Are your funding programs open to all qualified institutions worldwide?

Our first public RFP is limited to institutions based in the US only. In the future we expect to welcome proposals from non-US organizations.

How do I submit a proposal?

You can submit a proposal by responding to an RFP. Check our HealthVault Be Well Fund Home for a list. Proposals will be accepted in electronic form only at http://microsoft.redwhale.com. Proposals submitted to Microsoft Health Solutions Group will not be returned. Microsoft Health Solutions Group cannot assume responsibility for the confidentiality of information in submitted proposals. Therefore, proposals should not contain information that is confidential, restricted or sensitive. Microsoft Health Solutions Group reserves the right to make public proposals that receive awards, except those portions containing budgetary or personally identifiable information.

What kinds of institutions are eligible?

The proposing institution must be either:

• An accredited degree-granting college or university (or international equivalent) with 501(c)(3) non-profit status and awarding degrees at the baccalaureate level or above.
• A research or health institution with 501(c)(3) non-profit status.

What terms or conditions apply to awards from Microsoft?

Awards are generally made as unrestricted gifts to the institution.

Does my proposal have to make use of Microsoft Software & Services

The HealthVault Be Well Fund requires that proposals make use of HealthVault platform and Live Search Health syndication http://healthvault.com/

Should in-kind contributions from the institution be reflected in the proposed budget?

Yes, these should be reflected so long as they are assigned a reasonable value.

Do you support projects in primary or secondary education, community colleges, or vocational schools?

At this time we only support projects in post-secondary institutions.

Why don't you provide feedback on proposals not funded?

We strive to obtain the highest quality review for all proposals eligible for consideration. Proposals are reviewed by highly qualified Microsoft employees and researchers who perform this service on their own time without additional compensation. To ensure their continued willingness to provide this service, we cannot require them to provide individual feedback on all proposals. Because we cannot provide feedback on all proposals, fairness requires that we not do so for any. We make every effort to assist faculty in preparing quality proposals by providing guidelines that attempt to capture, in a general way, the common characteristics of the best proposals we receive.

Where can I learn about other research opportunities at Microsoft?

The External Research & Programs group supports basic research and curriculum innovation in many areas of computing-including social computing and gaming. We focus on initiatives that advance the state of the art in computer science and computational sciences, as well as on the teaching of these disciplines. Find out more here: http://research.microsoft.com/ur/us/fundingopps/.