Innovation for Impact Fund (IIF)
Cornell Atkinson’s Innovation for Impact Fund supports interdisciplinary research partnerships that bridge science and real-world action to address urgent sustainability challenges with non-academic collaborators.
Funder: Cornell University
Due Dates: Rolling (Fast Grants) | Annual cycles (most programs; 2026 cycle closed)
Funding Amounts: Varies by program; typical awards range from seed/fast grants (~$25,000–$100,000) to larger collaborative projects; duration and amounts depend on initiative.
Summary: Supports interdisciplinary, action-oriented research partnerships between Cornell and non-academic partners to address critical sustainability challenges.
Key Information: Most funding streams require collaboration with external (non-academic) partners; PI eligibility restricted to Cornell faculty and select titles.
Description
The Innovation for Impact Fund (IIF) at Cornell Atkinson is designed to catalyze interdisciplinary research collaborations that bridge scientific discovery and real-world action on urgent sustainability issues. The fund supports both basic and applied research, with an emphasis on projects that are co-created with non-academic partners and demonstrate clear, actionable pathways to impact. IIF initiatives include competitive funding programs for collaborative proposals, strategic projects executed by interdisciplinary teams, and participation in multi-stakeholder consortia. Supported activities range from piloting new concepts and tools to influencing policy and practice in sustainability.
