The Emerging Opportunities Program enables Water Research Foundation to sponsor time-critical research on emergent, high priority subscriber issues. The program also allows the Foundation to commit co-funding for subscriber-relevant research ideas developed by approved partner organizations.

Twenty percent of the Foundation’s annual research budget is allocated to the Emerging Opportunities Program. The Foundation’s Board of Trustees obligates funds for the program each January. Individual projects are then funded by the Board’s Executive Committee throughout the year, subject to available funding.

The Emerging Opportunities Program provides a defined mechanism for funding research on time-critical subscriber needs. Such projects generally are of relatively short duration (3-12 months) and typically range in value from $25K - $200K. The Foundation often issues Requests for Proposals (RFPs) for these projects.

The Foundation also provides co-funding through the Emerging Opportunities Program for research ideas developed by Board-approved partner organizations. Partners may submit a screening-level proposal for co-funding consideration in accordance with the Foundation’s Emerging Opportunities Program Proposal Guidelines.