Research Equipment Fund (REF)

Research Equipment Fund (REF) is sponsored by Indiana University. This internal IU program provides support for purchasing new research or creative activity equipment, repairing or upgrading existing equipment, and acquiring datasets that are strategically necessary to support high-quality research, attract and retain faculty, and generate ext…

Funding & Proposal Support IU Research Equipment Fund IU Research Equipment Fund Alicia Gahimer, ord@iu. edu open through June 5, 2026 There is no maximum request.

The Research Equipment Fund (REF) provides support for purchasing new research or creative activity equipment, for repairing or upgrading existing equipment, and for datasets at IU university-wide that are strategically necessary to support high-quality research, attract and retain research faculty, and generate external funding. All requests to IU Research should be more than $5K (after the required cost-share is secured).

There is no maximum request. There is no specified annual limit of funds available for this program. Funds will be allocated as available and consistent with the requirements of this program.

This program requires matching funds. Categories and match requirements Category A: Contingency award for external proposal submission Research equipment to support external proposals, contracts, or gifts, with special emphasis on federal and philanthropic sponsors.

At the time of REF submission, applicants must have a grant, contract, or gift proposal that is ready or almost ready to be submitted to the external agency within three months. Applicants must demonstrate how the equipment is either required for the scope of work being proposed, contractually required, and/or how the equipment will make the externally submitted proposal, contract, or gift request more competitive.

An award letter from IU Research will act as a contingency award and funds will only be transferred upon the applicant securing this external award. Category A does not support other previously awarded external projects. Match: Applicants must provide a minimum 25% cost share match from any number of sources including the home department, college or school, or affiliated center.

The cost share match must be monetary. Category B: Current research project support Match: Applicants must provide a minimum 66% cost share match from any number of sources including the home department, college or school, or affiliated center. The cost share match must be monetary.

All full-time tenured and tenure-track faculty Research scientists and research center directors Lecturers, visiting faculty, postdocs, residents, and emeritus faculty are not eligible Funding and proposal requirements Funds will not be granted for similar projects currently supported by other internal or external funding mechanisms at the campus or university level.

Proposals focused on the development of teaching or academic programs are not eligible. Consumable supplies, FTE for one-time maintenance or ongoing operating support, and IU consultants are not allowed. Service contracts for existing equipment or contracts that extend beyond six months are not allowed.

Service or custom installation costs within one year of receipt of funding, including limited-time dedicated FTE required so datasets can be used, are allowable expenses. Category B equipment must be ordered within six months of the award letter.

Category A proposals must include this information about the external agency to which they are applying: Agency program and webpage Agency deadline when the PI will submit A vendor’s itemized quote for the equipment must be included. Priority will be given to applicants with little to no remaining start-up funds. Letters of support from the Department Chair or Associate Dean for Research, consultants and collaborators are required.

Letters of support from each entity providing a match verifying the match amount is required. Grant recipients are reminded to acknowledge receipt of IU Research support in any presentation or publication of work. Submit progress reports as follows: end of year Project Status and No-Cost Extension request, a Final Report within 30 days of project completion, and Return on Investment report(s) as requested.

System-generated emails with the online reporting instructions will be sent to you prior to each progress report due date. Unused funds will be returned to IU Research. Requests for up to a one (1) year no cost extension must be approved by the Office for Research Development.

Submission of application Submissions are accepted continually until June 5, 2026 based on the availability of funding. Download the supporting documents from the Details section. Follow the Guidelines and Instructions for content and page limits.

Use the application form provided or your application will be returned! Submit your application form and attachments as one PDF document through the InfoReady portal. Allow at least 4 weeks to receive the funding decision notification.

Questions should be directed to Alicia Gahimer at ord@iu. edu.

Information for research participants Information for new researchers Collaborative Institutional Training Initiative (CITI) and Research Security Training Kuali COI Disclosure system Kuali Coeus Grants system Kuali Protocols IRB system Grants Management Toolkit (GMT) Research Equipment & Tools Database Intellectual Property: Inventions and Patents NIH Data Management & Sharing Policy Institutional information Sponsored activity reports Research administration dashboards