The California Institute of Technology has always prioritized investment in discovery research. It enhanced this effort with the establishment of The Caltech Innovation Initiative in 2009. This initiative provides seed funds to support Caltech scientists and engineers pursuing fundamental research that ultimately could give rise to marketable technologies.
Building on that success, Caltech proposes developing a new Caltech Discovery Fund – effectively expanding the Caltech Innovation Initiative. The Caltech Discovery Fund will provide a new source of capital that Caltech leaders can use to take risks and nimbly leverage the talent and creativity of scientists — at all levels — who are engaged in fundamental scientific investigations.
PURPOSE AND FOCUS:
This fund focuses on projects with the potential to open up new avenues of basic scientific research, develop novel collaborations, advance original research, or begin exploratory investigations that have a high probability of future grant support; open to scientists in all six academic divisions.
WHO IS ELIGIBLE:
Faculty members, research scientists, postdoctoral scholars, graduate and undergraduate students.
APPLICATION AND REVIEW:
Open application process, with proposal review and funding decisions made by the Provost, the Vice Provost for Research, and the Chairs of Caltech’s six divisions; grants awarded based on merit.
TYPE OF SUPPORT:
Amount and duration of awards not specified.
To learn more about the program, view the California Institute of Technology Full Description.