Frontiers of Innovation for Societal Impact Fund
Internal — Harvard University only
Frontiers of Innovation for Societal Impact Fund supports Harvard faculty research and creative activity addressing real-world problems, with the aim of building industry alliances that sustain and expand their work.
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Funder: Harvard University
Due Dates: October 26, 2026 (applications, 5:00 PM)
Funding Amounts: Spark awards up to $100,000; Ascend awards up to $400,000
Summary: Supports Harvard faculty research and creative activity that addresses real-world problems and can lead to industry partnerships.
Key Information: Applicants need a Harvard faculty appointment with principal investigator rights; additional restrictions apply to HMS faculty.
Description
The Frontiers of Innovation for Societal Impact Fund supports research and creative activity by Harvard faculty that addresses real-world problems and holds promise to attract funding and engagement from industry groups, corporations, investors, and foundations. Its goal is to build partnerships that provide meaningful financial support for Harvard research.
The fund seeks to expand the scale of faculty work through industry collaborations and alliances. Unlike a traditional accelerator, it does not primarily aim to support the formation of new companies. Spark awards support the initiation of an area of work, while Ascend awards support the expansion of ongoing work.
