Foundation

Optica Foundation Challenge

Use photonics. Find a solution. Change the world.

Application Dates

26 Mar 2024 - 21 May 2024

Program Prize

US$100,000 x 10

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Foundation

Application Information
Selection Committee
2023 Recipients
Past Recipients

The Optica Foundation recognizes ten early-career professionals with exceptional ideas to leverage optics and photonics and address global challenges. These individuals drive new, impactful scientific discoveries with the potential to transform our world. We consider proposals for problem-solving solutions resulting from basic research and development or enhancements of photonics-based technology in three categories: Environment, Health and Information.

Winners each receive US$100,000 prizes to support addressing the challenge over one to two years. These prizes provide seed money to ideas that may be difficult to fund from other sources.

Applicant Requirements

Optica members who identify as early-career professionals are welcome to submit proposals as lead investigator. Member type should be "early-career professional" or individual.
Applicants must be within 5-7 years of completing their highest degree and/or within the first three years of their faculty career.*
Applicants must show support from their employer to participate in the program. Employers need to approve the proposed time and resources required from their employees.
- University, non-governmental agencies and research institutions must agree to no more than 10% overhead.
- Corporate employers and governmental agencies must agree to no assessment of overhead.
Have a self-directed research position; title of any rank of professor, research scientist, postdoc or equivalent.

*Program requirements recognize and exclude breaks from career timelines (e.g., eldercare; maternity or paternity leave; inability to work due to Covid-19 and lab closures; long-term illness).

Application Requirements

Name of Challenge Project
Applicant name, institution and contact information
Applicant CV – no more than four (4) pages*
The executive summary must contain 1) the name of the proposal 2) a clear indication of the pertinent global challenge you seek to address using optics and photonics, 3) the relationship between the identified challenge, your project and the category(ies) you selected and 4) an indication of the capability and application of your project to address the identified global challenge.
Proposal – no more than five (5) pages*
- Literature Review
- Problem Statement/Objective
- Outcome(s)
- Impact
Timeline of tasks/work plan with 3-5 aims identified over a 12-24 month period. This is no longer required as part of the proposal. You must use the template provided.
Budget reflecting anticipated expenses and other sources of funding. You must use the budget template.
Institutional Agreement Letter - This letter signals your institution/employer is aware of your application and supports the submitted proposal with an understanding they will receive any winnings on your behalf. It includes non-negotiable expectations for the applicant, application and employer/institution. In particular, it indicates the application can be made available for public viewing as well as the maximum amounts the institution/employer may levy in overhead when accepting the funds should the proposal be accepted as one of the 10 to receive the US$100,000 prize. The letter must be applied to institution/employer letterhead and signed by a representative with the appropriate authority. Applicants may not sign this letter on behalf of their institution/employer. You must use the institutional agreement letter template.
Digitally sign the "Participation Agreement" via the application portal, signifying that if chosen as a recipient of a Challenge Award, you will:
- Agree to make your application and concepts open and available for being highlighted in promotions and awareness of the challenge winners and project.
- Participate in at least two review meetings with the Challenge Committee to provide updates on progress and receive advice/guidance (program will pay travel and lodging expenses).
- Be willing to share progress and results in Optica-organized symposiums.
- Submit results/progress for publication in Optica open-access journals (the program will cover publishing fees if a manuscript is accepted).

Reviewers will use information submitted as part of the application to evaluate the proposal's merit and by Optica to make the award and monitor the progress. Only complete packets submitted by the deadline and within the stated page requirements will be reviewed.

*These documents must adhere to the following formatting requirements.

Applicant CV – no more than four (4) pages.
An executive summary highlighting the challenge, proposed project, and intended outcomes – no more than one (1) page.
Proposal – no more than five (5) pages.

Formatting Requirements

Arial, Times New Roman or Courier New at a font size of 11 points or larger.
A font size of less than 11 points may be used for mathematical formulas or equations, figures, table or diagram captions and when using a Symbol font to insert Greek letters or special characters
Regardless of font, readability is vital.
Paper size should comply with the international standard of A4 (8.3" x 11.7"; 210mmx297mm).
Margins, in all directions, must be at least 1" (2.54cm).
Use a standard single-column format for text.

If you have questions, please email apply@optica.org.