Deadline: 29-May-2026
Applicants are invited to submit innovative projects aimed at reducing nuclear risks through improved governance, risk understanding, and mitigation strategies. Funding is available through small grants ($50,000–$200,000) for focused projects and large grants ($200,000–$1,000,000) for multi-year initiatives. Eligible applicants include think tanks, universities, NGOs, and individual researchers, with collaboration strongly encouraged.
This funding opportunity supports projects that address nuclear dangers by strengthening risk understanding, governance, and strategic mitigation. The program encourages innovative approaches that enhance decision-making, transparency, and institutional capacity to reduce global nuclear threats.
Objectives of the Program
The program focuses on:
- Mitigating escalation and crisis instability by addressing regional proliferation, deterrence ambiguity, conflict dynamics, misperception, and crisis communication.
- Strengthening multi-domain risk analysis covering nuclear, space, AI, cyber, and related arenas.
- Improving verification, monitoring, and transparency to forecast, detect, and assess nuclear-relevant developments.
- Enhancing governance and institutional capacity for sustained nuclear risk reduction.
- Developing expert talent to anticipate and mitigate emerging nuclear threats.
Funding Tiers
The program offers two funding tiers based on project scope and impact:
- Small Grants
- Funding: $50,000–$200,000
- Duration: Up to 2 years
- Purpose: Support focused, time-bound projects, pilot ideas, explore emerging challenges, or develop targeted solutions with clear pathways to impact.
- Large Grants
- Funding: $200,000–$1,000,000
- Duration: Up to 3 years
- Purpose: Support larger, multi-year projects demonstrating scale, feasibility, and clear links between activities and meaningful reductions in nuclear risk.
Who Can Apply
Eligible applicants include:
- Think tanks
- University-based research centers
- Independent NGOs
- Individual researchers
- Equivalent institutions and collaborative consortia
Collaboration Guidelines:
- Collaborative proposals are encouraged when roles are well-aligned and complementary.
- A lead organization must be designated to manage grant delivery and reporting.
Priority Considerations:
- Early-career and mid-career researchers are especially encouraged to apply under the small-grant tier.
- Proposals should demonstrate innovative, scalable, and actionable solutions.
How to Apply
- Prepare Proposal: Define project objectives, scope, methodology, expected impact, and measurable outcomes.
- Determine Grant Tier: Select small or large grant based on project scale and funding needs.
- Assemble Team: Include collaborators if relevant, and designate a lead organization.
- Submit Application: Include CVs, budget, timeline, and supporting materials as required.
- Review & Selection: Proposals are evaluated on innovation, feasibility, clarity, and impact potential in reducing nuclear risks.
Key Tips for Applicants
- Clearly articulate the nuclear risk challenge your project addresses.
- Demonstrate practical, evidence-based approaches to mitigation.
- Show alignment with multi-domain risk frameworks (nuclear, AI, cyber, space).
- Highlight institutional capacity building and talent development components.
- Provide a realistic timeline and measurable outcomes.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
- Submitting proposals without a clear link to nuclear risk reduction
- Failing to define a pathway to impact
- Neglecting multi-domain considerations (e.g., AI, cyber, space)
- Not clearly defining roles in collaborative applications
- Overlooking budget justification and project feasibility
Frequently Asked Questions
- Who is eligible to apply?
Think tanks, universities, independent NGOs, individual researchers, and similar institutions; collaborative proposals are encouraged. - What are the funding amounts and duration?
Small grants: $50,000–$200,000 (up to 2 years); Large grants: $200,000–$1,000,000 (up to 3 years). - Are early-career applicants considered?
Yes, especially for the small-grant tier when submitting individually. - Can multiple institutions collaborate on a project?
Yes, provided roles are complementary and a lead organization is designated. - What project areas are prioritized?
Escalation and crisis instability, multi-domain risk, verification and monitoring, governance and institutional capacity, and expert talent development. - Is there a focus on innovation?
Yes, projects must propose innovative, actionable, and scalable approaches to reduce nuclear risk.
Why This Grant Matters
- Addresses critical global nuclear risks with innovative solutions.
- Enhances decision-making and risk transparency.
- Strengthens institutional capacity and expert networks for sustained nuclear risk reduction.
- Supports early-career and mid-career talent, ensuring continuity in nuclear risk expertise.
Conclusion
The Nuclear Risk Reduction Grant offers a strategic platform for researchers and organizations to develop innovative, scalable solutions that reduce nuclear threats and enhance global security. By funding both small, focused projects and large, multi-year initiatives, this program strengthens the capacity of institutions and experts to anticipate, mitigate, and manage emerging nuclear risks effectively.
For more information, visit Carnegie Corporation of New York.