ISF Research Grant Program: Advancing Global Understanding of the Internet and Its Benefits

The ISF Research Grant Program facilitates global research collaborations aimed at advancing understanding of the Internet and its wide-ranging benefits for individuals worldwide.

The research grants provided will recognize innovative research methodologies that yield practical and easily comprehensible solutions to issues related to the Internet. The resulting studies will be openly published and accessible to the scientific community, with a focus on addressing specific inquiries.

The ISF aims to identify and support a diverse and collaborative network of academic institutions and researchers actively involved in producing intersectional research that informs decision-making processes.

ACCEPTABLE PROPOSAL TOPICS

Proposals should focus on subjects within the following thematic areas:

1. Promoting Sustainability in the Internet: Recognizing the impact of environmental factors and climate change on the Internet's longevity. Developing critical awareness of this impact is crucial for building a resilient Internet that can be sustained for future generations.

2. Understanding the Internet Economy: Exploring the potential disruptions and uncertainties brought about by internet-based activities in economic environments. Gaining a comprehensive understanding of the complex interactions within the Internet Economy can lead to more predictable economic futures.

3. Building Trust in the Internet: Ensuring that the Internet is resilient, trustworthy, accountable, and secure to meet users' information and service needs. Trust in the Internet is established when it consistently fulfills user expectations, regardless of whether those expectations are accurate. 

4. Fostering an Inclusive Internet: Acknowledging that the birth of the Internet was intertwined with the history of industrial societies and the utilization of resources from Indigenous lands. Addressing the potential for the Internet to perpetuate inequality and injustice when its design is not inclusive and lacks diversity among its designers.

QUALIFICATION CRITERIA 

To be considered, applicants must meet the following requirements:

• * Candidates should be researchers who are self-employed, holding postgraduate research degrees such as PhD or Masters.

• * They should have a track record of peer-reviewed publications, patents, and academic or independently published work in the relevant field.

Additionally:

• * Independent researchers have the opportunity to submit grant requests for a maximum of US$200,000.

• * Public research institutions that align with the objectives of the Foundation are also eligible to apply.

• * Funding requests from organizations are welcome, with a maximum limit of US$500,000.

• * Funding is not available for institutions in the private sector.

THE SELECTION 

Researchers are invited to submit a comprehensive application for evaluation by the Independent Program Review Committee. The selection of final submissions will be based on the following evaluation criteria:

1. Alignment with the thematic areas defined by the Foundation.

2. Originality and innovation of the proposed research.

3. Practical and applicable nature of the research.

4. Collaboration and partnership potential of the research.

The Independent Program Review Committee (IPRC) convenes biannually to assess the proposals. The upcoming research cycle is scheduled to commence in April 2023.

For more enquiries and additional information, Check Here

Before the 31st of May, interested parties can Apply Here