Moonshot Seed Grant Program

The CALS Moonshot Seed Grant Program seeks ambitious, world-transforming research and development proposals that unite multidisciplinary teams of faculty, students, industry, private-sector and governmental partners, and/or New York State producers to advance breakthroughs in agricultural and life sciences; compete for large external funding; translate basic science discoveries into real-world applications; transfer new technologies toward commercialization; create startup companies; and increase community prosperity. Building on immediate successes and exceptional outcomes during 2023-2026, the program will support not only new applications but also existing projects that have reached or exceeded their planned goals. The CALS Moonshot Seed Grant Program is sponsored by the CALS Research and Innovation Office (RIO), in collaboration with the Cornell Agricultural Experiment Station (AES), CALS Land Grant Affairs and Translational Research Programs, and the CALS Office of Alumni Affairs and Development (AAD).

2027 Target Areas

This RFP will accept applications in all five transdisciplinary moonshot areas. These are redesigning 21st century agri-food systems, pioneering life science breakthroughs, synthetic biology, holistic climate solutions, and a strategic wild card. Wild card proposals are new areas not currently identified in the core moonshots areas listed above. Based on CALS strengths, its strategic plan, and donor interests, RIO will give priority consideration to proposal that advance the following topics in 2027:

Agricultural Robotics, including AI and digital agriculture
Novel food ingredients and processing, including food as medicine
Harnessing engineered biomanufacturing and synthetic biology
Regenerative agriculture, global food security, and community engagement

These target areas will help advance the CALS Moonshot mission and Roadmap to 2050. It is important to clarify that the seed grants are intended only to help complete ongoing research and move it to nationally competitive levels; to accelerate and complete invention, technology, and startup development; to advance technology transfer and commercialization; and to engage communities for immediate impact. This seed grant program does not serve as a regular or initial funding source of new research.

Timeline

RFP Release Date: October 20, 2026
Proposal Submission Deadline: November 22, 2026, midnight EST
Funding Start and End Dates: Dec. 30, 2026 - December 30, 2027

2027 Award Types

We will continue to accept the four types of proposals offered during 2023-2026. Selected projects may be funded under more than one category:

Type 1: Proposal Development
Type 2: Patent and/or Technology Development
Type 3: Product and/or Company Development
Type 4: Community Impact

Proposal Development Awards

Proposal Development Awards support individual investigators and/or multidisciplinary teams with compelling preliminary results, established partnerships, and clearly defined funding pathways. Awards are intended to accelerate the development of competitive proposals to major federal and non-federal sponsors and to support the preparation of large-scale, interdisciplinary and center grant applications. Awardees are required to submit a major external grant proposal within one year.

Patent and Technology Development Awards

Patent and Technology Development Awards support innovators in generating the necessary data to file a patent application and/or conduct essential testing of a prototype technology (e.g., seeds, software, procedures, etc.). These tests aim to secure potential licenses for technology. Applicants for this award 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

Product and/or Company Development Awards support the creation of startup companies by CALS faculty and/or the development of new products by these companies. Applicants must have recently established a startup company or plan to establish one within one year to commercialize Cornell-patented technology.

Community Impact Awards

Community Impact Awards support the development and deployment of innovative solutions in the 2027 Target Areas above through meaningful partnerships with local communities. Projects should address pressing economic, environmental, health, or social challenges, including a plan to evaluate impact, and position teams to pursue external funding for community-engaged research, outreach, broader impacts, or participatory initiatives.

Application instructions

Each application package must include the following items:

Cover Page (1 page): List proposal title, PI name, title and department, co-PI names, and PI contact information. Identify the 2027 Target Area with which your work most closely aligns and name the Moonshot Award Type that your proposal should be considered under.
Project Description (2 pages): Include project background and rationale, specific aims, experimental design or work plan, research or technical approaches, expected outcomes and relevance to the target area(s) of the Moonshot Seed Grant Program. Please describe the primary outcomes you intend to achieve through the proposed project in alignment with the priorities and goals of the award type you are pursuing (e.g., submitting a large grant, acquiring a patent, licensing a technology or creating a company). Briefly describe alternatives.
Signed Budget and Justification (1 page): This document must be signed by a Department Chair or Unit Director. Please list major project milestones, the timeline for each milestone and corresponding budget items (categories such as personnel, supplies, per diem, etc.). Briefly justify the budget. Note: PI salary is generally not allowed, but budgets may be used for other project personnel and trainees. A modified IDC rate of up to 10% may apply; please discuss your budget questions with the appropriate contacts below.
Current Biosketch of PI and co-PI: NIH, NSF, or USDA format, 1-3 pages per person, highlighting relevant expertise and experience.
Please assemble all required documents into a single PDF file and submit your application online. *Late submissions may not be reviewed.

*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 with compliance to USDA policy.

Formatting Requirements

Font size: 12-point or greater, Arial or Times New Roman, single-spaced, with margins of no less than 0.5 inches on all sides.

Awardee Requirements

Measuring Outcomes and Sharing Impact

Awardees must submit a midway progress report (due six months after award start date) and a final report (due within 30 days of the award end date). Final reports should document project outcomes, progress toward stated goals, and achievement of category-specific deliverables (e.g., external proposal submission, patent filing, startup formation, community impact, or technology licensing).

Awardees are expected to share project outcomes in a poster session at CALS Innovation Day and may be invited to present at other CALS RIO Moonshot events for up to three years following the award. These presentations help foster a culture of innovation, collaboration, and research impact across CALS and provide opportunities to spotlight impactful discoveries, partnerships, and outcomes with college leadership, faculty, external partners, students, and donors.

Poster session Innovation Day 2026 — Attendees filled Stocking Hall to take a closer look at the innovative discoveries happening across Cornell CALS.

Eligibility

All CALS faculty, including tenure-track faculty and senior research, teaching, and extension associates, are eligible to serve as Lead PI on a Moonshot proposal. Each applicant may serve as PI on one proposal and Co-PI on one additional proposal (maximum of two proposals per applicant). Collaborators from outside CALS are welcome; however, all award funds must be administered through a CALS faculty account. Multidisciplinary and cross-sector collaborations are especially encouraged.

AES-Co-Funded Projects: Eligibility is limited to tenure-track/tenured faculty and RTE faculty holding the titles of Senior Research Associate, Senior Extension Associate, or Senior Lecturer. Applicants anticipating AES support should confirm eligibility and discuss allowable PI salary support with the AES budget manager prior to submission.

Award Budget

The estimated funding range for each award type is as follows:

Type 1: $30,000 to 40,000
Type 2: $15,000 to $30,000
Type 3: $20,000 to $30,000
Type 4: $10,000 to $25,000

Applicants are encouraged to request only the funds necessary to achieve the proposed project objectives.

Award funding restrictions: Funds should be used for only the proposed research and innovation activities, with flexibility at the PI's discretion. Awarded funds cannot be used for PI salary, including faculty summer salary, major equipment over $5,000, or lab renovations.

Evaluation criteria

Scientific merit, feasibility, and clarity of project goals and approaches.
Probability that the project will attract substantial external grant support.
Potential for the project to develop and commercialize new technology.
Potential of the project to make an immediate and significant community impact.
Measurable, combined, and integrated benefits of Co-Creation Engine Awards.

*Note that for Federal Capacity Funds, PI eligibility is limited to tenured/tenure track faculty, and RTE faculty who are Senior Research Associates, Senior Extension Associates, or Senior Lecturers. Proposers that are awarded with AES funds must meet these eligibility requirements. Proposers awarded AES funds may be able to budget a portion on PI salary costs, but this should be discussed with the AES budget manager.

Contact Information

For questions about the CALS Moonshot Seed Grant Program, contact the CALS Research and Innovation Office (RIO) at cals_rio [at] cornell.edu (cals_rio[at]cornell[dot]edu).
Tiffany Fleming, Director of Research Development, is the primary contact for Proposal Development, and Community Impact Awards.
Jaron Porciello, Director of Innovation & Engagement, is the primary contact for Patent and Technology Development and Product and Company Development Awards.