Call for Proposals

EPICS in IEEE is excited to launch our fall call for proposals that will fund applications of artificial intelligence and autonomous systems. We encourage teams to explore technical applications of machine learning, fuzzy systems, evolutionary computing, embedded intelligent systems, generative AI, hybrid intelligent systems, robotics, drone technologies, assistive technologies. EPICS in IEEE proposals should address specific applications of AI in industries such as healthcare, agriculture, education, environmental improvements, and other applications for societal benefit.

Students are encouraged to think creatively about these technical areas that can result in direct societal benefit from a solution that will be adopted by the community partner.

Proposal Submission Information

Who Can Submit?

• • Any IEEE member may apply for a grant
  • IEEE Student Branches
  • IEEE Young Professionals
  • HKN Chapters
  • IEEE Sections
  • Faculty Members
  • Teachers

Note: At least one member of the team needs to be an IEEE member and all teams must include students.

What is Funded?

• • Grant funding is available to support the implementation of an EPICS in IEEE service learning project (ie. prototyping materials, supplies, local travel). Applicants are encouraged to view the EPICS in IEEE Budget training for more information on how to create an EPICS in IEEE budget. There is a budget template that teams can use to create the budget. 
  • The following items are not eligible for grant funding:
    • International or Excessive Travel
    • Honorariums
    • Research Equipment
    • Equipment for personal use
    • Capital Equipment (this includes laptops/computers for computer labs) 
    • Overhead (general and administrative or indirect costs)
    • Construction or building renovations
    • Grants with an individual as the sole beneficiary
    • Miscellaneous (or any additional budget requests that are not itemized) 
    • Prizes or incentives for participation 
    • Services such as internet or phone plans (unless not available anywhere in the community for reasonable use)

Note: All funding is transferred to the student team through the local IEEE Section. Selected teams will be asked to provide a financial point of contact to assist with funding distribution. It can take 2-3 months to receive funding after selection depending on where the team is located.

Funding Criteria

Programs must meet the following criteria:

• • Students must be involved in the Engineering Design Process in a meaningful way
  • Teams must have at least one IEEE member
  • Projects must have a community partner
  • Must include technology that falls within the scope of IEEE 

Program Evaluation

The EPICS in IEEE Committee will review all proposals using the EPICS in IEEE Project Evaluation Rubric.  Check out our past approved EPICS in IEEE Projects examples.

The evaluation includes the following elements:

• Problem summary and justification
• Description of partnering organization (nonprofit or NGO) and their role
• Proposed technological solution
  • Budget
  • Timeline
  • Team Composition
  • Project planning documentation
• Student learning outcomes
• Impact and assessment plan

Partner Requirements

IEEE Solid-State Circuits Society (SSCS) and EPICS in IEEE will jointly support service learning projects that look at the intersection of integrated circuits, semiconductors, and AI. If you are part of SSCS please make sure to select SSCS in the partnership drop-down in the application. 

This can include a wide range of topics including but not limited to new materials and devices for non-Von Neumann computing, near memory and in-memory computation and hardware, new AI architectures, edge computing (such as for healthcare, robotics, environment), analog/mixed-signal computing, and/or applications of intelligent hardware systems, digital twins, semiconductor manufacturing, robotics and others.

For more information on SSCS, check out this website sscs.ieee.org.

IEEE Instrumentation and Measurement Society (IMS) is partnering to bring $25,000 for projects from IMS groups. If you are part of IMS please make sure to select IMS in the partnership drop-down in the application. The proposals should have some of the following elements.