Opportunity

J-WAFS Solutions

Are you performing research focused around water and food supply?

Hosted by: Abdul Latif Jameel World Water and Food Security Lab & MIT Deshpande Center for Technological Innovation

Are you conceptualizing and developing products and services that will have a significant impact on water and food security, with related economic and societal benefits? Are you working on technology related to these issues and looking to make your research market ready but lack support in funding or industry-related connections?

The Abdul Latif Jameel World Water and Food Security Lab (J-WAFS) Solutions program, managed by the MIT Deshpande Center for Technological Innovation, aims to help MIT faculty and students commercialize breakthrough technologies and inventions by transforming promising ideas at MIT into innovative products and cutting-edge spinout companies.

Projects are required to align with J-WAFS’ strategic research focus around water and food supply and safety; supported projects should be aimed at conceptualizing and developing products and services that will have a significant impact on water and food security, with related economic and societal benefits. That will improve the productivity, accessibility, and sustainability of the world’s water and food systems.

Applicants must submit a pre-proposal via, FluidReivew, the online grant submission system. The 3-4 page pre-proposals are due February 22, 2018 at 5:00 pm EDT.

Three to five research projects will be awarded one-year grants of up to $150,000; one-year renewal grants are possible with total project funding not to exceed $300,000.

The J-WAFS Solutions program is open only to MIT faculty, research staff, postdocs, and students; proposed projects must be submitted and led by MIT employees with principal investigator (PI) status.

These are commercialization grants, not research grants. They are looking for teams that are eager and committed to a path that involves product development and / or spinning out companies. J-WAFS has a separate seed grant program that funds earlier-stage research.

Details

  • February 22, 2018: Pre-proposals due (submit by 5 pm EST)
  • April 2, 2018: Full proposal invitation notification
  • May 1, 2018: Full and renewal proposals due (submit by 5 pm EST) – by invitation only
  • TBD – Full and renewal proposals presentations – by invitation only
  • Summer 2018: Grant awards notification
  • September 1, 2018: Grant award start date
  • October 2018: Grant awards announced to the public

For detailed information about the grant program, funded projects, and instructions on submitting a proposal, visit the JWAFS website.