How do you find and apply for modular and reconfigurable robotics grants?

1 Know your goals

Before you start looking for grants, you need to have a clear idea of what you want to achieve with your MRR project. What is the problem you are trying to solve? What are the benefits and impacts of your solution? How will you measure your progress and outcomes? Having a well-defined goal will help you identify the most relevant and suitable funding opportunities, as well as craft a compelling proposal that showcases your vision and value proposition.

2 Research the options

Funding for MRR projects is available from a variety of sources, such as government agencies, foundations, industry partners, and even crowdfunding platforms. However, each source has its own criteria, requirements, deadlines, and expectations. Therefore, it’s important to do your research and find the options that best fit your goals, scope, budget, and timeline. To get started on your search for funding, explore websites like The National Science Foundation (NSF), Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA), National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA), the European Commission (EC) through its Horizon 2020 program, and the International Foundation for Robotics Research (IFRR).

3 Follow the guidelines

When you have identified the grants that suit your project, it's important to follow the guidelines and instructions carefully. Each grant has its own format, structure, and content for the proposal, as well as rules for submission, evaluation, and reporting that must be adhered to in order to avoid any errors or omissions that could jeopardize your application. Generally speaking, most grants require a summary or abstract that summarizes the main objectives, methods, and expected results of your project; a background or introduction that provides the context and motivation; a description of the proposed work detailing the technical approach, tasks, deliverables, timeline and risks; a description of the expected impact; a budget and justification outlining costs and resources needed for your project; and a team and collaboration section describing qualifications, roles and responsibilities of those involved in your project.

4 Write clearly and convincingly

Your proposal is your opportunity to convince the reviewers that your project is worth funding. You need to write clearly and convincingly, using simple and precise language, avoiding jargon and technical details, and highlighting the novelty and significance of your project. You also need to write concisely and coherently, using headings, subheadings, bullet points, tables, figures, and references to organize and illustrate your information. You should proofread and edit your proposal several times, as well as seek feedback from peers or mentors, to ensure that your proposal is error-free and persuasive.

5 Submit and follow up

After you have completed your proposal, you need to submit it according to the grant's instructions. You should keep a copy of your proposal and any supporting documents for your records. You should also keep track of the status of your application and be prepared to respond to any questions or requests from the reviewers or the funding agency. Depending on the grant, you may receive a notification of acceptance or rejection within a few weeks or months. If you are successful, you should celebrate your achievement and start planning your project. If you are unsuccessful, you should not give up and try to learn from the feedback and improve your proposal for future opportunities.