MIT Generative AI Impact Consortium (MGAIC) Seed Grants for Interdisciplinary Generative AI Research

MIT Generative AI Impact Consortium (MGAIC) Seed Grants for Interdisciplinary Generative AI Research is sponsored by MIT Generative AI Impact Consortium (founding members include OpenAI, Analog Devices, Coca-Cola, InterSystems, SK Telecom, Tata Group, and TWG Global Holdings). The MIT Generative AI Impact Consortium (MGAIC) is a presidential initiative that funds interdisciplinary research applying generative AI to improve human work, creativity, and wellbeing.

call for proposals – MIT Generative AI Impact Consortium Award notifications by June 30. Thank you for your patience as we work through this year’s seed grant review. Currently, funding decisions are running behind our original schedule.

We now expect to send award notifications by June 30th . To make up for the delay, we are also extending the award period by one additional month , so funded projects will have their full intended runway. We’re grateful for the time and thought you put into your proposals, and we apologize for the wait.

The MIT Generative AI Impact Consortium invites Principal Investigators (faculty, PRS, SRS) from across MIT to submit proposals for innovative projects proposing to study high impact uses of generative AI models.

The goal of the consortium is to enable deep engagement with leading companies across a range of industry sectors to produce results of both practical and fundamental relevance focused on uses, benefits, and challenges of Generative AI. Current founding consortium member companies include : Analog Devices, Coca-Cola, InterSystems, Open AI, SK Telecom, Tata, and TWG Global Holdings.

This call seeks to foster interdisciplinary collaboration, accelerate impactful research, and advance our understanding of generative AI’s transformative potential across diverse domains. This call is open to all MIT Principal Investigators (PIs). Proposals from multidisciplinary teams spanning multiple schools are highly encouraged.

The call for proposals is now closed. Proposals must be submitted via the InfoReady online portal and applicants will complete structured form fields.

A 5-page proposal narrative (PDF) must be uploaded with the naming convention: “GIC Proposal – [Your Project Title] – [PI Last Names]” The Budget Template (Excel) must be uploaded separately Faculty intending to submit a proposal aligned with a member company problem statement are encouraged to submit a brief, non-binding Notice of Intent (200–300 words) by March 10, 2026 .

This requirement is only for proposals submitted for company directed projects. We will accept a maximum of two applications per PI. This restriction does not apply to co-PI designations.

References do not count toward the 5-page limit.

Proposals will be assessed based on: Relevance to the GenAI Consortium’s goals, including innovation, interdisciplinarity, and societal impact Feasibility : Clarity of objectives, achievable milestones, and cost-effectiveness Broader impact : Potential to address urgent challenges or create transformative opportunities in generative AI This program has four project classes: Exploratory projects: up to $50,000 focused for example individual PI work Innovation projects : up to $150,000 with student/postdoc focused engagement with one or more PIs Flagship projects: up to $300,000 with multiple students/postdocs and at least two PIs Company directed projects : member companies have the opportunity submit problem statements in order to select projects to fund directly Duration : 12 months, with the possibility of renewal based on project outcomes and impact Anticipated number of funded projects : For this round, we anticipate funding up to 60 projects, and encourage submissions from PIs who have smaller proposals.

This is in addition to directed projects funded by member companies. Notice of Intent for Member Company Support : March 10, 2026 Full Proposal Submission Deadline : April 6, 2026 Award Notification : Late May Project Start Date : June 1, 2026 Proposals must be submitted via the InfoReady online portal .

Please submit your proposal as a single PDF file named: “GIC Proposal – [Your Project Title] – [PI Last Names]” Applicants will complete required online fields and upload required documents. Proposal must be submitted by 11:59pm on April 6, 2026 We will accept a maximum of two applications per PI.

Illustrative topic areas include, but are not limited to: Generative AI in scientific discovery and design Generative AI for engineering (manufacturing, design, food and agriculture, etc.) Applications of Generative AI for business and workforce transformation including manufacturing, finance, software engineering, sports, and creative industries (art, music, design) Generative AI in health and healthcare Generative AI for climate change and the environment Ensuring safety, privacy and equity in Generative AI applications Generative AI in education (e.g., personalized learning and class/teaching support) Generative AI and global policy challenges Member Company Problem Statements Our member companies have provided focus areas and problem statements to help guide proposals related to research they are interested in funding.

Attached documents may contain more than one problem statement . Faculty intending to submit a proposal aligned with a member company problem statement are encouraged to submit a brief, non-binding Notice of Interest (200–300 words) by March 10, 2026 . This will allow MGAIC to coordinate early alignment conversations with company teams prior to the full proposal deadline.

Focus areas : Physical AI (humanoid robotics, tactile sensing, edge intelligence, automotive sensing and anomaly detection) Focus areas : Citrus Greening Coca-Cola remains deeply committed to its “Save the Orange” initiative and is concentrating its resources on advancing and scaling previously funded projects. Accordingly, new proposals will not be considered in this cycle.

Focus areas : AI for fragmented and semi-structured data; healthcare decision support, interoperability, and data governance Focus areas : Various topics Focus areas : AI-native data center architectures for large-scale AI inference; GPU, power, cooling, and energy orchestration; inference-driven data center operating systems and economics Focus areas : AI for manufacturing (virtual metrology, manufacturability prediction, design-to-manufacturing workflows) Focus areas : Agent debugging, complex data curation, adversarial reasoning, regulatory interpretation and compliance Requirements for Funded Projects Attend an inaugural meeting at the project start (tentatively, mid-April) Signed Summary Term Sheet Participate in quarterly check-ins and an annual consortium symposium Engagement with member companies on projects of interest Submit a one-page progress report at the 6-month mark Submit a final report (3-5 pages) outlining results, impacts, and next steps Participate in reviewing submissions for the 2026 and 2027 call for proposals All research results and outcomes produced as part of this project will be made openly available, including through open access and open source licenses, as defined by the Open Source Initiative .

Projects with potential subject matter overlap with any other PI grants or commitments will be deemed ineligible. PIs with questions about overlapping grants or commitments or background IP that may be incorporated into the project should direct them to mitgenai@mit. edu.

Can a research scientist apply as PI if they request one-time PI status for this call? No. Individuals whose PI status would be granted on a one-time basis for this opportunity are not eligible to serve as PI. A research scientist in this situation would need to collaborate with and list as PI someone who already has full PI status in an eligible category.

If I have received funding for a previous proposal, am I eligible to submit a new proposal for the current call? Yes. PIs who have received funding during a previous call for proposals may submit a new proposal for current and future calls.

Can a proposal be resubmitted if it was not previously selected for funding? Yes. Proposals that were not selected during previous calls may be resubmitted.

Are MIT Lincoln Laboratory employees eligible to submit proposals as PI? MIT Lincoln Laboratory employees may participate, but they must partner with a campus-based PI to submit a joint proposal. In addition, Lincoln Laboratory’s Contracts office must review each project before the final submission.

Does a project need to be partnered with a consortium member company to be eligible? No. It is not a requirement that your project work directly with a consortium member company. There is an option for a member company to directly fund a project, and you may indicate any interest in such engagement in your proposal.

How can I indicate interest in connecting with a consortium member company (e.g., Analog Devices, Coca‑Cola)? Within the online submission form there is a section where you can state whether you have already been in discussion with a member company. If you select that you have not, you can still express interest in meeting with a member company and briefly describe the potential connection.

Member companies will have the opportunity to review proposals after submission, and time blocks may be scheduled for short meetings between interested PIs and company representatives. Should I contact a member company directly before submitting my proposal? Direct pre‑proposal contact is not required.

You can use the section in the submission form to indicate whether you have been in discussion with a member company and, if not, to express interest in being connected. The consortium team coordinates opportunities for member companies to meet with interested PIs. Is the proposal submission deadline firm, or are extensions granted on a case‑by‑case basis?

Applicants will need to submit by the published deadline. Can we adjust the budget template? Yes.

The budget template may be adjusted so that it reflects the correct local rates and allocation practices. Tuition subsidy for MGAIC seed awards MGAIC seed awards qualify as sponsored research under MIT’s tuition subsidy policy . Accordingly, PIs should budget graduate research assistants (RAs) using the 55% tuition subsidy rate, prorated to reflect their level of effort .

If you have questions on the budget or other finance related questions, reach out to us at mgaic_finance@mit. edu . All other questions can be directed to mitgenai@mit.

edu . How will the award be set up administratively (account type and F&A)? Funded projects will be set up as WBS research accounts with full research F&A.

Proposals themselves do not need to be routed through RAS at the time of submission. Only projects that are selected for funding will route through the standard RAS process at a later stage. Are the OpenAI API credits available for other projects beyond funded proposals?

No. The OpenAI credits managed by the consortium are reserved for projects that are funded through this call for proposals. They are not allocated to unrelated projects. For questions or additional information, contact mitgenai@mit.

edu .