December 26, 2018
Moore Inventor Fellows
Gordon Moore’s contribution to the development of microelectronics helped produce the exponential growth of the digital revolution that continues today. In the spirit of Moore’s passion for science and penchant for inventing, the foundation is supporting early-career scientist-inventors who create new tools and technologies with a high potential to accelerate progress in the foundation’s areas of interest: scientific research, environmental conservation and patient care.
The Moore Inventor Fellows program focuses on supporting scientist-inventors at a critical stage of research to capture opportunities that otherwise might be missed. We seek to provide freedom and support to promising inventors with the most compelling ideas to pursue creative work.
The foundation plans to allocate nearly $34 million through 2026 to support 50 Moore Inventor Fellows. Our cohort of 2016 fellows, 2017 fellows and 2018 fellows represent innovative early-career scientist-inventors in scientific research, environmental conservation and patient care. The 2018 competition was open to early-career staff at major research universities, selected medical research institutions and selected environmental research institutions.
Funding Agency:
The Gordon and Betty Moore Foundation announces the 2018 competition for Moore Inventor Fellows. Inspired by Gordon Moore’s passion for discovery, this competition seeks to identify outstanding early-stage inventors who harness science and technology solutions to enhance scientific research, strengthen environmental conservation, or improve the experience and outcomes of patient care.
The Moore Inventor Fellows program recognizes inventors at select research universities and organizations. The foundation plans to allocate nearly $34 million through 2026 to support 50 Moore Inventor Fellows. The second cohort of fellows was recently announced. In this letter to select institution presidents, chief research officers and other relevant contacts, including primary contacts identified in previous years, we invite you to nominate two individuals from your institution for 2018.
Fellows will receive funding for three years at a level of $200,000 per year from the Moore Foundation. In addition to funds for the fellow, the foundation will provide $25,000 each year to the institution to cover costs associated with administering the grant award, resulting in a total three-year award of $675,000. Host institutions will be required to make a contribution of $50,000 in annual support of the inventor’s work.
Each eligible institution can submit two nominations for consideration.
Deadlines:
- Duke Internal Deadline: January 10, 2019
- Nomination materials due: February 11, 2019
- Sponsor Application Materials Due: March 4, 2019
Sponsor Guidelines: https://www.moore.org/docs/default-source/moore-inventor-fellows/moore-i…
Moore Inventor Fellows FAQs: https://www.moore.org/docs/default-source/moore-inventor-fellows/moore-i…
Internal submission information below.
Agency Website
Areas of Interest
The scope of this call is intentionally wide: proposed projects do not need to fall within our current funding priorities but should be broadly within the program areas of foundation interest (science, environmental conservation and patient care). The exception is for nominees proposing ideas and inventions that target patient care. Within this realm, we seek overlap with our current emphasis on improving the experience and outcomes of patients, including solutions in the areas of diagnostic excellence, medication safety in the community and community-based serious illness care.
We aim to support inventions at an early stage that could lead to proof-of-concept work on an invention or advance an existing prototype that tackles an important problem. We seek innovations with the promise of making a long-lasting impact by addressing underlying problems in their field, but a clear path toward commercialization is not a requirement. We are not interested in supporting projects that are already at a stage where significant venture capital is available. As with all our grants, we seek to measure progress toward a defined goal during the three years of support. The foundation’s policy is that intellectual property that results from a grant must be managed and disseminated in a manner that leads to the greatest impact. Each award will include IP terms to reflect the needs of that project.
We recognize that real invention can take surprising turns, so we seek creative individuals who have big ideas, deep knowledge and the courage to take smart risks. We recognize that inventors and innovators come from a diversity of backgrounds, disciplines and experiences, and seek creative individuals across a broad array of academic programs and research departments. Examples of such programs include, but are not limited to environmental science and conservation, oceanography, biology, engineering, physics, chemistry, materials science, neuroscience, public health and gerontology.
Eligibility Requirements
Candidates must be faculty, research scientists, postdocs or other full-time staff at eligible institutions. Candidates must be no more than 10 years past receiving the terminal advanced degree in their field (M.S., Ph.D. or M.D.).
Amount
Amount Description
Fellows will receive funding for three years at a level of $200,000 per year from the Moore Foundation. In addition to funds for the fellow, the foundation will provide $25,000 each year to the institution to cover costs associated with administering the grant award, resulting in a total three-year award of $675,000. Host institutions will be required to make a contribution of $50,000 in annual support of the inventor’s work.
Funding Type
Eligibility
Category
Internal Nomination
Owing to the sponsor’s restriction on the number of applications that may be submitted from Duke, anyone wishing to pursue nomination should submit the following materials as one PDF via the upload feature on the ORS website.
1) A letter of support from dean/chair – 1 to 1.5 pages Please include a statement of the institution’s plan to assure that the nominee will have at least 25 percent of their time to devote to their invention and $50,000 in annual direct support of the inventor’s work.
2) Candidate’s CV – No more than 2 pages
3) No more than two pages (single-spaced, 12-point font and one inch margins )describing:
- the main idea,
- that idea’s importance,
- its stage of invention,
- any existing or planned funding,
- feasibility (technical description),
- potential impact of the invention for one of our three programmatic themes: science, environment, or patient care
* Figures and charts can be included within the total page length limits.
4) (DRAFT) One -page budget narrative that outlines how grant funds will be used
The above materials should be compiled (in the order listed above) into one PDF file.
Go to My Research Proposal to upload your file: https://www.grantinterface.com/Common/LogOn.aspx?eqs=ApVvmgXCk2Uj7AzWyDEJKQ2
If you have not already set up an account there, instructions for setting up your account and uploading internal applications can be found here: https://ors.duke.edu/sites/default/files/Applicant Instructions_FINAL.pdf