AI Innovation Grants for Climate Change Solutions
Table of Contents
- Introduction to Climate Change AI
- Goals and Activities of Climate Change AI
- The Innovation Grants Program
- Eligibility Criteria for the Grants Program
- Topics and Areas of Focus for the Grants Program
- Submission and Evaluation Process
- Funding and Budget Allocation
- Timeline for the Grants Program
- Impact and Ethical Considerations
- Collaboration and Partnerships
- Frequently Asked Questions
Article
Introduction to Climate Change AI
Climate Change AI is a global non-profit organization that focuses on the intersection of climate change and machine learning. As an organization, we catalyze work in this domain by bringing together stakeholders from various communities, including public and private sectors, to guide impactful projects. Our main objective is to advance the understanding and application of machine learning in addressing climate change issues.
Goals and Activities of Climate Change AI
At Climate Change AI, we maintain and build a global community of researchers, professionals, and enthusiasts interested in the relationship between climate change and machine learning. We provide educational resources and programs to facilitate impactful work, fill gaps in infrastructure, and advance discourse on the subject. Our activities include hosting conferences, workshops, and events, as well as maintaining a digital repository of information and data sets.
The Innovation Grants Program
The Innovation Grants Program is one of our main initiatives to support research projects at the intersection of AI and climate change. Through this program, we offer funding of up to $150,000 per project for a duration of one year. The total budget for this year's program is $1.2 million, which will be distributed among selected projects. The grants aim to encourage innovative research that addresses climate change challenges using AI and machine learning approaches.
Eligibility Criteria for the Grants Program
To be eligible for the Innovation Grants Program, the principal investigator (Pi) must be affiliated with an accredited university from an OECD member country. There are no restrictions on co-investigators or partners involved in the project, except for industry research labs and national labs/institutes. The proposal should not Seek funding from any other sources for the same aspects of the project. The submission deadline for proposals is on March 1st, and applications must be made through the provided submission platform.
Topics and Areas of Focus for the Grants Program
Projects funded through the Innovation Grants Program should focus on the application of AI and machine learning in addressing climate change issues. The topics can include climate change mitigation, adaptation, climate science, and AI governance in the Context of climate change. We encourage projects that span various sectors, such as power, agriculture, material science, transportation, ecosystems, and biodiversity. Additionally, projects related to the impact of AI and AI-driven applications on greenhouse gas emissions are also welcome.
Submission and Evaluation Process
The submission process for the grants program involves providing essential project information, including team details, resumes, and a project description not exceeding 12 pages. A budget should be prepared, itemizing the expenses associated with the project. The evaluation criteria for the program include climate relevance, AI and machine learning relevance, data set quality, impact, project pathway to impact, and ethics considerations. The projects are reviewed through a single-blinded process, and the results are expected to be announced by mid-May.
Funding and Budget Allocation
The Innovation Grants Program offers funding of up to $150,000 per project, with a total budget of $1.2 million for this year. The allocated funds can be used for various project expenses, including salaries, research staff, equipment, conference expenses, travel costs, and overhead. The lead institution will receive the funds and can allocate them according to the project's needs. The maximum overhead allowed is 10% of the total budget. Partners from other organizations or institutions can also receive funding through sub-grants from the lead institution.
Timeline for the Grants Program
The submission deadline for proposals is March 1st, and the projects are expected to start around August 15th for a duration of one year. However, some flexibility can be considered for the project start date. Within the one-year period, the projects should aim to achieve significant results and progress. The projects should plan for the publication of their outcomes, including data sets and other IP within a year after the grant end date.
Impact and Ethical Considerations
One of the evaluation criteria for the grants program is the potential impact of the proposed project. Projects should clearly address how their work will be deployed to contribute to climate change mitigation and adaptation. Ethical considerations regarding stakeholders, equity, and potential negative impacts of the proposed solution should also be discussed. The consideration of ethics is crucial in ensuring responsible and beneficial AI applications in the context of climate change.
Collaboration and Partnerships
Collaboration with various organizations, including governments, research institutes, private companies, and NGOs, is encouraged in the projects funded through the grants program. Deployment partners can be from different sectors and geographical regions, providing expertise and resources to support the project's objectives. The lead institution has the flexibility to allocate funds to partners or sub-grantees as necessary for project implementation and collaboration.
Highlights
- Climate Change AI offers an Innovation Grants Program to fund research projects at the intersection of AI and climate change.
- The grants program provides funding of up to $150,000 per project for a duration of one year.
- Projects should focus on topics like climate change mitigation, adaptation, climate science, and AI governance.
- Eligibility criteria require the principal investigator to be affiliated with an accredited university from an OECD member country.
- The submission process involves providing project details, team information, and a project description, along with an itemized budget.
- The evaluation criteria for the grants program include climate relevance, AI and machine learning relevance, data set quality, impact, project pathway to impact, and ethics considerations.
- The total budget for the grants program is $1.2 million, funded by DeepMind, Quadrature Climate Foundation, and Future Earth.
- Collaboration with various organizations and stakeholders is encouraged to enhance the impact of the funded projects.
- The projects should aim to achieve significant results within one year and should plan for the publication of their outcomes, including data sets and other IP.
- Considerations of ethical implications and responsible AI applications are essential in the evaluation and implementation of the projects.
FAQs
Q: Can projects focus on specific countries or regions?
A: Yes, projects can have a specific country or regional focus. The geographic scope of the project can vary, ranging from a single country to multiple countries or even global impact.
Q: Are industry research labs and national labs/institutes eligible to Apply?
A: No, industry research labs and national labs/institutes are not eligible for the grants program. The lead institution should be an accredited university from an OECD member country, but collaborations with industry and national labs as partners are allowed.
Q: Can data sets be made publicly available if they are of sensitive nature?
A: We encourage data sets to be made publicly available to maximize the impact and potential for collaboration. However, we understand that some data sets may contain sensitive information. In such cases, efforts should be made to de-identify or anonymize the data before making it available or explore options for controlled access.
Q: Can a project apply if it has already received funding from other sources?
A: Yes, projects can apply even if they have received funding from other sources. However, the proposal should clearly indicate which aspects of the project are being requested for funding through the Innovation Grants Program.
Q: Is it necessary to have prior experience or expertise in both AI and climate change to apply?
A: While expertise in both AI and climate change is beneficial, it is not mandatory. The evaluation criteria focus on the project's quality and impact, so as long as the proposal demonstrates strong potential for addressing climate change challenges using AI, it will be considered.
Q: Can sub-grantees receive funding directly from the grants program?
A: No, the funding will be dispersed to the lead institution, which can then allocate funds to sub-grantees or partners as necessary. The lead institution will be responsible for managing and distributing the allocated funds.
