Deadline: 06-May-2026
Amazon is inviting research proposals through its Amazon Research Awards Open Call for Proposals track, designed for ambitious and technically rigorous projects that can deliver real-world impact within the next three to five years. The program supports innovative research beyond existing topic-specific calls and offers selected Principal Investigators up to USD 100,000 in unrestricted funding, plus AWS Promotional Credits and collaboration opportunities with Amazon scientists and engineers.
About the Program
The Amazon Research Awards Open Call for Proposals supports research that addresses major science and engineering challenges with a clear pathway to practical impact in the near future.
This track complements the broader Amazon Research Awards programme by focusing on ideas that do not fit under existing calls for proposals. It is intended for researchers whose work is scientifically strong, technically deep, and capable of moving beyond incremental improvements toward novel, high-impact solutions.
Amazon is particularly interested in research that can:
- Address large-scale scientific or engineering problems
- Improve existing methods or systems
- Build entirely new technical capabilities
- Encourage responsible and ethical practices
- Combine interdisciplinary approaches across multiple domains
Focus Areas
Proposals may span a wide range of fields, especially where interdisciplinary methods can lead to strong real-world outcomes.
Relevant areas include:
Projects that combine expertise across these and related fields are especially encouraged.
Funding and Benefits
Selected Principal Investigators (PIs) may receive the following support:
- Up to USD 100,000 in unrestricted funding
- AWS Promotional Credits averaging no more than USD 70,000
- Access to training resources and tutorials
- Opportunities for collaboration with Amazon scientists and engineers
The award is provided as a one-time unrestricted grant.
Applicants are expected to submit a budget in USD that outlines anticipated project costs. However, administrative overhead should not be included in the budget.
What Makes This Call Different?
Unlike standard Amazon Research Awards topic calls, this Open Call for Proposals is designed for research ideas that:
- Fall outside existing published calls
- Have a clear but underexplored path to practical impact
- Demonstrate scientific depth and technical rigor
- Aim for meaningful innovation, not just incremental progress
This makes it a strong opportunity for researchers with bold ideas that do not neatly fit predefined funding themes.
Eligibility Criteria
To be eligible, the Principal Investigator must meet all of the following conditions:
- Be a full-time faculty member at an accredited academic institution, or
- Be a permanent researcher at a legally recognized non-governmental organization (NGO)
- Be of legal adult age in their jurisdiction
- Not be a paid employee of a government entity, except for an academic institution
- Not be subject to U.S. sanctions or export controls
- Not have been affiliated with Amazon as an employee, contractor, or intern within the past 12 months
Additional Restrictions
Applicants are not eligible if they:
- Are an immediate family member of a recent Amazon employee, contractor, or intern covered by the restriction above
- Have participated in decision-making related to Amazon cloud infrastructure procurements
- Are located in restricted regions where the programme is unavailable
In addition:
- Each Principal Investigator may submit only one proposal per call period
Who Should Apply?
This opportunity is best suited for:
- University faculty with strong research portfolios
- NGO-based permanent researchers working on applied scientific or technical challenges
- Researchers with high-risk, high-reward ideas
- Applicants whose projects can show real-world relevance within 3–5 years
- Teams exploring cross-disciplinary work that does not fit standard funding tracks
Tips for a Strong Proposal
To improve your chances, your proposal should clearly show:
- The core scientific or engineering challenge
- Why the problem matters at scale
- What makes the idea novel and non-incremental
- A realistic pathway to real-world impact within 3–5 years
- Strong technical rigor and feasibility
- Why the project is a better fit for the Open Call rather than a standard topic call
- A clear, justified budget in USD without overhead costs
Common Mistakes to Avoid
Avoid these common issues:
- Submitting a project that already fits an existing Amazon topic-specific call
- Proposing only minor improvements rather than transformative work
- Failing to explain the practical pathway to impact
- Including administrative overhead in the budget
- Submitting more than one proposal in the same call period
- Ignoring eligibility restrictions related to Amazon affiliation or government employment
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
1. What is the Amazon Research Awards Open Call for Proposals?
It is a special Amazon Research Awards track that supports scientifically rigorous, technically ambitious research outside existing topic-based calls, with the potential for real-world impact in 3–5 years.
2. How much funding is available?
Selected Principal Investigators may receive up to USD 100,000 in unrestricted funding, plus AWS Promotional Credits averaging up to USD 70,000.
3. Can NGO researchers apply?
Yes. A permanent researcher at a legally recognized NGO may apply, provided all other eligibility conditions are met.
4. Can a government employee apply?
Generally, no—unless the applicant is employed by an academic institution. Paid employees of other government entities are not eligible.
5. Can former Amazon employees or contractors apply?
Not if they were affiliated with Amazon as an employee, contractor, or intern within the past 12 months.
6. Can I submit more than one proposal?
No. Each Principal Investigator may submit only one proposal per call period.
7. Should I include administrative overhead in the budget?
No. Applicants should provide a budget in USD, but administrative overhead must not be included.
Final Takeaway
The Amazon Research Awards Open Call for Proposals is a valuable opportunity for faculty members and eligible NGO researchers with bold, interdisciplinary research ideas that can create meaningful impact within the next few years. With up to USD 100,000 in unrestricted funding, AWS credits, and access to Amazon’s technical ecosystem, the programme is particularly attractive for researchers working on high-potential ideas that fall outside standard funding categories.
For more information, visit Amazon.