The purpose of IQSE seed grants is to enable the rapid advance of promising new research projects in the broad fields of quantum science and engineering.  In general, IQSE seed grants will be used to support the acquisition of proof-of-principle results and preliminary data that are likely needed to attract external funding.

An IQSE seed grant can be requested by any Harvard faculty member (or group of faculty members), in amounts ranging from $10,000 to $150,000 and for funding periods ranging from three to twelve months.

There are two cycles of seed grant requests per year:

• submission by January 31 for funding to begin March 1
• submission by July 31 for funding to begin September 1.

To make an IQSE seed grant request, please provide the information listed below in a single pdf document emailed to the IQSE Steering Committee at seed@iqse.harvard.edu.

Required Information for Seed Grant Requests:

1. Requestor name(s) and departmental affiliation(s)

2. Amount of requested Seed Funding (rounded to nearest $10,000)

3. Dates of funding period, beginning either March 1 or September 1

4. Title of project

5. Concise description of project (typically one to three pages), including a summary, rationale for IQSE support, and specific and realistic goals for the funding period.

6. Budget outline (in terms of percentages of total request or round numbers for different categories) with a brief explanation of costs.

GENERAL POLICIES REGARDING IQSE SEED GRANT REQUESTS

Decisions on seed grant requests will be made by the IQSE Directors Group, who may consult with the Technical Director, IQSE-affiliated faculty and others at the Directors Group’s discretion.

The IQSE Directors Group may negotiate the amount, terms, and conditions of a seed grant request before or after approval.

If a seed grant request is approved, a small abstract may be required for posting on the IQSE website.

A brief final report is required within 90 days of the end of the project.  Typically the report should describe whether and how the specific project goals were met; as well as the status of follow-on efforts (research projects and external funding) resulting from the seed grant.

The faculty PI is given wide latitude in the use of IQSE Seed Funding (e.g., reprogramming funds between nominal budget categories) so long as the goal of the project is not substantially changed and the total project cost is not exceeded.  The IQSE Directors Group must be notified and approve of any fundamental change to the project/request prior to it taking place.

No-cost extensions of the funding period of up to six months may be requested.  The faculty PI should make the request be emailing to the IQSE Technical Director a pdf document containing a brief justification for the extension (no more than one page).  The request should be submitted at least one month prior to the nominal end of the funding period.  The IQSE Directors Group will decide on the no-cost extension request.

In the absence of a no-cost extension, all Seed Funding should be spent in the funding period for which it is approved.  Any unspent money will revert to the IQSE general account.

The faculty PI is responsible for any charges that exceed the total seed funding, unless a new request for additional support is submitted and approved by the IQSE Directors Group.

Requests must conform to all IQSE, FAS, and Harvard University policies.

Willful disregard of the policies regarding IQSE seed grants can result in forfeiture of current and future support.