance for acknowledging your affiliation with Cornell Atkinson can be found on our website.

E-mail atkinson@cornell.edu with any questions.

 

Cornell Atkinson Center for Sustainability is the hub of collaborative sustainability research at Cornell University, forging vital connections among researchers, students, staff, and external partners. The center’s funding and programming accelerate groundbreaking research within and across all of Cornell’s colleges and schools. In turn, the center is the university’s home to bold ideas and powerful new models that ensure people and the planet not only survive, but thrive.