Grant Opportunities

Here's the info about how and why to apply for a grant with SFAz.

Application Criteria and Process

Grants are funded on a competitive basis and judged by national experts. The evaluation and selection process is governed by Requests For Proposals (RFP).  

Criteria used to evaluate proposals includes: quality of the proposal; quality and merit of the principal investigator(s)'s track record(s); strategic value and competitive advantage for Arizona.

We minimize risk and maximize return on investment through:

• A Transparent Process: Operations are fully transparent with performance metrics being well-defined and reported on an annual basis.  In addition to annual reports, Science Foundation Arizona submits financial and program reports to the Commerce and Economic Development Commission (CEDC) and Joint Legislative Budget Committee (JLBC).  In the event an investment recipient fails to achieve or perform, Science Foundation Arizona terminates funding.
• Commitment to Excellence:  Science Foundation Arizona is committed to funding only those proposals that pass the rigorous scrutiny of national and international standards such as those used by federal agencies like the National Science Foundation, National Institutes of Health and other grant-making institutions.
• Expert, Independent Review:  Proposals undergo multiple reviews by experts in science, engineering, innovation and business.  Technical reviews are provided by external peer review experts to avoid any conflicts of interest.
• Performance Metrics:  All SFAz investments track specific performance metrics, and return on investment expectations will be supported by established national and regional measurements provided by an independent economic study.