UNC Idea Grant
The UNC Idea Grant funds innovative pilot research projects at UNC-Chapel Hill to help researchers generate preliminary data and strengthen future funding competitiveness.
Funder: University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
Due Dates: Rolling (Applications accepted anytime)
Funding Amounts: $5,000–$20,000 per project for up to 1 year; smaller, well-justified budgets prioritized
Summary: Supports UNC-Chapel Hill researchers with pilot funding for innovative projects to increase competitiveness for future large-scale funding.
Key Information: Not for bridge funding or supplementing existing projects; open to all research fields at UNC-CH.
Description
The UNC Idea Grant provides pilot funding to researchers at UNC-Chapel Hill across all fields of research and scholarship. Its primary goal is to support innovative projects that address significant problems or obstacles in a current line of inquiry, enabling researchers to generate preliminary data, build teams, and increase their competitiveness for larger external or internal funding. The program is part of the Vice Chancellor for Research’s university-wide pilot funding portfolio, aiming to further UNC’s leadership in foundational research, creative practice, and research impact.
This grant is not intended for bridge funding or to supplement existing funded projects. Instead, it is designed to catalyze new ideas that have the potential for meaningful impact in their respective disciplines and to help researchers become more competitive for subsequent funding opportunities.
