Venture Grant Collaboration
Venture Grant Collaboration:
Suggestion/Problem/Idea:
The Venture Grant program is set up to de-incentivize student collaboration. In effect, there is a collaboration penalty for projects submitted by more than 1 student—Individuals can be awarded up to $1,000 for their proposal, while joint proposals (2 or more students) can be awarded up to $1,500.
This has been a historical award pattern: prior to the current award limits, the previous limit imposed an even greater collaboration penalty (Individual limit $850, group limit $1,000).
The venture grant award procedure needs to be reviewed so that it recognizes the value of collaboration.
Update/Resolution:
After being reviewed by the DAC, they decided to change the award for collaborative projects. Students who apply in collaboration are no longer de-incentivized with less funding as they can now ask for the same amount of funding per student as students who apply for Venture Grants individually.