2023 ASU AI Seed Grant Challenge (Phase 1 Abstract)

Overview

Artificial Intelligence (AI) stands as one of the most transformative innovations of our time, exerting a profound impact on both technology and society. Its significance lies in its ability to amplify human capabilities, tackle complex challenges, and usher in unprecedented efficiencies across various domains. AI drives technological advancements by enabling machines to learn from data, adapt to new situations, and make intelligent decisions. From autonomous vehicles navigating busy streets to personalized medical diagnoses, AI fosters innovation that was once unimaginable. Societally, AI may offer solutions to pressing global issues such as healthcare, climate change, and resource management. However, the rapid pace of AI development also prompts discussions around ethics, privacy, and the future of work. As AI becomes more intertwined with human lives, embracing its potential while ensuring responsible development becomes imperative, making it not only a technological force but also a societal touchstone shaping the trajectory of progress.

Knowledge Enterprise (KE) is requesting and administering proposals on behalf of ASU for research intended to accelerate positive impacts and ameliorate negative uses of AI. These proposals may address fundamental development of AI concepts, or the application of AI to specific problem spaces. To address the broad scope of potential outcomes, KE requests proposals for two broadly defined types of projects:

Type 1: Planning and Convening Grants

• These grants are intended to facilitate cross-disciplinary convening and ideation in pursuit of future research concepts. Workshops, roundtables, and working groups fall into this category. Proposals should include desired representation by academic discipline, commercial sector, and/or other group for the intended convening. Strong proposals will list key personnel from these academic units or organizations. The anticipated duration of these projects is three to six months. A short whitepaper detailing the outcomes of the convening and recommended next steps will be requested at the conclusion of the grant. Maximum allocation per planning grant: $10k

Type 2: Research Grants

• These grants are intended to fund a well-scoped research trajectory with an interdisciplinary team of investigators. Research topics may include, but are not limited to, developments in fundamental AI concepts, application or evaluation of AI techniques, socio-technical implications, and/or the development of AI tools for a university-specific environment. Proposals should list key personnel; strong proposals will include participants from multiple academic units, and those participants will be clearly aligned with metrics and outcome. Reviewers may also make recommendations that separate teams be combined for increased impact and likelihood of success. Accordingly, articulating strong and impactful outcomes will important for full consideration. For example, will this enable new research and lead to new funding opportunities? Will this position ASU to be a leader in some space that will attract funds? Strong proposals will include details about such outcomes (not limited to those examples provided), and their value to ASU. Proposals should be scoped in phases of not more than one year each, with a maximum of three phases. Successful proposals will receive funding for the first phase proposed, with funding for subsequent phases provided upon successful performance.
• Given the diversity of potential approaches, proposers are requested to create interim and final metrics of success that correspond specifically to the aims of their project(s). This flexibility allows each team to design an evaluation that addresses the goals of their project, rather than imposing a standard rubric which may not be suitable for all teams. Funded teams will be expected to meet quarterly with the Seed Grant Evaluation Board to discuss progress via these metrics.
• Proposals in this category must include a plan for continuity beyond the final proposed phase via externally funded grants or contracts. Strong proposals will identify specific funding organizations and a timeline for proposals to be submitted to said organizations. The maximum allocation per project is $250k per phase. A successful proposal need not cost $250k per phase, and all proposals must propose reasonable, realistic estimates of the actual costs associated with the desired impacts. Proposals that are lean (reasonably so), emphasizing efficiency as it relates to time to desired impact, and which builds upon existing resources and structures will receive the strongest consideration.
• For both types of awards, budget modifications may be recommended by reviewers during the selection process and/or prior to awards being made. There is no guarantee of funding, and KE reserves the right to fund one project, multiple projects, or zero projects, based upon the strength of proposals received and available funding.

There are two Phases of competition:

• Phase 1 is an abstract or pre-proposal, and required for both Planning (Type 1) and Research (Type 2) applications.
• Phase 2 involves a longer proposal and detailed budget, and is required of only Type 2 applications. Proposers can apply, simultaneously, for both a Type 1 and Type 2 award, and should indicate, prominently, the timeline and transition point from Planning (Type 1) to implementation of Research (Type 2) as part of the required Phase 1 materials.

• Any ASU faculty member with a formal research appointment, meaning research is part of their formally assigned time (i.e., T/TT are typically 40/40/20 with 40% being research) may apply.
• Application is limited to one Type 1 and one Type 2 per PI, though a faculty member can play a supporting role on more than one application.
• If a PI submits both a Type 1 and a Type 2, they must be submitted as one, related proposal focused on a single effort.

Type I: Planning and Convening Grants: Maximum allocation per planning grant: $10k
Type 2: Research Grants: The maximum allocation per project is $250k per phase. A successful proposal need not cost $250k per phase, and all proposals must propose reasonable, realistic estimates of the actual costs associated with the desired impacts.

Type 1 grants ($10k limit) will be awarded at the end of Phase 1. Applicants who apply for inter-connected Type 1 and Type 2 grants may be awarded the Type 1 award only, and the Type 2 portion of their proposal not advanced for further consideration. Only a subset of applicants for Type 2 awards will advance to Phase 2.