Research@UIC > Funding Opportunities > Limited Competitions >W. M. Keck Foundation - Science and Engineering Research Program - Phase I

W. M. Keck Foundation - Science and Engineering Research Program - Phase I

Program Summary

The W.M. Keck Foundation's Science and Engineering Research Program seeks to benefit humanity by supporting high-risk/high-impact projects that are distinctive and novel in their approach to intractable problems, push the edge of their field, or question the prevailing paradigm. Past grants have been awarded to major universities and independent research institutions to support pioneering science and engineering research and the development of promising new technologies, and to facilitate the purchase of advanced instruments where such instruments would further research ideas. Grants range from $500,000 to $5 million.   These are highly competitive grants.

Sponsor is seeking projects for which one or more of the following applies:

• Focus on emerging areas of research at the forefront of science, engineering and/or medicine
• Have the potential to lead to breakthrough technologies
• Are innovative, distinctive and interdisciplinary
• Demonstrate a high level of risk in that the research pushes the edge of its field, represents unconventional approaches to intransigent problems, or challenges the prevailing paradigm
• Have the potential for transformative impact, such as creation of a new field of research, development of new instrumentation enabling observations not previously possible, or discovery of new knowledge that challenges prevailing perspectives.
• Fall outside the mission of public funding agencies
• Demonstrate that private philanthropy generally, and the W.M. Keck Foundation in particular, is essential to the project's success.

Projects Ineligible for Funding

• Routine institutional or general operating expenses, general endowments, deficit reduction, or general and/or administrative overhead expenses
• General and federated campaigns, including fundraising events, dinners, mass mailings or direct mail campaigns
• Clinical research or treatment trials
• Acquisition, construction or major renovation of facilities
• Conference or seminar sponsorship
• Book publication and film or theater productions
• Projects to be undertaken outside the United States
• Public policy research or activities of any kind
• Projects requesting a grant of over $5 million, other than special projects initiated by the Foundation

Additional Sponsor Information

http://www.wmkeck.org/programs/science.html

Internal Selection Process

This process deviates from the standard operating procedure used for other limited competition selections.   This selection process will be overseen by Research Development Services (RDS) and the Office of Corporate and Foundation Relations (OCFR).      

Interested UIC applicants should submit both a LOI and a white paper to RDS.  The LOI information is used to assemble a peer review panel.   The white paper will be peer reviewed.   Preliminary recommendations will be made to OCFR which will determine which proposals should be presented to the Keck Foundation.  OCFR will then confer with Keck Foundation program officers about these proposals.   The Keck Foundation program officers will determine which, if any, proposal should be developed into a Phase 1 application.  Keck has indicated that if a project has previously failed to make it to Phase II, it should not be resubmitted.

Deadlines

Letter of Intent

LOI form: http://tigger.uic.edu/depts/ovcr/research/funding/forms/0600.doc

Depending upon the number of LOIs submitted, OVCR might be required to facilitate an internal peer review process to select UIC’s submission(s) to this program. 

White Paper Instructions

Submit 1 pdf file to Tony Halford at RDS@uic.edu by February 18.

1. Cover Page One [1 page] with following information:
   1. Title of White Paper proposal
   2. PI Contact Information
   3. Sponsor and sponsor program name
   4. Name & departmental affiliation of PI, Co-PIs, senior personnel
   5. Unit Business Manager or Grant Coordinator contact information
2. Project Summary [1 page maximum], with the following content:
    
   1. Abstract:  Provide an executive summary of this project, including overall goal, methodology and significance, for a well-educated lay audience.
   2. Unique Aspects:  Describe unique or distinctive aspects of this project.
   3. Key Personnel:  Name the key personnel and describe their expertise, role in this project, and any collaborations/partnerships.
   4. Budget:  State total cost of this project, amount requested from the Keck Foundation, and the amount of institutional support. Describe how funds requested from Keck will be allocated among capital, personnel and equipment.
   5. Justification for WMKF support:  Explain why support from the Keck Foundation is essential for this project.
3. Two page CV for PI and key persons

Please contact Mr. Tony Halford at ahalford@uic.edu or 312-996-7036 with any questions. 

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