Semiconductor Research Corporation

Funding Opportunities—Grant Applications, White Papers and Research Proposals

You may read about funding opportunities at GRC in Japanese.  

Open Calls for Grant Applications

There are no open calls for grant applications.

Open Calls for White Papers

There are no open calls for white papers.

Anticipated Calls for White Papers

• Device Sciences (DS) - Analog & Mixed-Signal Devices - Open October 2010
• Device Sciences (DS) - Memory Technologies - Open October 2010
• Device Sciences (DS) - Modeling and Simulation - Open April 2011
• Device Sciences (DS) - Compact Modeling - Open April 2012
• Device Sciences (DS) - Digital CMOS Technologies - Projects on-going. No plan for call.
• Device Sciences (DS) - Non-Classical CMOS Research - Projects on-going. No plan for call.

Archive of Closed Calls

Closed calls for white papers and grant applications are archived when the submission close date has passed.

About Funding Opportunities

As a mission-driven research consortium, GRC funds research to address a member-defined research agenda. GRC addresses the broader agenda of the industry through its core research program, and the specific research agenda of individual members through its custom research program. While selections of core research projects are made by member community representatives familiar with the technical area in focus, selection of custom research projects are made by individual, eligible member companies. Custom research currently comprises about one-fifth of the overall research budget.

GRC may issue a call for white papers; successful projects result in requests for proposal. The typical result of a successful research proposal is a multi-year research contract with an initial 12-month funding term. At the end of the research contract period, researchers may re-compete for new support. Or GRC may issue a call for a grant applications; successful projects are funded with grants.

Upon receipt and before distribution, all grant applications, white papers and research proposals are referenced to the Confidentiality Statement for Grant Applications, White Papers and Research Proposals.

White Papers

A white paper represents the initial step in a process that could result in the awarding of a research contract. Selected white papers will be followed by requests for proposal. Calls for white papers are made by each Science Area as research needs are identified and as funds are available.

The response to the call should briefly address context, rationale, novelty, approach, anticipated results, engagement with industry, student participation, and funding requirements. See the call document for an explanation of these terms and for specific submission instructions.

Selection decisions are made by a review committee comprised of member company advisors and the technical staff.

Research Proposals

Proposals must be submitted online. For details, please review A Guide to Online Proposal Submission  and the proposal submission resource package with templates for preparing proposal documents. Direct any questions to Online Proposal Administrator.

Following the selection of a white paper by the review committee, a Request of Proposal is e-mailed to the researcher with the deadline for submission, a link to online proposal submission, and any proposal-specific instructions. Research proposals provide sufficient information to permit an evaluation of the intended research--its technical merits, innovative approach, and relevance to the GRC research agenda. Research proposals, in turn, are evaluated by a review committee comprised of member company advisors and the technical staff. Selected research proposals are awarded research contracts.

Authors of research proposals may presume general technical knowledge in the field by reviewers, but should not assume that the merits of the proposed research are obvious. The capability of the institution to adequately support the proposed research and the technical expertise of the researchers to conduct this research should be justified.

Grant Applications

GRC provides some funding as grants--unrestricted, non-overhead bearing gifts to universities. Since grants are unrestricted, the grant is given with the condition that it be free of overhead; the intent is to maximize benefit to the recipient. GRC encourages the recipient to use the funds for beneficial purposes to further their research, equip labs, or support students. Calls for grant applications are made by each Science Area as research needs are identified and as funds are available.

Grant application submissions should address context, rationale, novelty, approach, and anticipated results. See the call document for an explanation of these terms and for specific submission instructions.

Funding decisions are made by a review committee comprised of member company advisors and the technical staff.

Intellectual Property

GRC desires to protect intellectual property rights vesting in you and your university emanating from sponsored research. In return for sponsoring research, GRC member companies receive a royalty-free, nonexclusive, worldwide license to intellectual property (including software, copyrights, patents, mask registrations). Universities own and are free to license this intellectual property to companies outside the GRC community to generate revenues. If you have any questions, please contact the SRC Contracts and Intellectual Property Office at 919-941-9400 or legal.2010@src.org.

Background Intellectual Property

Background Intellectual Property (BIP) is defined as patents, patent applications, or computer software of any party that is required to practice the anticipated results of the research. GRC funds University research on the condition that GRC Member companies will have the freedom to practice the results of the research. The existence of BIP of any party can seriously impair or even block the ability of GRC Members to exercise this freedom to practice. Therefore it is important that GRC be informed as early as possible of the extent, if any, that your proposed research requires the use of BIP. If you have any questions, please contact the SRC Contracts and Intellectual Property Office at 919-941-9400 or legal.2010@src.org.

Research Customization Program Proposals

An alternate mechanism for obtaining research funding from GRC is under the Research Customization Program. Member companies are allowed to fund a percentage of their research dollars under this program, which gives them more control over the selection process. Some projects funded under this program were never submitted as white papers and some RCP projects are based on white papers that were rejected under the traditional review process.

Proposals for RCP projects must be submitted online. Please refer to A Guide to Online Proposal Submission  and/or contact the Online Proposal Administrator.