An Accelerator project led by the Jennifer Brophy Lab aims to reduce pesticide use by genetically enhancing plants’ natural pest defenses. (Credit: Andrew Brodhead)
Funding
The Fall 2026 grant cycle is now open.
The Stanford Sustainability Accelerator grant program differs from traditional academic funding. To fast-track sustainability research toward real-world impact, the Accelerator supports solutions with transformative potential to scale within three years.
Learn more about our approach
Funding eligibility
- Stanford faculty members or Stanford and SLAC researchers who qualify as a principal investigator according to Stanford University policy.
- Teams must include a designated postdoctoral researcher or student lead for the project to serve as the primary point of contact with the Accelerator for entrepreneurial development.
2026 Request for Proposals
The Sustainability Accelerator is accepting proposals from Stanford faculty in areas of: Biological Solutions, Climate Adaptation, Electricity and Grid Systems, Food and Agriculture, Greenhouse Gas Removal, Industry, Planetary Intelligence and Water.
Timeline
September 23, 2026 - Request for Proposal issued
October 30, 2026, 11:59 pm - Letters of Intent due
November 11, 2026 - Teams invited to submit proposals
December 15, 2026, 11:59 pm - Proposals due
February - March 2027 - Panel review meetings (if required)
By June 2027 - Target start date for projects