COLLABORATIVE DISCOVERY GRANTS

I. Program Overview

The A&M System announces the inaugural call for proposals under the Research Excellence Fund (REF), a bold initiative to elevate the research enterprise across all A&M System member institutions. The REF provides competitive funding to accelerate discovery, strengthen collaboration, and enhance national competitiveness.
 
Strategic Initiative 1: Collaborative Discovery Grants under the REF supports transformative, multi-system member research collaborations that have the potential to achieve major scientific breakthroughs and secure large-scale external funding from federal, state, or private sponsors.
 
This program aims to leverage the collective strength of the A&M System research community, combining expertise, infrastructure, and geographic reach to address grand challenges aligned with national priorities and the needs of Texas.

II. Program Objectives

Collaborative Discovery Grants are designed to:

• Catalyze High-Impact Research Collaborations among two or more A&M System member institutions.
• Position A&M System Teams for Large-Scale Funding Opportunities (e.g., center grants, consortia, or major cooperative agreements) from major federal, state, and private sponsors.
• Advance Transformative Science and Innovation in fields aligned with state and national strategic priorities.
• Encourage Interdisciplinary Research Teams that integrate engineering, science, social science, and policy perspectives.
• Build Research Capacity and Visibility across the A&M System.

III. Eligibility

• Eligible Institution: Any A&M System member university.
• Eligible Applicants: The lead principal investigator (PI) and other PIs and co-PIs must be PI-eligible and hold a full-time faculty or research staff appointment at an A&M System member university or agency.
• Collaborating Members: Proposals must include at least two A&M System member institutions as substantive partners to the lead institution.
• External Collaborators: External collaborators (non-A&M System) are permitted but may not receive REF funds directly.

IV. Award Information and Allowable Costs

• Total Funding Available (FY26): $2,000,000
• Maximum Individual Award: Up to $250,000 (no less than $100,000)
• Project Period: 12 months
• Expected Number of Awards: Approximately 12 per year
• Limited Submission: Submissions limited to three lead proposals per A&M System university as approved by designated university Chief Research Officer (CRO) (i.e., Vice President of Research). Note: A&M System agencies are included under Texas A&M University (TAMU) led submissions.
• Cost Share: Not required but encouraged to leverage the REF investment and demonstrate institutional commitment.
• Allowable Costs: Personnel (faculty, staff, students), tuition and allowable fees, research supplies, travel, instrumentation (limited), and proposal preparation for external funding opportunities.

All funds must be expended within 12 months of award unless an extension is approved.

V. Proposal Requirements

A. Proposal Components

Proposals must include the following sections, combined into a single PDF document:

1. Cover Page (1 page)
   • Project title
   • Lead and partner institutions
   • Lead PI and other PIs and Co-PIs
   • Lead PI contact information
   • Total amount requested
2. Project Summary (1 page)
   • A concise overview highlighting the project’s significance, collaborative structure, and expected outcomes.
3. Project Description (up to 5 pages)
   • Background and Rationale: Description of the scientific or societal challenge addressed.
   • Objectives and Approach (i.e., Statement of Work): Clear articulation of project goals, methodologies, and expected deliverables.
   • Potential for External Funding: Specific targets (e.g., NSF STC, DOE EFRC, etc.) and timeline for proposal submission.
   • Expected Impact: Anticipated scientific, technological, and economic outcomes for A&M System and the State of Texas.
4. Collaboration Plan (1 page)
   • Description of team, planned collaborations, roles and responsibilities of each participating A&M System institution and mechanism for coordination.
5. Milestones and Deliverables (1 page)
   • Timeline with key activities, decision points, and expected outputs.
6. Budget and Budget Justification (1 page)
   • Detailed budget by category (personnel, materials, travel, etc.).
   • Description of how REF funds will enable outcomes not achievable otherwise.
   • Institutional cost share commitment to leverage the REF investment.
7. Biographical Sketches (Key investigators – PIs and co-PIs)
   • Science Experts Network Curriculum Vitae (SciENcv) format.
8. Letters of Commitment (up to 5 letters; 1 page per letter) from collaborating A&M System member institutions.
9. Memo of Support (1 page) from university CRO endorsing this proposal for submission.

VI. Review Criteria

Proposals will be evaluated by an independent peer-review panel composed of internal and external experts using the following weighted criteria:

Priority will be given to proposals that demonstrate transformational potential, cross-system collaboration, and clear readiness for major external funding competitiveness.

VII. Reporting and Expectations

Awardees will be required to:

• Submit a mid-year report summarizing research results, collaborations, and progress toward external proposal submission.
• Submit a final report detailing outcomes, publications, and follow-on funding proposed and/or secured.
• Participate in the annual A&M System Research Excellence Meeting and present key findings and collaboration impacts.

Renewal proposals will be considered. Funding for subsequent years will be contingent on demonstrated progress toward external funding and project deliverables.

VIII. Submission Instructions

• Submission Portal: Submit single PDF document to ref@tamus.edu
• File Format: Single PDF document, 12-point font, 1-inch margins.
• Deadline: April 1, 2026, 11:59 PM CST
• Questions: Contact E-mail: ref@tamus.edu

IX. Program Governance

The Collaborative Discovery Grants program will be administered by the Office of the Vice Chancellor for Research under guidance from the REF Advisory Committee, composed of representatives from A&M System member institutions.
 
Proposals will be reviewed through a competitive independent peer-reviewed process. Decisions on funding will be approved by the Vice Chancellor for Research and endorsed by the Chancellorof the A&M System.

X. Key Dates

XI. Summary Statement

The Collaborative Discovery Grants initiative represents a cornerstone of the Research Excellence Fund designed to catalyze bold, system-wide research collaborations that will define the next decade of innovation within the A&M System. These projects will unite the unique strengths of our universities and agencies, foster excellence, and position the A&M System to compete successfully for major state and national research investments.