Upjohn Research Initiative deadline

The Upjohn Research Initiative funds up to six research grants of $15,000–$30,000 annually for projects completed  in a 6- to 18-month period. The funds must be fully  matched with hard dollars, with a maximum of 10% allocated for overhead. Grant recipients’ research findings and outcomes are published online by AIA, you can view previous winners and learn more here.

Academic institutions, firms, practice, and other research and non-profit organizations are all eligible for grants. The submission deadline is August 28, 2024 at 5pm Pacific Time.

2024 Grant themes
Research should be relevant and applicable to practicing architects. Upjohn Research grant funding will be allocated to projects related to the priorities outlined in AIA’s Strategic Plan and the Framework for Design Excellence. Research projects must address one or more of these areas:

• zero-carbon (e.g., zero-energy and zero-carbon buildings and projects; reuse of existing buildings and salvaged materials; embodied carbon; low carbon or carbon sequestering materials; circular building economy)
• resilient design (e.g., disaster preparedness; risk and vulnerability assessment; managed retreat; passive survivability and livability; flexibility and adaptability; community resiliency; ecosystem health)
• equitable communities (e.g., environmental justice; community-scale issues beyond projects; community engagement and empowerment; social justice; social health; equity, diversity, and inclusion; mobility and access; temporary and transitional housing models)
• health (e.g., healthy and sustainable materials; regenerative materials; human impact of material and design decisions; neuroscience)
• practice innovation (e.g., evidence-based design methodologies; technology in practice/in design; AI; project delivery; automated processes)

Read how-tos and submit your application 

Questions? Email upjohnresearch@aia.org