The Global Empowerment Meeting (GEM) Incubation Fund is now accepting applications. Interested candidates are urged to click here to learn more about this opportunity and to apply.
About Global Empowerment Meeting (GEM) Incubation Fund
Opportunity Details
The GEM Incubation Fund supports emerging research that strives to find solutions to the pressing development challenges of our time. Each year, the fund will support research proposals relevant to the changing key theme highlighted at the Harvard Center for International Development’s (CID) annual Global Empowerment Meeting (GEM) that show clear potential to advance knowledge and generate innovations in practice with direct impact in developing economies.
Benefits of Global Empowerment Meeting (GEM) Incubation Fund
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These grants will cover incubation and/or seed funding related to preliminary research ideas, such as conducting background research, developing collaborations, travel to collect data or visit field sites, materials, data purchase, and research assistant time. Funds may not be used to cover tuition, faculty salaries, or stipends. Indirect costs are capped at 20%.
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The average grant size is expected to be around $20,000. Smaller grants with demonstrated value for money will be more competitive. The suggested period of performance is six to twelve months.
Global Empowerment Meeting (GEM) Incubation Fund Requirements
- Faculty with PI rights at their university are eligible to apply to the GEM Incubation Fund.
- Preference will be given to applicants who attended GEM and to proposals that include academic and practitioner collaborations focused on what successful development of AI technologies in emerging country contexts looks like for developing economies.
- This funding will support research projects ready to begin work immediately, with demonstrated buy-in from relevant researchers and practitioners.
- Faculty are allowed to submit one application per round.
Application Date and Process
- Researchers should submit their proposals through CID's Online Application Portal. Any questions may be directed to [KL1] [email protected]. The application will include the following materials:
- Applicant information
- Two-page PDF CV for all PI’s and Co-PI’s
- Project summary
- Policy problem & motivation
- Project contributions
- Research methodology & design
- Project viability & risks
- Project timeline
- Budget and Budget Narrative (budget template can be accessed here)
- Letter of support from recipient institution (required for external applicants only)
- Letters of support from any policy partners/local collaborators (optional)
Application Deadline
19 September, 2025
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Global Empowerment Meeting (GEM) Incubation Fund
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