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2026: Research Engagement Program

The Commonwealth Cyber Initiative Southwest Virginia Node (CCI SWVA) seeks proposals for seed grants to support projects focusing on pilot demonstrations for research programs or funding student researchers for cybersecurity research experience.

Objective:
The Commonwealth Cyber Initiative (CCI) is establishing Virginia as a global center of excellence at the intersection of security, autonomous systems, and data. With a mission of research, innovation, and workforce development, CCI serves as a catalyst for the commonwealth’s long-term leadership in this sector through the collaboration of a statewide hub and four regional nodes. The Southwest Virginia Node is offering this Research Engagement Program (REP) to seed research pilots, proof-of-concept demonstrations, and student researcher support during Summer 2026.

Research Aims:
Proposals will be considered seeking to explore early-stage pilots and proof-of-concept demonstrations for cybersecurity-related capabilities, concepts, or programs. Focus areas should address pressing issues related to the intersection of data, autonomy, and security.


Ideal outcomes for this seed grant would be A) validating the commercial or theoretical basis for a new cybersecurity-related capability or program, B) pursuing and securing additional, non-CCI funding in future fiscal years, or C) supporting and reporting on cybersecurity-related research efforts available to undergraduate or graduate students over the summer.

Eligibility:
The principal investigator (PI) must be from a public institution of higher education that participates in CCI SWVA and must be deemed eligible by their home institution to serve as a PI on an external grant.

Awards:
Anticipated award amount: up to $15,000. Budgets must be approved by the home institution or office of sponsored programs (if applicable) prior to the proposal submission.


Period of Performance:
May 01, 2026 – August 31, 2026

Reporting Requirements:
Awardees must provide an interim update by June 30, 2026, and a final technical report and a final accounting statement no more than 30 days after the period of performance concludes. The interim and final technical updates require completion of an online form.

Proposal Format:
Proposals must use 1-inch margins, 12-point font, and adhere to the following outline:



1. Title Page (1 page)

  • Title of proposed product
  • 250-word lay summary
  • Names of faculty team members
  • Contact information including unit, title, and email address for PI and any Co-PIs
  • Total amount requested



2. Project Description (1-2 pages)


  • Specify the concept or pilot program envisioned and how it relates to cybersecurity.
  • Explain why the funding is needed and how it will impact the project.
  • Articulate likely sources of continued, non-CCI funding that will be pursued in future years.



3. Budget

  • Budget spreadsheet including items, amounts, and justifications.

No equipment nor indirect costs are allowed. Institutions with an office of sponsored programs must secure that office’s approval. Collaborators from outside Virginia are allowed to take part in CCI research, however out-of-state investigators and those at private institutions cannot receive any CCI funding as part of this program.
 
4.  Resume, CV, or NSF-format Biographical Sketch


No particular format is required. Please limit to no more than 2 pages each for PI and any Co-PIs.


5. Current & Pending Support (for PI and any Co-PIs)

  • Title
  • Status of Support: Current, Pending, Planned, or Transfer of Support
  • Source of Support
  • Project/Proposal Start and End Dates (MM/YYYY), if available
  • Total Award Amount (including Indirect Costs)



No particular format is required. An investigator may use a current NSF Current & Pending Support document which contains this information. 




Evaluation Criteria:
Proposals will be evaluated according to the following criteria: 

         Intellectual Merit (40%)


  • Clearly define the problem or need within cybersecurity.
  • Demonstrate theoretical or preliminary approaches and results.
  • Highlight potential impact of likely or realistic outcomes.

        Impact of Funding (30%)

  • Demonstrate the need for funding to pursue your approach.
  • Highlight the approach to securing future, non-CCI funding (reference current & pending support, section 5, if applicable).
  • Showcase how the funding will impact student or junior faculty research careers, if applicable.

        Alignment and Qualifications (30%)

  • Highlight relevance to CCI mission and suitability of team background to proposed work.
  • Special consideration is given to first-time CCI researchers and faculty who have not received CCI support in the past 3 years.


Proposal Submission:
Proposals must be sent to CCI SWVA PM Madison Boswell (maboswell@vt.edu) with subject “FY26 REP Submission” by the PI institution’s Office of Sponsored Programs or other delegated authority no later than 5:00 pm Eastern on Friday, March 27, 2026. All proposals must be submitted as a single PDF document labeled 26_REP_lastname_firstname. Submissions will be acknowledged by email response from CCI SWVA.

Please note that the sponsor for this call for proposals is Commonwealth Cyber Initiative Southwest Virginia Node, a Node of CCI distinct from the statewide CCI “Hub.” Please work with your proposal teams to ensure that CCI SWVA is properly identified as the sponsor. VT researchers should select CCI SWVA as the sponsor organization in Summit.