Research Funding and Support
Selected by a panel of esteemed judges at the annual Idea Incubation Workshops, Working Groups receive up to two years of Northwestern Buffett support to pursue their research projects. The support package is valued at more than $150,000 per year and includes funding, fundraising support, graduate assistantships, and administrative staff support for operations.
Working Groups undertake collaborative interdisciplinary research and pursue active measures to distribute solutions, influence policy, and mitigate the impact of the challenge on target countries/communities. The goal is for Working Group research to be developed in conjunction with stakeholders who can generate the greatest social impact. This includes:
- Reaching policymakers, lawmakers, and/or civil society groups in one country, multiple countries, or international bodies with research and outputs that promote change;
- Convening decision-makers, experts, and people/communities likely to be impacted by the global challenge into the same room for creative exchange, establishment of networks, and planning designed for positive impact;
- Developing and disseminating public education tools, laws and regulations, public campaigns, or creative works aimed at mitigation or effective response to the challenge.
Working Groups share and disseminate their research findings through group outputs such as publications, policy briefs/recommendations, public education materials, and technology designs.
For more information, please see the Frequently Asked Questions on Northwestern Buffett’s research trajectory.