VMEC Seed Grants
2027 VMEC-Seed Grant-Request-for-Proposals Final 2027 VMEC-Seed Grant-Request-for-Proposals Final (pdf file)
2027 VMEC-Seed Grant-Request-for-Proposals Final (Word file)
2027 MICROELECTRONICS AND NANOELECTRONICS SEED GRANT PROGRAM
CALL FOR PROPOSALS
New for 2027:
- Proposals must be submitted online: https://vmec.wufoo.com/forms/2027-vmec-call-for-proposals-for-seed-grants/
- Industry support letters may be submitted but do not automatically result in higher evaluation scores.
- Deadline for submission is November 17, 2026, 11:59 PM Eastern Time.
1. Program Summary:
The Virginia Microelectronics Consortium (VMEC) invites proposals from member Virginia universities for seed grants in the fields of microelectronics and nanoelectronics. These grants are intended to support innovative research, foster collaboration, and strengthen the Commonwealth’s position in advancing next-generation semiconductor technologies.
2. Objectives:
The goals of the VMEC Seed and Equipment Grant Program are to:
- Encourage innovative and high-risk research in microelectronics and nanoelectronics.
- Promote collaborative projects among VMEC university and industry members.
- Provide proof-of-concept support to strengthen competitiveness for funding from federal, industry, or other sources.
- Enhance research infrastructure through strategic equipment acquisition necessary for the proposal.
3. Eligibility:
Proposals may only be submitted by faculty members from the member universities of VMEC (listed in Appendix A).
Both individual investigator and multi-investigator collaborative projects are eligible.
Applicants must have submitted Final Reports for any prior VMEC seed grants.
4. Grant Categories:
Collaborative Proposals
A Collaborative Proposal is a joint proposal from two or more member Universities. Each member’s role must be substantive and clearly stated in the proposal. A Principal Investigator (PI) may submit a seed grant proposal individually or be a Co-PI, on a collaborative proposal, but not both.
There is no limit on the number of collaborative proposals submitted by any VMEC member university.
Individual Proposals
A PI may only submit one individual seed grant proposal. A PI may submit a seed grant proposal individually or be a Co-PI on a collaborative proposal but not both.
No more than four individual proposals may be submitted by any VMEC member university.
Funding for Equipment
VMEC does not fund standalone proposals for equipment. Funding for new equipment will be considered only if it is essential for conducting the proposed research. Any lead times for acquiring new equipment should be clearly indicated in the proposal and incorporated into the overall research plan.
5. Award Information:
The maximum funding available is $60,000 for a collaborative project and $30,000 for an individual project. Multiple awards are anticipated.
The period of performance for VMEC Seed Grants is one year from receipt of funding. Any unused funds at the end of the grant funds must be returned; no extensions will be granted for the period of performance.
Since these grants are intended for proof-of-concept, each project idea may be awarded only once. Unfunded proposals may be resubmitted. This rule prevents repeated funding of the same project.
6. Proposal Guidelines:
The proposal format consists of:
(1) VMEC Seed Grant Cover Page (using the template in Appendix B)
(2) Research Summary (using the template in Appendix C)
(3) Biographies for PI & each Co-PI (two pages maximum for each) and
(4) Formal quotes for any new equipment necessary for the proposed research.
Proposals must be submitted online at https://vmec.wufoo.com/forms/2027-vmec-call-for-proposals-for-seed-grants/
Collaborative proposals must include institution-specific budget breakdowns, as funds for successful projects will be disbursed directly to each respective university.
The requested funding should include the university overhead as may be required using the federally negotiated rate for on-campus research.
7. Submission Instructions:
Proposals must be submitted online at https://vmec.wufoo.com/forms/2027-vmec-call-for-proposals-for-seed-grants/
The deadline for submission is November 17, 2026, 11:59 PM Eastern Time.
8. Reporting Requirements:
Project Final Reports are due within one year of project funding. A template of the Final Report is provided in Appendix D.
If a Final Report is not submitted within 14 months of the project’s funding date, the applicant’s institution will be ineligible to apply for seed grants for one year, and the institution’s VMEC Executive Committee representative will be notified. If a Final Report is never submitted, the institution will become ineligible for all future seed grants, unless extenuating circumstances are presented and approved by the VMEC Executive Committee.
The grant recipients shall acknowledge the VMEC funding in all technical publications and conference presentations resulting from the grant.
9. Review and Evaluation:
All proposals submitted by the deadline will be evaluated by Tier 1 Industry members of VMEC (BAE Systems, Elbit Systems of America and Micron Technology).
Collaborative and Individual proposals will not be separately evaluated.
The VMEC Executive Committee at its January 2027 meeting will determine the funding level and make the selection of proposals to be funded. Approved funds will be disbursed in February 2027, following the Executive Committee meeting.
Priority Considerations
Proposals that demonstrate collaboration with other VMEC member universities following will be given priority. Collaboration with three or more will receive maximum consideration.
Please note a change for the 2027 cycle: Industry letters of support may be included in the supplemental materials but will not automatically result in a higher score in proposal evaluation.
Evaluation Criteria
- Relevance: The proposal must relate to microelectronics and/or nanoelectronics.
- Impact: The potential significance of the proposed work on the field of microelectronics/nanoelectronics, both within the Commonwealth and globally.
- Scientific Merit and Innovation: Originality, technical soundness, and potential to advance the field.
- Feasibility: Appropriateness of the research plan, timeline, and budget.
- Collaboration and Institutional Impact: Strength of multi-university or industry partnerships, and alignment with VMEC’s mission.
- Relevance: Relevance of the proposed research to the technical fields of VMEC Tier 1 industry members
- Space Electronics
- Night Vision and Image Intensifiers
- Semiconductor Memory and Logic Devices
- Compliance: Adherence to the requirements outlined in the Research Summary Section Template (Appendix C).
10. Contact Information:
For questions regarding eligibility, proposal preparation, or submission, please contact:
Murty Polavarapu
Managing Director, VMEC
Email: director@vmecteam.org
Appendix A – Member Universities of VMEC eligible for Seed Grants
- George Mason University
- Norfolk State University
- Old Dominion University
- University of Virginia
- Virginia Commonwealth University
- Virginia Tech
- Virginia State University
- William & Mary
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