Enhancement and Partnership Program

Enhancement and Partnership Program is sponsored by Clay Mathematics Institute. This program invites proposals to enhance existing mathematical activities, particularly by funding international participation. It supports Clay Lectures at conferences and Senior Scholars at extended research programs.

Enhancement and Partnership - Clay Mathematics Institute Home — Funded programs — Enhancement and Partnership Enhancement and Partnership CMI invites proposals under the Enhancement and Partnership Program for fiscal year 2027 (1 October 2026-30 September 2027) and later. The principal aim is to enhance activities that are already planned, particularly by funding international participation.

The program is broadly defined, but subject to general principles: CMI funding will be used in accordance with the Institute’s mission and its status as an operating foundation to enhance mathematical activities organised by or planned in partnership with other organisations It will not be used to meet expenses that could be readily covered from local or national sources All proposals will be judged by the CMI’s Scientific Advisory Board CMI can only support events in which it has significant involvement, and in all cases the CMI’s partnership in the event must be acknowledged by using the wording set out in the Statement of Financial Policies included with offer letters.

There are several ways under the Enhancement and Partnership Program by which CMI can support directly activities that will enhance research meetings: Workshops and Small Conferences In cases in which nomination of a Clay Lecturer would not be appropriate, organisers may seek support at a lower level of funding for a small number of highly distinguished speakers.

In this case CMI will participate in the selection of the supported speakers, who will be reimbursed directly by CMI. In addition to these speakers, CMI can support a small number of junior participants, either graduate students or early career participants (‘Early career’ means ‘within five years of PhD and not holding a tenured or tenure-track position’).

Organizers will be expected to nominate the agreed number of junior participants after undertaking a competitive selection process. Selection will be based on evidence of exceptional promise. Note, CMI must support speakers before it can support junior participants.

Applications for support for conferences and workshops should include: A description of the planned activity The names and very brief CVs of the speakers for whom CMI funding is proposed An estimate of the costs of the people for whom support is requested (including student and early career participants) A full account of existing funding for the event An explanation of why the support requested cannot be obtained from other local or national sources.

If the proposal includes support for student and early career participants, details of how these participants are to be selected. Selection should be on the basis of evidence of ‘exceptional promise’ and CMI must be involved in the selection process. If the application is successful, CMI will agree the detailed nomination and selection process for the junior participants with the organizers.

If it is uncertain whether or not some of the senior speakers named in the proposal will be able to attend, then organizers may nominate reserves, but should not otherwise assume that CMI funding is transferable.

Organizers of conferences and similar events can nominate a highly distinguished mathematician to attend to deliver a Clay Lecture, which might be either a designated plenary lecture within the conference program or a special lecture delivered to a wider audience. The funding available would be in the region of $10,000.

This would cover: The Clay Lecturer’s travel and accommodation costs An honorarium, normally of $1,000, to be paid to the lecturer on receipt of a publishable manuscript or edited video recording of the Clay Lecture Other items to enhance the conference, typically funding for students and early career participants selected in collaboration with CMI.

‘Early career’ means ‘within five years of PhD and not holding a tenured or tenure-track position’. Nomination materials should include CV and publication list of the nominee An independent letter of support from an appropriate referee not otherwise involved in the conference Estimate of the Clay Lecturer’s expenses Proposal on how the balance of the funding might be used.

The proposal must be consistent with CMI’s Financial and Other Policies and should be discussed with the nominee. If it includes support for student and early career participants, then details of how these participants are to be selected should be included. Selection should be on the basis of evidence of ‘exceptional promise’ and CMI must be involved in the selection process.

Organizers of extended focused research programs at universities or research institutes may nominate a highly distinguished mathematician to attend as a Clay Senior Scholar. Funding will typically be at the level of about $5000 per month, and will cover the Senior Scholar’s travel expenses and a per diem contribution to living costs, provided that this is permissible under local immigration rules.

The nomination materials should include At least two independent letters of reference. Clay Senior Scholars must participate in the whole program. They are expected to make a significant and leading contribution that goes beyond the occasional talk.

If the nominee cannot attend for the whole program, then it may be appropriate instead to opt for the Clay Lecturer route. In the case of large conferences, CMI may exceptionally consider appointing more than one Clay Lecturer or providing enhancement support at a higher level than that available for workshops and small conferences; or both.

The Enhancement and Partnership Program supports graduate summer schools and similar events run in partnership with other organisations. CMI can provide the bulk of the funding for a short (week-long) school for up to 30 or so participants or ‘enhancement’ funding for a larger event.

The intention is to enable the stars of the next generation of professional mathematicians to take significant steps along the road to becoming international leaders in their fields; in other words, to do much more than to provide training in basic techniques. Proposals will be judged on the intrinsic importance and topicality of the mathematical material to be covered rather than on its actual or potential application.

The Scientific Advisory Board will also take account of the international standing of the proposed lecturers, the record and experience of the proposers in running research meetings and summer schools, the appropriateness of the location, the administrative support available, the proposed budget and the availability of funding from other sources. There is no separate budget for graduate summer schools.

The number of schools that will be supported in any year will depend on the availability of funding within the overall allocation for the Enhancement and Partnership Program and on the quality of proposals. Organizers should, if possible, send proposals for graduate summer schools (and similar events) by 1 March for events in the following year.

It is unlikely that significant funding will still be available to support proposals received after that deadline. Applications should be sent to the President , copied to the Administrative Manager . They should be as brief as possible given the information requested.

It is generally unhelpful to include long documents prepared for other funding bodies. Proposals should include: The mathematical case for the summer school (not more than one page) The names and short CVs (not more than one paragraph each) of the proposed lecturers.

Where participation is not yet confirmed, reserves should also be listed An outline of the program, including brief descriptions of the content of the lectures together with a description of the tutorial arrangements and any other academic support A description of the selection process for participants. CMI must be involved in the selection of participants supported by CMI.

Short CVs of the proposed organisers (not more than one paragraph each), including examples of other events they have run Details of the administrative arrangements, including arrangements for dealing with any relevant visa or work-permit issues A brief description of the proposed location and accommodation A draft budget, showing all costs and all proposed sources of funding (including charges made to participants).

It is expected that the budget will include provision for need-based financial aid. Exceptionally CMI will enter into a more extensive partnership with event organizers. In this case, CMI can provide a higher level of funding, but it should be involved in the organization from the start and must have representation on the organizing committee.

Proposers are encouraged to discuss their ideas informally with the President of CMI before submission. Proposals will only be received from institutions or from organizers of conferences, workshops, extended research programs and summer schools. CMI will not consider applications under this program from individuals for funding to attend conferences or to visit other institutions or to support their personal research in other ways.

Proposals should be sent to the President , copied to the Administrative Manager . They should be as brief as possible given the information requested. It is generally unhelpful to include long documents prepared for other funding bodies.

Proposals received by the following dates will be considered as gathered fields: In truly exceptional circumstances, CMI will also consider applications submitted at other times. The call for proposals for events in a given fiscal year (1 October–30 September) will be closed when the budget for that year has been fully allocated.

It is expected that the bulk of the funding available for events in a given year will be allocated in the round with a closing date of 1 March in the preceding year. Any residual amounts will be assigned in the June round. All proposals must be consistent with the statement of CMI’s Financial and Other Policies .