Academic Venture Fund

Seed Funding for Innovative, Interdisciplinary Research

The Academic Venture Fund (AVF) is our incubator for the next generation of sustainable solutions. The AVF seeds original, interdisciplinary research that is not likely to find funding elsewhere because the projects are novel, risky, need early data to establish traction or involve new teams working together.

Projects span the entire range of sustainability topics, prioritizing resilient rural-urban systems across our primary research themes—Food, Climate, Energy, Health, Water, and Conservation Finance. Cornell Atkinson has granted 146 awards since 2008, for projects from every college on the Cornell campus.

AVF projects often draw in external partners from industry, government, and nongovernmental organizations (NGOs), as well as local leaders and community members. External organizations or individuals interested in partnering for AVF research should contact the senior director of strategic partnerships, Patrick Beary.

How to Apply

Eligibility:

• All PIs and CoPIs must meet Cornell’s principal investigator (PI) eligibility criteria

The 2023 Cycle Is Open

• Request for Proposals
  • PDF version also available
• Information Sessions
  • Jan. 9, 2-3 P.M. (Zoom)
  • Jan. 26, 10-11 A.M. (Zoom)
• Feedback Letters (optional): Submit Online
  • Due Jan. 20
• Full Proposals: Submit Online
  • Due Feb. 10