STEP Grants: Science and Technology Empowered by the Public
Forecasted
STEP Grants: Science and Technology Empowered by the Public support individuals and organizations in research and hardware development to explore worlds, find life, and defend Earth from asteroids and comets.
Funder: The Planetary Society
Due Dates (Anticipated): January 2028 (Pre-proposal deadline)
Funding Amounts: 2026 nominal expectation: two awards of approximately US$50,000 each
Summary: STEP Grants support science and technology projects that explore other worlds, search for life, and defend Earth from asteroids and comets.
Key Information: Awardees must provide progress updates at least every six months and support public communications and fundraising.
Description
The Planetary Society’s Science and Technology Empowered by the Public (STEP) Grants support credible, significant research and hardware development through an open, international competition. Introduced in 2021 and funded by Society members and donors, the program supports stand-alone projects or needed portions of larger efforts. Eligible work spans planetary exploration, the search for life in the Solar System and beyond, and efforts to reduce asteroid and comet impact risks.
The program favors work that needs otherwise hard-to-obtain funding, provides seed support for future research, fills overlooked needs, develops innovative technology, or takes advantage of timely opportunities. Projects may include hardware, labor, equipment upgrades, telescope-time rental, and citizen science. The Society also seeks projects that involve, inspire, or excite its members and the public, and helps communicate funded projects’ importance and successes.
