[American Chemical Society](https://www.acs.org)

May 1, 2026 (Proposal submission deadline)

$80,000 for a 12-month project; no overhead allowed; supports trainee salary, benefits, and lab supplies.

Supports research advancing sustainable functional materials using natural polymers through green chemistry and engineering.

Open to PIs at any university, research institution, or small business worldwide; one grant awarded.

--- ## Description This grant, offered by the American Chemical Society Green Chemistry Institute (ACS GCI) Natural Polymers Consortium, supports research projects that accelerate the development of sustainable functional materials using natural polymers. The program seeks innovative approaches in green chemistry and engineering focused on the sourcing, processing, and performance of natural polymers. The goal is to foster commercially viable, environmentally friendly alternatives to conventional materials, emphasizing public dissemination, academia-industry collaboration, and practical application. --- ## Due Dates - May 1, 2026: Proposal submission deadline (by 11:59 p.m. EDT) Applicants will be notified by September 15, 2026. Projects are expected to start by January 1, 2027 and last approximately 12 months. --- ## Funding Amount - One grant of $80,000 for a 12-month research project - No institutional overhead or indirect costs permitted - Funds may be used for: - Salary and benefits of undergraduate/graduate students and postdoctoral fellows - Laboratory supplies and instrument use charges - Funds may NOT be used for: - PI or co-PI salary supplements - Laboratory technicians, contractors, consultants, or visiting faculty - Travel, equipment purchase or repair, or administrative support --- ## Eligibility - Open to Principal Investigators (PIs) at any U.S. or international university, comparable research institution, startup, or small business - Proposals must be approved by the appropriate institutional office for external funding - If no grants office exists, a PDF letter from an authorized official is required - Only one active ACS GCI NPC grant per PI at a time --- ## Application Process - Submit a single PDF proposal via the [ACS Green Chemistry Institute Application Portal](https://gci.acs.org/) - Application must include: - Institutional and grant officer information (or acknowledgement letter for institutions without a grants office) - PI details and research group website - Project title, topic, current funding, and abstract (200 words) - Plan of work (3 pages max) covering research approach, PMI-LCA, impact, commercialization potential, trainee capabilities, facilities, milestones, and background IP/collaborations - Budget and timeline (1 page), detailing use of funds - CVs for all project team members (2 pages each) - Proposals must align with one or more of the following topic areas: - Sourcing: Sustainable isolation and characterization of natural polymers from biomass - Processing: Green chemistry methods for processing, additive selection, and property enhancement - Performance: Improving functionality and exploring new applications for natural polymers --- ## Additional Information - Progress reports required quarterly; final report due one month after project end - Research results are expected to be published within 6 months of completion - Any patents resulting from funded research must be dedicated to the public, royalty-free - Seed grant; recipients are encouraged to seek additional funding from other sources --- ## External Links - [ACS GCI Natural Polymers Consortium Research Grant Program Page](https://www.acs.org/funding/grants/natural-polymers-consortium-research-grant.html) - [ACS Green Chemistry Institute Application Portal](https://gci.acs.org/) - [Natural Polymers Consortium Overview](https://www.acs.org/green-chemistry-sustainability/industry-roundtables/natural-polymers.html) - [ACS Funding Opportunities](https://www.acs.org/funding.html) --- ## Contact Information | Contact | Email | Phone | Webpage | |----------------------|--------------------------------------|--------------------------|-------------------------------------------------| | ACS GCI NPC Program | gciroundtables@acs.org | +1 202-872-6102 | [Contact ACS](https://www.acs.org/contact.html) | | ACS GCI General | gci@acs.org | 1-800-227-5558 ext. 6102 | [ACS GCI](https://www.acs.org/green-chemistry-sustainability.html) |

ACS GCI Natural Polymers Consortium Research Grant

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