Frequently Asked Questions of the Emerging Opportunities Program
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 Question: What is the Emerging Opportunities Program? |
The Emerging Opportunities Program is a Water Research Foundation research program that was adopted by the Board of Trustees in 2011. It was formed to enable the Foundation to sponsor time-critical research on emergent, high priority subscriber issues, and to collaborate on research ideas developed by approved Foundation partners. | | Question: What types of projects are funded under the Emerging Opportunities Program? | Two primary types of projects are funded through the Emerging Opportunities Program: 1) Research projects that respond to time-critical, broadly relevant needs or opportunities for Foundation subscribers; and 2) Subscriber-relevant research ideas developed by Foundation partner organizations and co-funded by the Foundation. | | Question: Where do ideas for these projects come from? | Emerging Opportunities program research needs and ideas can come from any stakeholder in the drinking water community, including Foundation subscribers, volunteers and staff, partner organizations, researchers, and regulators. | | Question: How are Emerging Opportunities projects selected for funding? | Foundation staff, often with input from our stakeholders, identifies and develops Emerging Opportunities project ideas that respond to time-critical subscriber needs. Partnership project ideas submitted to the Foundation for co-funding consideration are developed by the partner organizations. The Board of Trustees’ Executive Committee has final funding authority for all Emerging Opportunities projects. | | Question: How are researchers for these projects selected? |
Once a project is approved by the Board’s Executive Committee, the Foundation may select a researcher through a competitive request for proposals (RFP) or, in some instances, through a sole-source award. The Foundation may also issue a call for researchers to submit research proposals relevant to a particular topic and select one or more of these proposals for funding. For co-funded partnership projects, the partner organization may conduct the research themselves or may select a researcher through their own established procurement processes. | | Question: When are project funding decisions made? | Emerging Opportunities Program projects are funded throughout the year as needs and opportunities are identified, subject to available funding. | | Question: How much funding is committed to the Emerging Opportunities Program? |
Our Board of Trustees allocates 20 percent of the Foundation’s annual research budget to the Emerging Opportunities Program. For 2012, the program budget is $1.28 million. | | Question: Is there a size limit to the projects funded under the program? |
While there are no absolute limits to the size, scope, and duration of Emerging Opportunities Program projects, projects are typically short in duration (3–12 months) and range in value from $25K – $250K. | | Question: I have an idea for the Emerging Opportunities Program. How do I submit it? |
You can submit research needs and ideas to the Foundation in a number of ways. Ideas can be submitted to any Foundation staff member via phone or email. Foundation utility subscribers are urged to discuss your ideas with your utility’s Senior Account Manager. You can also submit ideas through the Foundation’s Website at http://www.waterrf.org/GetInvolved/SubmitResearchIdea.
It is important to note that ideas submitted to the Emerging Opportunities Program may be developed into competitive RFPs. The Foundation retains sole discretion for funding, development and procurement of Emerging Opportunities Program projects. | | Question: As a researcher, what funding opportunities exist through the program? |
Emerging Opportunities Program RFPs are posted on the Foundation’s Website at http://www.waterrf.org/Research/RFPs/ and are advertised through email announcements and Water Research Update, our monthly e-newsletter. Researchers may also identify an approved partner organization that is interested in sponsoring their idea and request Foundation co-funding through the partner. A list of approved partner organizations is available at http://waterrf.org/thefoundation/AboutOurPartners/. | | Question: Who do I contact if I have additional questions? |
For additional information about the Emerging Opportunities, you may also contact Chris Rayburn, the Foundation’s Director of Subscriber and Research Services (303.347.6188, crayburn@WaterRF.org), with any additional questions you might have. |
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