Grant
Open
Research Software Catalyst Fund: Exploratory Grants 2026
Grants of up to $50,000 for tools, training and methods that make AI assisted research software trustworthy. Open worldwide until 31 December 2026.
This is the first of two planned tracks; a larger Impact Fund with awards up to $200,000 is due to open in 2027.
| Detail | Value |
|---|---|
| Grant duration | 3 to 6 months |
| Typical award | $15,000 to $50,000 |
| Indirect costs | Up to 10% of the budget |
| Review panel | 5 to 7 community reviewers |
| Payment | Through Hack Club Bank after paperwork is complete |
Requirements:
- Proposal of at most five pages in plain language
- Planned work and the output that will exist at the end
- Team members and what each brings
- Simple budget and a schedule of three to six months
- Link to the priorities set at the 2026 Edinburgh workshop, or why the work matters without one
Timeline:
- Review from January to March 2027
- Decisions by mid March 2027
- Projects expected to run from April to September 2027
Source · researchsoftwarecatalyst.fund/apply
Published 30 October 2026 · Checked against the organizer's page 1 November 2026
Quick answers
Does an applicant need an institution to receive the money?
No. The fund is hosted at Hack Club Bank and can pay individuals and unincorporated groups.
How must the results be licensed?
Software under an OSI approved license; documents, curricula and data under CC BY or CC0.