Special Initiatives
The Sloan Foundation's Special Initiatives program funds projects advancing public benefit and addressing ethical, legal, and societal challenges in science and emerging technologies.
Funder: Sloan Foundation
Due Dates: Rolling
Funding Amounts: No fixed limits; major grants (> $250,000) approved quarterly; typical awards and duration vary by project.
Summary: Supports projects maximizing societal benefits from science and technology, with a focus on privacy, access to information, and ethical challenges in emerging technologies.
Description
The Special Initiatives program from the Sloan Foundation aims to support high-impact projects that leverage science and technology for the public good, while addressing potential societal risks. Launched in 2022, the program is still shaping its strategic priorities but currently makes exploratory grants. Key themes include privacy and security in the digital age, strengthening public access to information and combating misinformation, fostering science as a transnational community, and addressing ethical and legal issues in neurotechnology, biotechnology, and nanotechnology. The program builds on prior efforts such as the Universal Access to Knowledge initiative and continues to support select grantees in related areas.
