COLLABORATIVE DISCOVERY GRANTS

I. Program Overview

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.
 
Collaborative Discovery Grants under the REF supports transformative, multi-system member research collaborations that have the potential to achieve major scientific breakthroughs and secure large-scale external funding from federal, state, or private sponsors.
 
This program aims to leverage the collective strength of the A&M System research community, combining expertise, infrastructure, and geographic reach to address grand challenges aligned with national priorities and the needs of Texas.

II. Program Objectives

Collaborative Discovery Grants are designed to:

• Catalyze High-Impact Research Collaborations among three or more A&M System member institutions.
• Position A&M System Teams for Large-Scale Funding Opportunities (e.g., center grants, consortia, or major cooperative agreements) from major federal, state, and private sponsors.
• Advance Transformative Science and Innovation in fields aligned with state and national strategic priorities.
• Encourage Interdisciplinary Research Teams that integrate engineering, science, social science, and policy perspectives.
• Build Research Capacity and Visibility across the A&M System.

III. Eligibility

• Eligible Institution: Any A&M System member university.
• Eligible Applicants: The lead principal investigator (PI) and other PIs 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.
• Proposed activities must be clearly linked to a specific future funding opportunity with significant potential for external support (generally $1 million or greater).
• External Collaborators: External collaborators (non-A&M System) are permitted but may not receive REF funds directly.

IV. Award Information and Allowable Costs

• Total Funding Available: $4,000,000
• Maximum Individual Award: Up to $250,000 (but no less than $100,000)
• Project Period: 12 months
• Anticipated Minimum Number of Awards: 16
• 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.
• Allowable Costs:
  • Personnel (faculty, graduate students, postdoctoral staff, or other research staff) costs
  • Research/laboratory supplies
  • Travel for team collaboration
• Non-allowable Costs:
  • Long-term equipment or infrastructure purchases

All funds must be expended within 12 months of award unless an extension is approved.

V. Proposal Requirements

A. Proposal Components

Proposals must include the following sections, combined into a single PDF document:

1. Cover Page (1 page)
   • 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
   • Total amount requested
   • Target external funding program or agency
2. Project Summary (1 page)
   • A concise overview highlighting the project’s novelty, objectives, significance, collaborative structure, and expected outcomes.
   • Alignment with state and national research priorities
   • Anticipated impact
3. Project Description (up to 3 pages)
   • Background and Rationale: Description of the scientific or societal challenge addressed.
   • Objectives and Approach (i.e., Statement of Work): Clear articulation of project novelty, goals, methodologies, and expected deliverables.
   • Potential for External Funding: Specific targets (e.g., NSF STC, DOE EFRC, etc.) and timeline for proposal submission.
   • Expected Impact: Anticipated scientific, technological, and economic outcomes for A&M System and the State of Texas.
4. References (up to 2 pages)
5. Collaboration Plan (1 page)
   • Description of team, planned collaborations, roles and responsibilities of each participating A&M System institution and mechanism for coordination.
6. Milestones and Deliverables (1 page)
   • Timeline with key activities, decision points, and expected outputs.
7. Budget and Budget Justification (1 page)
   • Detailed itemized budget by category (personnel, materials, travel, etc.).
   • Description of how REF funds will enable outcomes not achievable otherwise.
   • Institutional cost share commitment to leverage the REF investment.
8. Biographical Sketches (Key investigators – PIs and co-PIs; up to 2 pages per PI)
   • Science Experts Network Curriculum Vitae (SciENcv) format.
9. 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.
10. Memo of Support (1 page) from university CRO endorsing this proposal for submission.

VI. Review Criteria

Proposals will be evaluated by an independent peer-review panel composed of internal and external experts using the following weighted criteria:

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 summarizing research results, collaborations, and progress toward external proposal submission.
• Submit a final report detailing outcomes, publications, and follow-on funding proposed and/or secured.
• 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: January 4, 2027, 11:59 PM CST
• Questions: Contact E-mail: [email protected]

IX. Program Governance

The Collaborative Discovery Grants program 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 Chancellor of the A&M System.

X. Key Dates

XI. Summary Statement

The Collaborative Discovery Grants represents a cornerstone of the Research Excellence Fund designed to catalyze bold, system-wide research collaborations that will define the next decade of innovation within the A&M System. These projects will unite the unique strengths of our universities and agencies, foster excellence, and position the A&M System to compete successfully for major state and national research investments.