PSIA Application Information
Requirements
- Yale Faculty Member: At least one team member with a primary or secondary Yale faculty appointment.
- Disruptive Innovation: Novel project where the merit of the innovation is clearly articulated.
- Solving a Significant Problem: The problem being tackled is large enough to show promise for scale.
- Proof of Concept: Prior demonstration that the initiative is technically feasible.
- Use of Funds: Clear articulation of the use of funds and how they will help the applicant achieve project goals.
How to Apply
Note: Proposals are not currently being accepted. Applications for the next cycle will reopen during the 2026-2027 academic year.
Applications
Faculty interested in participating in PSIA are invited to apply for a Constellation Grant through the YPS Grant Program application on InfoReady; select the “Commercialization Pathway + Planetary Solutions Impact Accelerator” option. For more details, see the Request for Proposals.
Proposals must be submitted by January 30, 2026, at 11:59 PM, and include a completed budget template (link is available in the RFP).
Information Sessions
Please join us for any of the following virtual info sessions or office hours, which will also provide information about the broader YPS Grant Program:
- Info Session, December 10 from 4:00-4:30 PM
- Office Hours, January 7 from 3:00-4:00 PM
- Info Session, January 12 from 12:00-12:30 PM
- Office Hours, January 22 from 12:00-1:00 PM
Who Should Apply
Faculty from across the university whose research or innovations drive progress in the key technical areas below. Software-based innovations and AI may be included as part of proposals, however, the solution must fundamentally be “hard tech": a technology relying on physical components.
Focus Areas
Projects in this category address the transition to a low-carbon energy future through technologies that reduce, capture, store, or utilize greenhouse gas emissions. Projects may include energy storage, grid modernization, carbon capture, utilization, and storage (CCUS), clean fuels, industrial decarbonization, and systems that improve the efficiency, resilience, and affordability of energy infrastructure.
This area supports technologies that reduce the environmental footprint of manufacturing, construction, and the built environment. Relevant innovations may include sustainable materials, electrification technologies, circular economy solutions, smart buildings, HVAC and efficiency systems, and tools that enable lower-carbon design, operations, and supply chains across industrial and urban systems.
This includes projects that leverage biological systems and emerging technologies to improve the sustainability, productivity, and resilience of food and agricultural systems. Examples may include precision agriculture, alternative proteins, bio-based materials, waste valorization, soil health, and climate-smart approaches that reduce emissions, conserve resources, and strengthen food security.
This focus area advances technologies that protect, restore, and sustainably manage water resources and natural ecosystems. Projects may address water quality and treatment, monitoring and sensing, stormwater and wastewater management, ecosystem restoration, biodiversity, and nature-based solutions that improve environmental resilience and public health.
If your project does not fit neatly into any of these categories, reach out to us below to discuss. You may still be a good candidate to apply.
Key Features
Receive $100K–$250K in milestone-based non-dilutive grants over two years. These grants are intended to advance high-potential climate solutions from the lab toward commercialization.
Work closely with domain-specific Entrepreneurs-in-Residence (EIRs) and industry experts to refine your technology, market strategy, and go-to-market plan.
Applicants are matched with dedicated student operators who will help refine your commercial narrative and provide hands-on support throughout the accelerator.
Access tailored coaching in IP strategy, regulatory pathways, product development, and customer discovery—designed specifically for Yale faculty innovators.
Connect with a global network of climate investors, corporate partners, and public sector stakeholders through pitch events and curated introductions.
Leverage Yale’s profound strengths in the arts, humanities, and social sciences and its excellence in the physical, natural, and applied sciences to shape comprehensive, systems-based solutions.
Contact Us
Please reach out to PSIA Director Stuart DeCew (stuart.decew@yale.edu) with any questions. You can also schedule a meeting with him using the link below.