ORAU Innovation Partnerships Program (formerly Events Sponsorship Grant Program)

ORAU’s FY 2023 Innovation Partnerships Program (formerly Events Sponsorship Grant Program) is being restructured to build stronger relationships between university members and ORAU subject matter experts. These updates are designed to focus on research and education topics that align well with ORAU’s expertise and current priorities.

Program Updates

• Applications must be focused on one or more of the FY 2023 ORAU core focus areas.
• An ORAU subject matter expert will serve as a collaborator with the university PI.

FY 2023 Innovation Partnerships Grant Focus Areas and Example Topics

• Climate and Environment - sustainability, environmental justice, clean energy, resilience to climate hazards, emerging technologies, measurement and impact assessment, diversity and inclusion, policy, and data science and analytics
• Health Equity - telemedicine, telehealth, health literacy, health communication, behavioral and mental health, health disparities, diversity and inclusion, policy, and data science and analytics
• Future of the STEM Workforce - new ways of teaching and learning (K-16), transformative workforce development and mentoring, diversity and inclusion, policy, data science, machine learning, and artificial intelligence

The goal of this grant program change is to drive new opportunities for university consortium members and ORAU experts to formulate meaningful collaborations.

Innovation Partnerships grant applications are currently being accepted and the application window will remain open throughout the fiscal year depending on available funds.

Each member university is limited to one award per fiscal year. Up to $4,000 may be requested to support an in-person or virtual event that involves participants from more than one ORAU member institution, including students. Innovation Partnership applications should focus on focused workshops/conferences that highlight your university’s strategic STEM research and education growth areas, and where collaborations with other member universities would add value. We are specifically interested in events that can bring more thought leadership in building a national strategy for STEM education and workforce development. Member universities are encouraged to collaborate around this topic in anticipation of federal funding initiatives.

Innovation Partnerships grants will be considered for events that meet the following criteria:

• Participation by more than one ORAU institution is required. One ORAU member university will submit the proposal and manage the grant funds.
• Potential impact of the event, including the number of institutions or participants will be a big factor in our decision.
• Participation by students is considered a positive factor.
• New events are preferred over ongoing or annual events with established financial models.
• Preference will be given to events in STEM disciplines.
• A representative from ORAU must be invited to the event and will attend, if possible.

Funding and Restrictions

• Funding is provided exclusively from non-federal monies by ORAU.
• ORAU does not allow overhead charges or indirect costs on the award.
• All events must be completed by September 30 (the end of ORAU’s fiscal year.)
• Seminar series will not be considered for support due to the limited engagement by other ORAU member institutions.

Reporting

• Upon award, a report documenting participation and outcomes must be submitted within 30 days following the event. Reports may be submitted to University.Partnerships@orau.org.