The Bits & Watts Initiative Seed Grants
One of the key activities of Bits & Watts is to provide seed funding for projects that have the potential to secure additional research funding from external sources upon successful outcomes. Recognizing the inherent risks associated with such projects, the evaluation process aims to strike a balance between risk and the potential impact of a successful venture. This research funding is designed to encourage faculty members to venture into interdisciplinary energy research that deviates from their existing research groups. In addition to research proposals for seed grant awards, Bits & Watts also welcomes proposals for the development of new courses that align with the mission of the initiative. These new course development grants are for the Stanford lecturers as well as Stanford faculty teaching on topics related to the grid of the future.
Research Seed Grants
For seed funding, Bits & Watts offers up to $100,000 per project for a duration of one year. This funding opportunity is available to Stanford faculty across all departments and schools engaged in new research within the following areas:
- Resilient and secure interdependent systems
- Industrial electrification
- The future electricity business ecosystem
- Open topics
Course Development Grants
The course development grants are open to Stanford lecturers and faculty members in any department/school to help them develop new courses or augment existing ones on topics related to the work of the Bits & Watts Initiative. Proposals for course development will be awarded up to $25,000 per course for one quarter in Academic Year 2023-24.
Through these funding opportunities, Bits & Watts aims to foster cutting-edge research and education, to propel the transformation of the electric grid and address the energy landscape's complex challenges in the 21st century.
For more information and to apply, see the full RFP here.
- electric grid of the future
- test new ideas/concepts, interdisciplinary research
- equip investigators to obtain funding for follow-on research from other sources
- education to advance the mission of Bits&Watts
Research seed grants: Stanford faculty
Course development grants: Stanford faculty, and Stanford lecturers
Participate in the Precourt and Bits&Watts symposia and workshops. Submit annual reports on your work that summarize research findings, publications, etc.
The source of funding is unrestricted industrial Affiliate funds; therefore, no project may charge indirect costs, even if non-Stanford investigators would complete some part of the project. The budget should include direct costs plus the university infrastructure burden of 8%. Awarded projects will be funded through a newly created and designated PTA(s) less the 8% infrastructure charge; the infrastructure charge for the award will be paid directly by Bits & Watts / the Precourt Institute. Budgets should identify the level of effort committed to the project. Principal Investigator (PI) effort is not required for University Research awards. Follow-up funding in subsequent years is not anticipated.
