Moonshot Seed Grant Program

Four types of applications are solicited: 

1. Proposal development award: $25,000-$50,000 each
2. Patent and (or) technology development award: $15,000 each
3. Product and (or) company development award: $25,000 each
4. Supporting community uses of AI data award: $10,000 - $20,000 each

Proposal development awards

The proposal development award have two aims: 

1. help investigators generate key preliminary data missing for submissions of new and (or) renewed grants to federal and non-federal major sponsors and 
2. enable a group of investigators (with the lead PI in CALS) to develop interdisciplinary, large-sized grant applications. 

Awardees are required to submit major external grant applications within one year.

Patent and (or) technology development awards

The patent and (or) technology development awards will support innovators in generating the necessary data to file a patent application and conduct essential testing of a prototype technology (e.g., seeds, software, procedures, etc.). These tests aim to attract potential licensees for the technology. Applicants for this grant must already have a developed prototype and/or have submitted an invention disclosure to the Cornell Center for Technology Licensing (CTL), which will assess the innovation's patentability. Successful applicants are expected to file a patent application and transfer (license) the technology within one year.

Product and (or) company development awards

The product and (or) company development awards will support the creation of startup companies by CALS faculty and new product development by these companies. Applicants must have recently established a startup company or will establish one within one year to commercialize Cornell-patented technology.

Community uses of AI Data awards

The community uses of AI Data awards will support the development and application of AI tools and methods to empower communities. These tools will help partner communities effectively manage the overwhelming flow of information from various sources. Specifically, the awards will fund projects that enable communities to sort, filter and evaluate information, allowing them to make informed, evidence-based decisions on economic, ecological, political and personal matters. Projects should include an evaluation of their success in achieving these goals. The results of this evaluation should then be used to apply for external grants that focus on community engagement, outreach or broader impact.  

Each application package should include the following items (Font size: 11 or greater, Arial or Times New Roman, single-spaced, and no less than 0.5 margins, all sides.):

1. Cover Page: (one page) Proposal title; PI and co-PI name, position, and contact information; and type of seed grant you are applying for.
2. Project Description (two pages): Include project background and rationale, specific aims, experimental design or work plan, research or technical approaches, and expected outcomes and their relevance to the target seed grant mission. Please elaborate the key components or results that you intend to obtain from the proposed project to achieve your goal (e.g., submitting a large grant, acquiring a patent, licensing a technology or creating a company). Explain how AI will be integrated into the proposed project and how interdisciplinary collaborations will enhance project outcomes.
3. Signed Budget and Justification (one page): This document must be signed by a Department Chair or Unit Director. Please list major project milestones, timeline for each of the milestones and corresponding budgetitems (categories such as personnel, supplies, per diem, etc.). Briefly justify the budget.
4. Current Biosketch of PI and co-PI (NIH, NSF, or USDA format, one-to-three pages per person, highlighting relevant expertise and experience).
5. Please assemble all pages and submit your application as a PDF via this link.
6. Late submissions will not be accepted or considered.
7. Note: Projects selected to be funded jointly by Cornell AES and RIO will need to prepare and submit a Hatch project initiation form, which must be approved by USDA NIFA to access funding.