ProComm’s Grants/Research Proposals Now Being Accepted

05 May, 2026

Call for Proposals: Industry-Academia Collaboration Research Grants

The IEEE Professional Communication Society (PCS) is pleased to announce a new research grant program that will foster applied research collaborations between industry and academic partners. These grants seek to support innovative research projects that leverage the strengths of multiple sectors to address pressing challenges and drive advancements in professional and technical communication.

July 31, 2026 deadline. See more, below.

Definitions

In this context, “industry” means affiliated with government, business, and non-profit sectors. “Academia” means affiliated with an academic institution. There is no title or rank requirement.

Objectives

To promote collaborative, applied research between industry and academic partners
To discover innovative solutions to real-world problems that challenge effective communication in engineering, science, and other technical environments
To facilitate the reciprocal transfer of knowledge and technology between industry and academia

Eligibility

Proposals must be based on a partnership between at least one researcher from academia and one from industry as defined above. A researcher from academia must be designated as the Principal Investigator (PI) so that funds can be distributed via a University. Applicants need not be members of the IEEE Professional Communication Society.

Funding

In the first year of the grant program (2026), one grant of USD 6,000 will be awarded. Thereafter, up to two grants with a maximum of USD 6,000 each may be awarded to successful proposals.
Funding can be used for travel (including travel for collaborative meetings), software, hardware, books, research assistants, participant incentives, and other research-related expenses.
Projects should be completed within 12 months of the award.
Projects that receive some organizational support from either the industry or the academic affiliate will be viewed most favorably. Such support might be financial, material, data, or time release.
IEEE PCS does not pay indirect costs to universities.

Proposal Requirements (1500 words max)

Project Title
Abstract (250 words max)
Names of principal and co-principal investigators, professional titles, organizational affiliations, and two forms of contact.
Background and Rationale: Explain the significance of the problem being addressed and the potential impact of the proposed research.
Objectives: Clearly state the research objectives and expected outcomes.
Methodology: Describe the research design, methods, and analytical approaches.
Roles: Detail the roles and contributions of the academic and industry partners. Academic-industry partnerships can reflect complex situations, so partners in this grant project might be defined in a variety of ways. In all cases, both industry and academic partners must contribute significantly to the research tasks.
Work Plan and Timeline: Provide a detailed work plan and timeline for the project.
Budget: Include a detailed budget and justification for the projected funds.
Team: Provide brief bios of the key team members, highlighting their relevant expertise and experience.
Expected Impact: If needed, in more detail than in the Rationale, discuss the potential impact of the research on industry and academia.
Indicate that the project will not require an NDA or excessive redaction that would be an obstacle to publishing.

Other Requirements

Awardees are encouraged to present their research at ProComm, the annual conference of the IEEE Professional Communication Society. (ProComm is usually held in July.)
IEEE Transactions on Professional Communication should have first refusal of any publications generated from the funded research (strongly recommended), and awardees from each sector would appear as co-authors.
A news item about the research will be published on the PCS website. https://procomm.ieee.org/
Awardees will be expected to report on progress at a minimum of six months and 12 months.
Awardees will disclose any use of AI, including in their proposals, 6-month report, 1-year report, and publications. For additional guidance on AI in Professional Communication, go to https://procomm.ieee.org/ieee-procomm-professional-guidance-on-artificial-intelligence-in-professional-communication/

Submission Guidelines

Proposals must be submitted via email to Jennifer Hawkins at PCS. Email jennifer.hawkins@ieee.org
The submission deadline is July 31, 2026.
Late submissions will not be considered.
Awards will be announced by September 14, 2026.