I. Introduction

The Center for Environmental Intelligence (CEI) is proud to announce the launch of its ENVISION Grant Program for 2024. ENVISION stands for ” “ENVironmental Innovation for Sustainability and Intelligent solutiONs”, reflecting our commitment to fostering innovative solutions for environmental challenges and sustainable development.

The 2021 United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP26) saw Vietnam make a commitment to achieve net-zero emissions by 2050. However, without immediate action, Vietnam is projected to lose approximately 12 to 14.5 percent of its GDP annually, according to the World Bank, due to the impacts of environmental pollution and climate change. Environmental stewardship — encompassing adaptation to climate changes, mitigation of emissions, and fostering a sustainable culture — is quickly becoming a key prerequisite for Vietnam’s growth strategy.

Acknowledging the urgent need of this new era to be both technologically creative and environmentally responsible, the Center for Environmental Intelligence (CEI) focuses on understanding and addressing environmental and sustainability challenges through interdisciplinary approaches. These approaches integrate insights from fields such as environmental sciences, computer sciences, economics, and green technology. CEI strives to drive transformative solutions for a sustainable future and facilitate connections among experts from around the world to collectively solve sustainable development issues on a global scale.

The Center focuses its resources on four main pillars: (i) Environmental Monitoring; (ii) Living lab: smart cities, energy efficiency, and green technologies; (iii) Digital Materials Science; and (iv) Environmental Sustainability/Community Resilience.

II. Funding Opportunities

The CEI ENVISION Grant Program 2024 offers two categories of funding to support research initiatives aligned with our four main pillars:

1. ENVISION Grassroots Grants: Up to $20,000 per project
2. ENVISION Flagship Grants: Up to $250,000 per project

ENVISION Grassroots Grants

These smaller-scale projects are designed to kickstart research and proposal development processes. They aim to generate preliminary outcomes that can enhance the likelihood of success for larger external funding proposals.

ENVISION Flagship Grants

These larger initiatives are intended to support more comprehensive research efforts that have the potential for significant impact in addressing environmental and sustainability challenges.

III. Eligibility

All full-time faculty members at VinUniversity are eligible to apply. In cases where there is insufficient funding available to support all high-scoring proposals, priority may be given to funding proposals submitted by early career, research-active faculty members.

IV. Application Process

• Prepare Your Proposal: Develop a proposal that includes:
  • Project title and team members
  • Executive summary (1 page)
  • Project description (up to 5 pages)
  • Budget and justification
  • Timeline and milestones
  • Expected outcomes and impact
• Submit via Email: Send your complete proposal as a single PDF attachment to cei@vinuni.edu.vn. Use the subject line “CEI ENVISION Grant Proposal – [Your Name]”.
• Template: Template_VinUni-Research-Proposal-CEI

Important note

• Clearly indicate whether you are applying for a Grassroots or Flagship project.
• Provide a detailed budget breakdown appropriate to the funding category.

V. Application Review Process

Each proposal will undergo a comprehensive review process, which includes:

• Evaluation by the CEI Scientific Board
• Financial review

VI. Timeframe

Research projects are expected to be completed within 3 years. Extensions may be considered on a case-by-case basis.

VII. Reporting

• Progress reports are required every 6 months.
• A final comprehensive report is due at the project’s conclusion.
• Research teams will present outcomes in a workshop, symposium, or conference.

VIII. Submission and Contact Information

For any questions about the application process or the CEI ENVISION Grant Program, please contact: cei@vinuni.edu.vn