The Scope
The Navigation Fund invites a 2-page letter of intent for highly focused working meetings that will identify the most critical challenges in one or more areas of open science.
We are interested in funding meetings that:
- Define a solvable problem in Open Science — Identify the key obstacles that, once addressed, could significantly advance the field
- Launch or unblock a real project (e.g., a shared data resource, open-source tool, policy change, or pilot experiment) shortly after the meeting adjourns
- Create opportunities for new people to apply and participate, bringing fresh perspectives
- Move away from traditional formats by avoiding all-day talks and passive participation
- Choose locations where there are not additional distractions that limit focused collaboration
We will consider further investment in both follow-on convenings and implementation of promising work identified during funded gatherings. Projects demonstrating significant progress or exceptional potential to advance open science goals may qualify for additional support through our supplemental funding mechanisms.
What's out of scope
- Traditional conferences with standard presentation formats
- Events centered around big keynotes rather than collaborative work
- Meetings focused on internal organizational priorities
- Meetings to produce white papers
- Previously held meetings on the same topic
We prioritize proposals that bring together relevant people, including those with the most interesting ideas at the edges of the space. We're not trying to arrive at consensus. We'd like you to identify the opportunities and problems where you can take meaningful next steps by the end of your two to three-day meeting.
We welcome proposals across disciplines including biology, chemistry, physics, materials science, and related fields where collaborative meetings can help identify and overcome bottlenecks in the open science ecosystem.
With your consent, we may also share your proposal with other private funders to increase the chances of your work receiving funding.
What to Submit in the LOI
Please include the following in your LOI:
- Executive Summary
- A clear and concise title
- Information about the project lead(s) and team
- The core value proposition and how your meeting will advance open science
- State of Your Field
- What is the current state of your field or area of open science?
- Why do you think your field is stuck where it is? Why will getting people together help you overcome these challenges?
- How will your approach foster new solutions or breakthrough thinking?
- Community Impact
- The communities your work will support
- How it will specifically help them
- Potential risks and mitigation strategies
- Early List of Participants
- Key attendees who have committed or been invited
- Strategy for identifying and including diverse perspectives
- Why you and your team are uniquely qualified to organize this event
- If you have previously run a similar meeting with most of the same attendees, tell us why this meeting is different
- Funding Request
- Rough estimate of total funding requested (must justify amounts at the higher end of the range)
Funding Scale
Our program offers funding support of:
- Meeting Grants: Up to $100,000 for organizing impactful gatherings (A clear justification is required for all requests, especially for those at the higher end of the range.)
Grants may include opportunities to join our community events and workshops. We aim to make decisions quickly and send invitations for full proposals (which will not be much longer than the LOI) within 1 to 2 weeks after the deadline. Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis.
Eligibility Criteria
Applicants must meet the following minimum requirements:
- Affiliation with an accredited research institution, university, nonprofit organization, fiscal sponsor, or, in limited circumstances, companies and other organization types
- The main meeting must be in person, but any pre-meetings can be virtual.
- Commitment to making the work open and widely available
- Event must take place during the 2025 calendar year (applications for events beyond 2025 will be considered in future funding calls)