The R.I. Science and Technology Advisory Council’s Research Alliance program, heading into its second funding cycle, is accepting applications from research teams across the state. The several projects selected as winners will share $1.5 million in STAC grants.

Last year, the STAC grants went to eight teams of 32 scientists from 15 research institutions. The accepted proposals were just a few of the 45 applications submitted from researchers at eight Rhode Island higher education institutions, six hospitals and 17 private companies.

“By promoting collaboration across the state’s research organizations, the alliance has the capacity to significantly strengthen Rhode Island’s competitiveness and bring additional federal and corporate research investment into the state, stimulating new projects and important opportunities for job growth,” said STAC co-chair Jeff Seemann, dean of the College of the Environment and Life Sciences at the University of Rhode Island.

In addition to the Research Alliance funding program, STAC will aggressively move forward with other programs and projects...Among efforts already underway is the construction of a collaborative research Web portal that will serves as a catalogue of Rhode Island’s research assets and bring more visibility to research happening across the state.

Preliminary proposals are due by 4:30 p.m. on Monday, Sept. 24, and full proposals are due by 4:30 p.m. on Oct. 24. A hard copy of the full proposal is also required and must be submitted by Oct. 31.