ASHRAE Innovative Research Grant Program

About this program

ASHRAE’s Innovative Research Grant Program provides seed funding for novel, "blue‑sky" HVAC&R research, offering $50,000 per year for two years (total $100,000) with up to an additional $25,000 in a third year if matched by a third‑party (AS HRAE cap $125,000; recipient maximum $150,000 including match). Projects must be highly novel, not supplement ongoing research or support commercial product development, and must align with ASHRAE technical interests; student involvement is encouraged. Applicants begin with a two‑page whitepaper plus a two‑page PI CV in a two‑phase selection process (pre‑proposal screening then invited full proposals), and proposals are weighted primarily on novelty (30%), importance (30%), and potential for success (20%). The program is intended for initial feasibility studies with minimal ASHRAE oversight and may lead to larger‑scale research.