The APS Innovation Fund provides funding to advance collaborative projects that support the APS mission "to advance and diffuse the knowledge of physics for the benefit of humanity, promote physics, and serve the broader physics community."
APS typically awards several grants each year with a maximum award of up to $200,000 over two years (dependent on satisfactory progress) for projects that advance an interest of the physics community and align with the APS Strategic Plan.
The pre-proposal application is currently closed.
You can view the Innovation Fund FAQ sheet online.
Questions? Email Tremaine or Tessa at if@aps.org
Amount: Up to $200,000
Distribution: Award funds will be issued to the PI’s institution on a reimbursement basis.
Duration: Up to 2 years, with second-year funding dependent on satisfactory progress. After 2 years, funded projects:
Indirect Costs: Overhead is allowed but limited to 5% of APS Innovation Fund grant expenses. The requested budget, including overhead, cannot exceed $200,000.
Proposals submitted to the APS Innovation Fund should advance interests important to the physics community that align with the APS Strategic Plan. Notwithstanding, proposals should not address traditional physics research problems, or represent continuations of existing efforts. Innovation Fund proposals could include, but are not limited to:
February 7, 2022: The Innovation Fund Request for Proposals opens to all APS members
March 21, 2022: Deadline for initial 2-page pre-proposals: 11:59 pm ET
May 2022: Finalists are invited to submit a full proposal
June 2022: Deadline for finalists to submit full proposals
Fall 2022: Grant recipients are notified
January 1, 2023: Award start date
Proposals must be:
2020 COVID-19 Cycle Recipients
2019 Recipients
2020 Recipients
2021 Recipients
Monica Plisch
Director of APS Programs
Kathryn Walters-Conte
Head of Innovation and Co-chair and Director of the Innovation Fund
Tremaine Brittian
Innovation Fund Program Officer
Tessa Lewis
Innovation Fund Program Specialist
Nominees for and holders of APS Honors (prizes, awards, and fellowship) and official leadership positions are expected to meet standards of professional conduct and integrity as described in the APS Ethics Guidelines. Violations of these standards may disqualify people from consideration or lead to revocation of honors or removal from office.