Every year, local researchers and institutions successfully apply to two federal funding programs that support scientific discovery, workforce development, and research capacity building. These programs are called the Established Program to Stimulate Competitive Research (EPSCoR) and the Institutional Development Award (IDeA).

Presently, researchers and institutions in Hawaiʻi apply for these grants with little support or coordination, which is uncommon nationally. Nearly every jurisdiction in the U.S. except Hawaiʻi has an entity dedicated to EPSCoR and/or IDeA applicants and awardees, providing them with services designed to enhance their proposals’ competitiveness. Examples of services they provide include assistance with identifying funding opportunities, proposal development support, and even seed funding. The Hawaiʻi EPSCoR/IDeA Office (hereafter, “Office”) aspires to fill this gap and provide the same kinds of resources other jurisdictions receive in hopes of enhancing local proposal competitiveness and bolstering State economic development.

We are currently in the process of establishing the Office, but you can already request support from the team building it for the following:

• Learning about EPSCoR/IDeA Opportunities
• Determining alignment with EPSCoR/IDeA Opportunities
• Proposal Development
• Connecting with Collaborators

To inquire, you may email Dr. Chad Walton, Alec Wagner, and/or Davin Sasaki at cwalton@hawaii.edu, alecwagn@hawaii.edu, or sasakidy@hawaii.edu, respectively.
While we develop the Office, we will continue to announce and promote EPSCoR and IDeA funding opportunities.