Project Grant Information

Sony Audio Institute Faculty Project Grant

The Sony Audio Institute (SAI) Faculty Project Grant is now accepting proposals from faculty researchers dedicated to advancing the field of music and audio technology and services. This grant is designed to support innovative projects that explore new frontiers in sound, ranging from theoretical research to practical applications. 

This grant is designed to support innovative, year-long projects that explore new frontiers in sound, ranging from theoretical research to practical and experiential applications. Faculty projects may be funded up to $15,000 USD for one full academic year. Funding may be distributed in intervals aligned with project milestones. Projects involving students may require the submission of periodic progress reports throughout the academic year:

RECOMMENDED TOPICS:

• Post-spatial audio
• Post-digital audio workstations
• The future of remote music production workflow
• The future of music listening experience
• The future of live concerts (performance to experience)
• AI in Music

Applicants will need to submit an abstract, project outcomes, an explanation of the project or research's relevance to Sony’s strategic areas of interest, a detailed budget, and a project timeline for review by the Sony Audio Institute steering committee.

ELIGIBILITY: Full-time faculty on continuing contracts from across the University are eligible to apply. Adjunct faculty with a full-time faculty co-sponsor are also eligible to apply. 

SELECTION CRITERIA AND REVIEW PROCESS: 

The Sony Audio Institute Steering Committee  will consider the following when reviewing applications:

• Is the proposed topic presented in a clear, detailed, well-organized way?
• Is the research topic aligned with the Institute's interests?
• Is the budget detailed and reflective of real needs?
• How will the research advance the field of audio technology and services?
• Does the research have the potential for making a significant impact within a department, school, or the audio and music industry in  general (for example, through curricular development, a conference, a publication, etc.)

Sony Audio Institute Student Project Grant

The Sony Audio Institute (SAI) Student Project Grant is now accepting proposals from student creators and researchers dedicated to advancing the field of audio technology and services. This grant is designed to support innovative projects that explore new frontiers in sound, ranging from theoretical research to practical applications. 

Short term projects (one semester in length) may be funded up to $1500 and long term projects(full academic year) up to $3000 with funding distributed at two intervals.  Students will be required to submit a progress report on their project at the midpoint of the term. Recommended topics include:

• Post-spatial audio
• Post-digital audio workstations
• The future of remote music production workflow
• The future of music listening experience
• The future of live concerts (performance to experience)
• AI x music 

We seek proposals that align with one of three key tracks:

Research and Academic Publishing 

For students focused on research, funding would support projects that lead to a publishable paper or academic presentation. Costs related to the research process itself would be covering including but not limited to:

• Materials and Equipment: This includes specialized microphones, digital audio workstations (DAWs), signal processing hardware, and any other specific equipment required for the study.
• Data Collection and Analysis: Funding could be used for conducting surveys, interviews, or experiments, as well as for software licenses for statistical analysis or machine learning tools.
• Topic Areas: Research topics might include areas like psychoacoustics (the study of sound perception), acoustic ecology (the relationship between sound and the environment), spatial audio, AI-driven audio synthesis, or the preservation of historical audio recordings.

App or Service Development 

For projects focused on creating a new app or service,funding would be more focused on software development and user experience such as:

• Software and Licensing: Funds can be used for purchasing software development kits (SDKs), cloud computing services (like AWS or Google Cloud for backend processing), and API licenses.
• User Interface/User Experience (UI/UX) Design: The grant may cover costs for professional design services or tools to create a user-friendly interface.
• Testing and Prototyping: Funding can be allocated for creating a minimum viable product (MVP), conducting user testing, and iterating on the app's features.
• Commercialization Support: Some grants may also include mentorship from industry professionals or support for market research to help students prepare for potential commercialization.

Prototypes and Entrepreneurial Projects

For students with a business idea, the grant would be structured to help them move from a concept to a functional prototype:

• Prototype Development: This is a core component, covering the cost of components, 3D printing, circuit boards, and other materials needed to build a physical prototype.
• Market Validation: Market research to determine the target audience and competitive landscape, or to conduct a feasibility study to assess the project's viability.
• Intellectual Property (IP) Protection: Funds might be used to cover the costs of filing for patents or trademarks to protect the intellectual property of the invention.
• Mentorship and Networking: For access to mentors and workshops focused on business planning, fundraising, and pitching to investors to prepare the student to seek further funding, such as from venture capitalists or angel investors. 

We encourage proposals that are both ambitious and well-defined, with a clear plan for execution and a measurable outcome. This grant provides not only financial support but also mentorship and access to resources to help transform your ideas into reality. Our goal is to foster the next generation of creators who will shape the future of sound.

SELECTION CRITERIA AND REVIEW PROCESS: 

The Sony Audio Institute Steering Committee will consider the following when reviewing applications:

• Is the proposed topic presented in a clear, detailed, well-organized manner?
• Is the research topic aligned with the Institute's interests?
• Is the budget detailed and reflective of real needs?
• How will the research advance the field of audio technology and services?
• Does the research have the potential for making a significant impact within a department, school, or the audio and music industry in  general (for example, through curricular development, a conference, a publication, etc.)

Application Link & Deadlines

Sony Audio Institute Faculty Project Grant
Application goes live on August 1st, 2026
Application Deadline: September 1st   
Apply Here for Faculty Project Grant

Sony Audio Institute Student Project Grant
Application goes live on August 1st, 2026
Application Deadline: September 15th
Apply Here for Student Project Grant