Harvard has engaged with industry and corporations and related entities for centuries as a way to inform and strengthen the University’s intellectual mission, support scholarship and students, and translate research discoveries to benefit society broadly. Today, the opportunities offered by engagement with industry have never been greater: academic-industry partnerships are vital to generating the knowledge, datasets, instruments, capabilities, and access that are required to remain at the leading edge of discovery, and advancing knowledge to the benefit of society.
In response to the recommendations of the Corporate Relations Research Policy Committee and the Corporate Relations Researcher Engagement Committees, the Frontiers of Innovation for Societal Impact Fund was established to catalyze research and activity by Harvard faculty members that addresses real-world problems and holds promise to attract funding and engagement from industry groups, corporations, investors, and foundations.
The goal of the Frontiers Fund is to foster research and innovation leading to greater industry partnerships that will yield meaningful financial support for research conducted by Harvard faculty. Unlike traditional accelerators that aim to support formation of new companies, the Frontiers Fund will seek to expand the scale of Harvard’s research and creative activity through industry collaborations and alliances. Support will be available within the following tracks:
- Spark awards, ranging from $50,000 to $100,000, to support the initiation of an area or branch of research or creative activity that can lead to new or expanding industry alliances
- Ascend awards, ranging from $250,000 to $750,000, to support the expansion or elaboration of an ongoing area of research or creative activity that can lead to new or expanding industry alliances
Applications are invited from individuals who hold a faculty appointment at any Harvard school and who have principal investigator (PI) rights at that school. Harvard Medical School (HMS) faculty must hold a faculty appointment with PI rights in one of HMS’s basic or social science departments. For more information on eligibility and application requirements, please see the Frontiers Fund Request for Proposals.
Proposals will undergo a confidential review managed by Office of the Vice Provost for Research (OVPR), in partnership with the Office of Technology Development (OTD), and with engagement from members of the University’s Corporate Engagement Steering Committee.
Interested faculty may apply via the Harvard University Funding Portal. Applications must be received by 5:00 PM on January 14, 2026. Please contact VPR_frontiersfund@harvard.edu for any questions relating to the fund.