GSF Guidelines

GSF is open to all MIT faculty members and research staff with principal investigator privileges (principal and senior research scientists).

MIT applicants who have received past awards are welcome to apply in subsequent cycles if all final reports for completed past projects have been submitted. New applications will not be considered from applicants with outstanding reports due.

Proposals must be submitted jointly with a colleague working in a university or research institute in another country. Participants working in companies are not eligible to apply.

Proposals are selected through a two-tier process consisting of a discipline-specific review and a fund-specific review. This process is overseen by the MIT Global Seed Fund Advisory Committee.

For all GSF funding pools, priority is given to projects that:

• are new or are entering a new phase
• propose a balanced exchange between the MIT and international team
• demonstrate complementarity between the MIT and international team
• involve undergraduate and graduate students

For some funding pools, additional criteria apply. See the descriptions of available funds to learn more.

Funds may be used to support travel and meeting costs for in-person exchange between a team at MIT and colleagues abroad. This includes economy-class airfare, lodging and meals, local transportation, meeting facilities, food and logistics. If requesting a per diem for travel abroad, the grant will cover no more than 75% of the U.S. Department of State maximum per diem rate for the proposed travel abroad plus economy-class airfare. For travel to MIT, the grant will cover up to $350 per day in expenses, plus economy-class airfare.

Funds may not be used for salary or materials and are not intended to be used for long-term stays.

Although the maximum grant available varies by funding pool, most funds offer a maximum of $30,000 (plus overhead, if applicable).

The GSF call for proposals opens each year in September with a deadline in December. Awards are announced in early spring. 

Grantees have roughly 20 months to complete their projects. Grantees must submit a final report at the end of the grant period and may be asked to present their results.