TRB makes Funding Available Through Their Innovations Deserving Exploratory Analysis (IDEA) Program
The Transportation Research Board has announced its annual solicitation through its Innovations Deserving Exploratory Analysis (IDEA) program. IDEA projects are open to all entities including public agencies and the private sector. A research component is critical. The IDEA program provides start-up funding for promising, but unproven, innovations in surface transportation systems. The programs’ goals are to seek out and support new transportation solutions that are unlikely to be funded through traditional sources.
Top 3 Criteria by Which Selection Committees Evaluate IDEA Proposals:
- Innovation— Emphasize the innovation. Say it first, say it fast, and make it clear. What problem does your project address? How is your solution better than current practice?
- Benefits— Describe the expected benefits. Why is this project worth investing in?
- Science— Stick to the science. Be sure the research approach is sound and sensible.
Under the IDEA program, there are two project types: Type 1 projects are concept explorations that demonstrate the validity of unproven concepts, and Type 2 projects develop and test prototypes of proven concepts. Funding varies by program and by project type, as described below. The Transit IDEA program and the Rail Safety IDEA program can consider Type 1 and Type 2 proposals for up to $100,000 in IDEA costs, not including any cost-sharing. Type 2 proposals for the Transit IDEA and Rail Safety IDEA programs require cost sharing of at least 20% in addition to IDEA costs. The NCHRP IDEA has an upper limit of $150,000 for Type 1 projects, while Type 2 projects are limited to a maximum of $100,000 and also require significant cost sharing (at least a 50% match to the proposed NCHRP IDEA budget). Within these funding constraints, award amounts are based on the extent of the investigation required for the project. The duration of an NCHRP IDEA project is generally one to two years.
The deadline for submissions is November 1st, 2018.
For more information: http://onlinepubs.trb.org/Onlinepubs/IDEA/IDEA_Program_Announcement.pdf
