Moore Inventor Fellowship

Overview

Moore Inventor Fellows

_“50 inventors to shape the next 50 years.”_

The Gordon and Betty Moore Foundation is pleased to announce the ninth competition for the Moore Inventor Fellows program. The foundation seeks to identify outstanding inventors and innovators who harness science and technology to enhance the conduct of scientific research, strengthen environmental conservation, or improve the experience and outcomes of patient care.

The Moore Inventor Fellows fellowship focuses on supporting scientist-inventors at a critical prototyping stage to capture opportunities that otherwise might be missed. We seek to provide freedom and support to promising inventors with the most compelling ideas to pursue creative and disruptive innovations.

Program Overview

Gordon Moore’s contribution to the development of microelectronics helped produce the exponential growth of the digital revolution. In the spirit of Dr. Moore’s passion for science and penchant for inventing, the foundation seeks to support people who create new tools, technologies, processes, or approaches with a high potential to accelerate progress in the foundation’s three main areas of interest: scientific research, environmental conservation, and patient care.

The foundation will provide nearly $34 million through 2026 to support 50 Moore Inventor Fellows. The fellowship focuses on early-career staff at select research universities, medical schools and selected non-academic environmental research and patient care institutions. Each eligible institution may nominate two people.

Who and What We Seek to Fund

Candidates must be faculty, research scientists, postdocs or other full-time staff who can receive funding through their institutions. Candidates must be no more than 10 years past receiving the terminal advanced degree in their field (M.S., Ph.D. or M.D. received on or after 2014). Please see the Moore Inventor Fellows FAQs for more information.

The scope of this call is intentionally wide: proposed projects do not need to fall within our current funding priorities but should be broadly within the program areas of foundation interest (science, environmental conservation and patient care). Patient care inventions should resonate with our focus on improving the experience and outcomes of patients with solutions that improve clinical diagnosis.

Funding

Each fellow will receive $200,000 per year from the foundation for three years. In addition, the foundation will provide the host institution with $25,000 each year to cover costs associated with administering the grant, resulting in a total three-year award of $675,000. Each host institution will be required to contribute $50,000 in annual direct support of the inventor’s work. This can be “in kind” as released time or access to special facilities for which there is normally a charge.

Eligibility

_We've imported the main document for this grant to give you an overview. You can learn more about this opportunity by visiting the funder's [website]().
_

Application Details

Moore Inventor Fellows | 2025 Application Guidelines
“50 inventors to shape the next 50 years.”
The Gordon and Betty Moore Foundation is pleased to announce the tenth competition for the
Moore Inventor Fellows program. The foundation seeks to identify outstanding inventors and
innovators who harness science and technology to enhance the conduct of scientific
research, strengthen environmental conservation, or improve the experience and outcomes
of patient care.
The Moore Inventor Fellows fellowship focuses on supporting scientist-inventors at a critical
prototyping stage to capture opportunities that otherwise might be missed. We seek to
provide freedom and support to promising inventors with the most compelling ideas to
pursue creative and disruptive innovations.
Program overview
Gordon Moore’s contribution to the development of microelectronics helped produce the
exponential growth of the digital revolution. In the spirit of Dr. Moore’s passion for science
and penchant for inventing, the foundation seeks to support people who create new tools,
technologies, processes, or approaches with a high potential to accelerate progress in the
foundation’s three main areas of interest: scientific research, environmental conservation,
and patient care.
The foundation will provide nearly $34 million through 2026 to support 50 Moore Inventor
Fellows. The fellowship focuses on early-career staff at select research universities, medical
schools and selected non-academic environmental research and patient care institutions.
Each eligible institution may nominate two people.
Each fellow will receive $200,000 per year from the foundation for three years. In addition, the
foundation will provide the host institution with $25,000 each year to cover costs associated
with administering the grant, resulting in a total three-year award of $675,000. Each host
institution will be required to contribute $50,000 in annual direct support of the inventor’s
work. This can be “in kind” as released time or access to special facilities for which there is
normally a charge. We expect each fellow will be personally engaged in pursuing their
invention and we require each fellow to devote at least 25 percent of their own time to their
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invention. Fellows may use the grant funds to support their own salary to create this
opportunity. They may also hire research personnel and purchase services, equipment, or
supplies.
Who and what we seek to fund
Candidates must be faculty, research scientists, postdocs or other full-time staff who can
receive funding through their institutions. Candidates must be no more than 10 years past
receiving the terminal advanced degree in their field (M.S., Ph.D. or M.D. received on or after
2015). Please see the Moore Inventor Fellows FAQ for more information regarding candidate
eligibility and exceptions.
The scope of this call is intentionally wide: proposed projects do not need to fall within our
current funding priorities but should be broadly within the program areas of foundation
interest (science, environmental conservation and patient care). Patient care inventions
should resonate with our focus on improving the experience and outcomes of patients with
solutions that improve clinical diagnosis.
We aim to support inventions at an early stage that could lead to proof-of-concept of an
invention or advance an existing prototype that tackles an important problem. We seek
innovations that promise to make a long-lasting and meaningful impact by addressing
underlying problems in their field, but a clear path toward commercialization is not a
requirement. For this opportunity we are not interested in supporting fundamental research
projects or projects already at a stage where significant venture capital is available. As with
all our grants, we seek to measure progress toward a defined goal during the three years of
support. The foundation’s policy is that intellectual property that results from a grant must
be managed and disseminated in a manner that leads to the greatest impact. Each award will
include IP terms to reflect the needs of that project.
We recognize real invention can take surprising turns, so we seek creative individuals who
have big ideas, deep knowledge, and the courage to take smart risks. We recognize inventors
and innovators come from a diversity of backgrounds, disciplines and experiences and seek
creative individuals across a broad array of academic programs and research institutions.
Examples of such programs include but are not limited to environmental science and
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conservation, remote sensing, biology, oceanography, engineering, physics, chemistry,
materials science, neuroscience, and public health.
Nomination procedure
We are sending letters of invitation letter to the presidents, chief research officers and other
officials, and past points of contact of invited institutions. Each eligible institution can submit
two nominations for consideration.
Eligible institutions should designate a point of contact who is authorized to submit the
nominations and candidate applications. Please submit the point of contact form with the
name and information for the designated contact person to receive access to the application
portal and updates about the 2025 Program.
Institutions may submit up to two nominations with the elements described below.
For more detailed information please read the Moore Inventor Fellow FAQ located on
moore.org. If you seek more clarity, please reach out to the Moore Inventor Fellows team at
inventors@moore.org.
Nomination and application requirements
All documents should follow a single spaced, 1-inch margin and 12-point font format. Please
submit all documents as PDFs only.
Using the guidelines below, it is at your discretion of how you would like to present the
content. Figures are allowed but count toward the page limits. Please strictly adhere to page
limits.
1. Nomination Form1 | Due Friday, November 15, 2024 at 5:00 PM PT
• Name of candidate, brief description of invention, keywords describing invention.
• Name of nominating institution, department, and contact information.
• Institutional Statement of Support.
The nominating institution is required to commit to ensuring the nominee
o
is able to spend at least 25% of their time on their invention and will receive
1 Please submit the nomination form and the completed application through the SurveyMonkey Apply Portal.
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$50,000 per year in direct support to the inventor’s work. The point of
contact should check the related box in the nomination form located in the
Survey Monkey Apply portal.
We do not require a formal letter or documentation.
o
2. Complete Application1 | Due Friday, December 13, 2024 at 5:00 PM PT
• Statement of invention (2-page limit, including citations):
The first paragraph should clearly, and without jargon, describe the
o
invention, the problem it seeks to address and its potential impact.
The statement of invention should also include the following information:
o
 Description of invention, stage of invention, feasibility, and current
funding
 Importance to the foundation’s areas of interest (science,
environmental conservation and patient care), potential impact,
risks, and approach to measuring success and progress over the 3-
year fellowship.
• Please describe any technical risks that might lower chances
of success and what you will do mitigate these risks. For
example, “If A doesn't work, we'll do B.”
• Curriculum Vitae (2-page limit):
Educational and professional background.
o
Key accomplishments, honors and demonstrated areas of expert
o
knowledge.
Other background information relevant to this invention.
o
• Budget narrative that outlines how grant funds will be used (1-page limit)
The budget overview does not need to be overly detailed as the
o
Foundation’s detailed budget template will be provided to the selected
fellow when we internally process the awards in the spring, after the cohort
is selected in May 2025.
• Letters of Reference (2-page limit per letter)
The letter of reference(s) should evaluate the applicant's promise and the
o
invention.
It is your discretion to choose a recommender, noting that one letter
o
should be from an individual within the nominating institution and one
from another institution.
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Selection process
The selection process has two stages. In the first, each submission will be reviewed by
foundation staff with advice from external reviewers. Applications will be selected in line with
the goals of the Moore Inventor Fellows program and random selection may be used in tie
break situations.
In the second stage, ten finalists will be invited to virtually present to a panel of advisors on
the importance, plausibility, status, and possible impact of their proposed line of work (more
information about presentation criteria will be included closer to Finalist Day). After these
presentations, the advisory panel and foundation staff will make recommendations to the
foundation president for the 2025 fellowships. Non-selected finalists will receive a
consolation contribution of $25,000 to directly support their work.
Please see below for a detailed timeline of the selection process.
Details of the proposed invention will be held confidential, and members of the external
reviewer cohort and advisory committee will sign nondisclosure agreements before
reviewing any applicant materials. The foundation will collaborate with selected fellows and
their host institutions on agreeable language to be shared in announcements of the award
winners.
Applicants will be considered solely on their merits and awards will be made regardless of
age, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, race, national origin, religion, or disability.
Evaluation criteria
In the first round, the following questions are used to evaluate each application:
• Rate the candidate’s capabilities as an inventor.
• Rate the potential of the proposed invention to make a difference in the foundation’s
areas of interest: scientific discovery, environmental conservation, and/or patient
care.
• Rate the potential for measurable progress within a 3-year period.
In the second round, the following questions are used to evaluate each application:
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• Rate the candidate’s capabilities as an inventor.
• Rate the potential impact of the proposed project.
• Rate the plausibility of the invention to achieve its stated impact.
• Rate the potential for measurable progress within a 3-year period.
• Rate the overall application, considering both the inventor and invention.
Program Timeline
September 18, 2024 2025 Program Announced
September 18, 2024 Point of contact form and Survey Monkey Apply portal open
October 10, 2024 Virtual Q&A with the Moore Inventor Fellows team
November 15, 2024 Deadline to submit formal nominations
December 13, 2024 Deadline to submit complete applications
April 1, 2025 Finalist invited to the presentation round
May 8, 2025 Finalist Presentation Day—virtual
May 9, 2025 Finalist notified of 2025 Cohort selection
Fall 2025 2025 Moore Inventor Fellow Cohort announced
Eligible Institutions
Albert Einstein College of Medicine Boston University Medical Campus
Amazon Conservation Association Brandeis University
Amazon Conservation Team Brigham and Women's Hospital
American Museum of Natural History Brown University
Arizona State University, Tempe California Academy of Sciences
Auburn University California Institute of Technology
Ballad Health Carnegie Institution of Washington
Baylor College of Medicine Carnegie Mellon University
Baystate Medical Center Case Western Reserve University
Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center Children’s Hospital of Los Angeles
Bigelow Laboratory for Ocean Sciences Children's Hospital of Philadelphia
Binghamton University Claremont Graduate University
Boston Children's Hospital Clark Atlanta University
Boston College Clark University, Clark Labs
Boston University Clemson University
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Cleveland Clinic Georgetown University
Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory Georgia Institute of Technology
Colorado School of Mines Georgia State University
Colorado State University, Fort Collins Gladstone Institute
Columbia University Gulf of Maine Research Institute
Conservation International Hampton University
Conservation Strategy Fund Harvard University
Conservation X Labs Howard University
Cornell University Icahn School of Medicine at Mt. Sinai
CUNY Graduate School and University Indiana University
Center Indiana University School of Medicine
Dana-Farber Cancer Institute Institute of Advanced Study
Dartmouth College Intermountain Healthcare
Dartmouth University Iowa State University
Delaware State University Island Conservation
Desert Research Institute J Craig Venter Institute, Inc.
Drexel University Jackson State University
Duke University Johns Hopkins Medicine
Emory University Johns Hopkins University
Emory University School of Medicine Kaiser Permanente
Environmental Defense Fund Kansas State University
FAU Harbor Branch Oceanographic Louisiana State University and Agricultural
Institute & Mechanical College
Field Museum of Natural History Marine Biological Laboratory
FlipLabs / Future of Fish (Impact Assets) Massachusetts General Hospital
Florida Agricultural and Mechanical Massachusetts Institute of Technology
University Mayo Clinic
Florida Institute of Technology Medical College of Wisconsin
Florida International University Medical University of South Carolina
Florida State University MedStar Health
Fordham University Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center
Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center Michigan State University
Geisinger Mississippi State University
George Mason University Montana State University
George Washington University Montclair State University
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Monterey Bay Aquarium Foundation Scripps Institution of Oceanography
Monterey Bay Aquarium Research Institute Smithsonian Institution
Morgan State University Southern University and A&M College
National Aquarium Stanford University
National Geographic Society Stroud Water Research Center Inc.
Nationwide Children's Hospital SUNY, Stony Brook University
New England Aquarium SUNY, University at Albany
New Jersey Institute of Technology SUNY, University at Buffalo
New York Botanical Garden Syracuse University
New York University Temple University
New York University Grossman School of Tennessee State University
Medicine Texas A&M University
North Carolina A&T State University Texas A&M University, Corpus Christi
North Carolina State University at Raleigh Texas Christian University
Northeastern University Texas Southern University
Northwell Health Texas Tech University
Northwestern University The Botanical Research Institute of Texas
Ohio State University The Conservation Fund (The Freshwater
Oklahoma State University Institute)
Oregon Health and Science University The National Center for Genome Resources
Oregon State University The Nature Conservancy
Penn State Health (Hershey Medical The Scripps Research Institute
Center) Tufts Medical Center
Pennsylvania State University Tufts University
Prairie View A&M University Tulane University
Princeton University University Hospitals
Purdue University University of Alabama
Radiant Earth Foundation University of Alabama at Birmingham
Rainforest Alliance University of Arizona
Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute University of Arkansas
Rice University University of California, Berkeley
Rocky Mountain Institute University of California, Davis
Rutgers, The State University of New University of California, Irvine
Jersey University of California, Los Angeles
Salk Institute for Biological Studies University of California, Merced
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University of California, Riverside University of Minnesota, Twin Cities
University of California, San Diego University of Mississippi
University of California, San Francisco University of Missouri, Columbia
University of California, Santa Barbara University of Nebraska, Lincoln
University of California, Santa Cruz University of Nevada, Las Vegas
University of Central Florida University of Nevada, Reno
University of Chicago University of New Hampshire, Main
University of Cincinnati Campus
University of Colorado, Boulder University of New Mexico, Main Campus
University of Colorado, Denver University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
University of Connecticut University of North Texas
University of Delaware University of Notre Dame
University of Florida University of Oklahoma, Norman Campus
University of Georgia University of Oregon
University of Hawaii at Manoa University of Pennsylvania
University of Houston University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh
University of Idaho Campus
University of Illinois at Chicago University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine
University of Illinois at Urbana, Champaign University of Rochester
University of Iowa University of South Carolina, Columbia
University of Kansas University of South Florida, Main Campus
University of Kentucky University of Southern California
University of Louisville University of Southern Mississippi
University of Maine University of Tennessee, Knoxville
University of Maryland, Baltimore (School University of Texas at Arlington
of Medicine) University of Texas at Austin
University of Maryland, College Park University of Texas at Dallas
University of Maryland, Eastern Shore University of Texas at El Paso
University of Massachusetts Medical University of Texas at San Antonio
School University of Texas, MD Andersen Cancer
University of Massachusetts, Amherst Center
University of Memphis University of Texas, Southwestern Medical
University of Miami Center
University of Miami School of Medicine University of Utah
University of Michigan University of Virginia
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University of Washington
University of Wisconsin, Madison
University of Wisconsin, Milwaukee
Vanderbilt University
Virginia Commonwealth University
Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State
University
Wake Forest University
Washington State University
Washington University in St. Louis
Wayne State University
Weill Medical College of Cornell University
West Virginia University
Wildlife Conservation Society
Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution
Woodwell Climate Research Center
World Resources Institute
World Wildlife Fund (WWF US)
Yale University
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