Foundation Models Academic Research (AFMR) - circular background pattern

Accelerate Foundation Models Research

Region: Global

Call for proposals: Fall 2023

How to apply

Please carefully review and consider the below as it relates to the proposal process for the Microsoft Research Accelerate Foundation Models Research program.

Proposal eligibility

  • This offer is for non-commercial academic use cases. 
  • The research project should conform to the approved use cases for the Azure OpenAI service (opens in new tab).
  • The Principal Investigator (PI) leading the research team should be a full-time faculty member at a degree-granting college or university.

Key dates:

  • August 24, 2023 | Call for proposals opens globally
  • September 12, 2023 | Proposal deadline
  • September 22, 2023 | Notifications; onboarding process begins
  • September 2023 – January 2024 | Research collaboration period
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Proposal submission process

Proposals must be written in English and should be submitted to Accelerate Foundation Models Research no later than midnight (Pacific Daylight Savings Time) on September 12, 2023.

Microsoft shall have no obligation to maintain the confidentiality of any submitted proposals. Therefore, proposals should not contain information that is considered proprietary, classified, confidential, restricted, or sensitive. All such requests will be considered on a case-by-case basis and will be approved or denied at Microsoft’s sole discretion.

Proposals should include the following sections:

  1. The principal investigator’s name and university affiliation
  2. Proposal title
  3. Proposal summary: goals, scope of the research, use of resources, expected outcomes, potential impact (1 to 2 pages)

Participants are encouraged to visit the Azure OpenAI Service’s transparency note (opens in new tab), which provides information and guidelines for responsible use of the service as well as system limitations that may be applicable to the proposed research scenario.

Contact us with questions

Conditions  

The following conditions apply to submissions and, as applicable if selected, your participation in the program as principal investigators (PIs). By submitting a proposal, you agree to the following:  

  1. Microsoft may use your name and likeness to publicize your proposal (including proposal content) in connection with the promotion of the Microsoft Accelerating Foundation Model Research Program in all media now known or later developed.  
  2. Microsoft has no obligation to maintain the confidentiality of any submitted proposals.  
  3. Proposals will not contain information that is considered proprietary, confidential, classified, restricted, or sensitive.  
  4. The submission review process is internal to Microsoft. Microsoft reserves the right, in its sole discretion and without liability to submitters, to review, accept and engage with submitters in accordance with its internal policies and procedures. No feedback will be given to submitters. Microsoft may, however, reach out to submitters for clarifications on submitted proposals.
  5. Participants will be required to have Azure subscription via university email and agree with overall Azure terms and condition (opens in new tab) and Azure OpenAI code of conduct (opens in new tab). Access to Azure OpenAI services require the participants to agree to additional terms (opens in new tab) that govern their use of Azure.
Apply

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