Early-Stage Collaborative Discover Grants

Early-Stage Collaborative Discover Grants is sponsored by Office of the Vice Chancellor for Research, The Texas A&M University System. Provides funding for high-risk, high-reward projects in their early stages to enhance research capacity.

Early-Stage Collaborative Discover Grants - Office of Research EARLY-STAGE COLLABORATIVE DISCOVER GRANTS THE TEXAS A&M UNIVERSITY SYSTEM Request for Proposals (RFP) – FY27 Issued by: Office of the Vice Chancellor for Research, The Texas A&M University System (A&M System) Total Program Funding: $2,000,000 Individual Awards: Up to $100,000 (but no less than $25,000) Anticipated Minimum Number of Awards: 20 RFP Issue Date: October 1, 2026 Proposal Submission Deadline: December 1, 2026 Anticipated Project Start Date: April 1, 2027 Limited Submission: Submissions limited to three lead proposals per A&M System member university as approved by designated university Chief Research Officer (CRO) (i.e., Vice President of Research).

Note: A&M System member agencies are included under Texas A&M University (TAMU) led submissions. Award Info & Allowable Costs The A&M System announces the year 2 call for proposals under the Research Excellence Fund (REF) , a bold initiative to elevate the research enterprise across all A&M System member institutions.

The REF provides competitive funding to accelerate discovery, strengthen collaboration, and enhance national competitiveness. The Early-Stage Collaborative Discover Grants under the REF provides competitive funding for early-stage, proof-of-concept, pilot discovery research conducted by multi-system member collaborative teams on transformative research topics.

These grants are designed to help A&M System investigators lay the groundwork for large-scale, interdisciplinary, and high-impact proposals to federal, state, and private sponsors. By investing in early-stage discovery, this program aims to increase the A&M System’s success rate in securing major awards and to foster collaborative research teams across the A&M System that are prepared to compete at the highest levels.

Early-Stage Collaborative Discovery Grants are designed to: Seed Innovative Research Ideas: Provide resources to refine novel research concepts into competitive proposals for large-scale funding. Enhance Proposal Readiness: Enable pilot data collection and preliminary or early-stage research needed to strengthen future submissions.

Increase Competitiveness for Large External Awards: Position A&M System researchers for success securing funding from major federal, state, and private sponsors. Align Strategic Research Priorities: Align early-stage discovery with areas of System-wide importance and state or national relevance. Eligible Institution: Any A&M System member university .

Eligible Applicants: The lead principal investigator (PI) and other PI and co-PIs must be PI-eligible and hold a full-time faculty or research staff appointment at an A&M System member university or agency. Collaborating Members: Proposals must include at least two A&M System member institutions as substantive partners to the lead institution. Three total A&M System member institutions required.

System members are defined by System Policy 02. 04 and include 12 universities, 8 state agencies, and the System Offices . Colleges, departments, centers, and branch campuses are not separate System members.

A substantiative partner is defined as an A&M System member whose investigators have defined research responsibilities and meaningfully contributions to the project, as described in the Collaboration Plan. External Collaborators: External collaborators (non-A&M System) are permitted but may not receive REF funds directly. IV.

Award Informati o n and Allowable Costs Total Funding Available: $2,000,000 Maximum Individual Award: Up to $100,000 (but no less than $25,000) Project Period: 12 months Anticipated Minimum Number of Awards: 20 Limited Submission: Submissions limited to three lead proposals per A&M System university as approved by designated university Chief Research Officer (CRO) (i.e., Vice President of Research).

Note: A&M System agencies are included under Texas A&M University (TAMU) led submissions. Cost Share: Not required but encouraged to leverage the REF investment and demonstrate institutional commitment.

Personnel (faculty, graduate students, postdoctoral staff, or other research staff) costs Research/laboratory supplies Travel for team collaboration Long-term equipment or infrastructure purchases All funds must be expended within 12 months of award unless an extension is approved.

Proposals must include the following sections, combined into a single PDF document : Title of proposed project Lead and partner institutions Lead PI name, affiliation, and contact information Other PIs and Co-PIs names, affiliations, and contact information Concise overview of proposed research concept Alignment with state and national research priorities Project Description (up to 3 pages) Detailed description of research concept and its significance.

Clear articulation of project goals, methodologies, and expected deliverables (i.e., Statement of Work). Identification of the external funding opportunity. Specific early-stage research activities to be supported.

Anticipated outcomes and plan for future proposal submission. References (up to 2 pages) Collaboration Plan (1 page) Description of team, planned collaborations, roles and responsibilities of each participating research and A&M System institution and mechanism for coordination. Milestones and Deliverables (1 page) Timeline with key activities, decision points, and expected outputs.

Budget and Cost-Share Details (1 page) Detailed itemization of proposed expenses. Institutional cost share commitment to leverage the REF investment (if applicable). Biographical Sketches (Key investigators – PIs and co-PIs; up to 2 pages per PI) Science Experts Network Curriculum Vitae (SciENcv) format.

Letters of Collaboration and/or Commitment (up to 5 letters; 1 page per letter) from research collaborators or administrators from collaborating A&M System member institutions. Memo of Support (1 page) from CRO endorsing this proposal for submission.

Proposals will be evaluated by an independent peer-review panel composed of internal and external experts using the following weighted criteria: Quality, clarity, and innovation of the proposed research idea Strength of the team and potential for interdisciplinary or inter-institutional collaboration Likelihood of leading to a competitive external proposal Strategic alignment with state and national research priorities and impact this initiative will have on a state and national level Realism of timeline, budget, and management plan Demonstrated institutional commitment and leveraging potential Priority will be given to proposals that demonstrate transformational potential , cross-system collaboration , and clear readiness for major external funding competitiveness .

VII. Reporting and Expectations Awardees will be required to: Submit a mid-year report describing milestones achieved, collaborations formed, and preliminary outcomes. Submit a final report summarizing accomplishments, outcomes, proposals submitted, and funding results.

Participate in the annual A&M System Research Excellence Meeting and present key findings and collaboration impacts. VIII. Submission Instructions Submission Portal: Submit single PDF document to tamus.

infoready4. com File Format: Single PDF document, 12-point font, 1-inch margins. Deadline: December 1, 2026, 11:59 PM CST Questions: Contact E-mail: ref@tamus.

edu The Early-Stage Collaborative Discovery Grants will be administered by the Office of the Vice Chancellor for Research under guidance from the REF Advisory Committee , composed of representatives from A&M System member institutions. Proposals will be reviewed through a competitive independent peer-reviewed process.

Decisions on funding will be approved by the Vice Chancellor for Research and endorsed by the Chancellorof the A&M System. Proposal Submission Deadline The Early-Stage Collaborative Discovery Grants of the Research Excellence Fund represent a foundational investment in the creative and collaborative potential of A&M System researchers.

By supporting the development of high-impact research concepts and strong interdisciplinary teams, this initiative ensures the A&M System remains a leader in securing transformative funding and advancing knowledge that benefits Texas, the nation, and the world.