The Public Interest Technology – University Network (PIT-UN) has opened the call for proposals for the 2021 Network Challenge funding opportunity. The PIT University Network Challenge seeks to encourage new ideas, foster collaborations, and incentivize resource- and information-sharing among network members. For its third year, projects addressing any of the priority areas below are welcome.
- Educational Offerings
- Career Pipeline/Placement
- Faculty & Institution Building
- Strengthening the PIT University Network
The Network Challenge provides grants up to $180,000 for projects focused on developing technology expertise to advance the public interest in a way that generates public benefits and promotes the public good, particularly for those members of our society least well served, historically and today, by existing systems and policies. The RFP is only open to submissions from researchers at member universities. As a member since 2019-20, all UCSC Principal Investigators are eligible to participate.
Limited Campus Submission Process
A limited campus submission process will select up to three new campus proposals for submission to the network-wide competition. Campus submissions are due by 11:59 pm PDT, June 1, 2021, and requires a shortened version of the final proposal. The limited submission RFP and application portal is available at: https://ucsc.infoready4.com/#competitionDetail/1841841
Campus applicants chosen in the limited submission review will then further develop their proposals for the national deadline of 11:59 pm PDT, July 15, 2021. Final proposals are limited to 6 pages maximum in total length.
Campus Information Session
An information session for all interested researchers will be held via Zoom on May 5, 2021 from 12 – 1:00 PM. RSVP for the session here.
Proposals are invited in three funding tranches:
- Up to $45,000 for direct and indirect costs
- Up to $90,000 for direct and indirect costs
- Up to $180,000 for direct and indirect costs
In 2020—PIT-UN’s second year—42 proposals from 28 institutions were awarded a total of $4,404,595 in grant funds. In that year’s cycle, UCSC’s first year in the network, two of our research teams received funding.
For an FAQ on this year’s submission process: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1aW8Y1nZ7ssCRECeXGh4Lj9e6Upfvzp-Y/view
View the full RFP for the national submission (not the limited campus RFP): https://drive.google.com/file/d/1aTzF1nwwps5m9wBa8v7ONDQSp_qXGwFY/view
Network Challenge Timeline:
May 5, 2021 – Info Session
June 1, 2021 – Campus Limited Submission Deadline
July 15, 2021 – Network-wide Submission Deadline
Week of October 11, 2021 – Grant recipients notified of their upcoming award
January 1, 2022 – Grant period starts