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LIVE Learning Innovation Incubator

Ignite Tech Development Grants

LIVE Ignite Tech Development Grants offer an intense burst of development support from the LIVE technical team (Research Engineer + CS Postdoc) to bring powerful ideas for innovative learning technologies to life or help existing tools take bold new steps forward. Proposals should outline both the conceptual value of the project (how will the technology support needed kinds of learning in innovative ways) and pragmatic goals (what is the current state of the technology now and what is the desired state to be achieved) plus demonstrate the feasibility of completion within the planned 2.5 month period. Preference will be given to applicants with a documented history of active involvement in the LIVE community.

LIVE Technical Team Capabilities

LIVE’s Research Engineer and Computer Science Postdoctoral Fellow have industry and academic experience in backend web applications and cloud infrastructures, are proficient in various programming languages and are available to assist with building a range of applications and services, including graphical applications that integrate technologies such as cloud computing, AR/VR, eye tracking, and generative AI. Their specific skill set includes:

  • Software design/development (using C#, Rust, Python, JavaScript) 
  • Cross-platform graphical applications made with the Unity game engine
  • Augmented/Virtual Reality
  • Backend systems and web applications, including API design/implementation
  • Server hosting/management with cloud providers
  • Educational robotics and educational robotics simulations
  • Generative AI applications

Additional Resources

LIVE Ignite Tech Develop Grant awardees will have access to additional in-kind resources as applicable to increase project success, including: 

  • Specialty hardware and software (Tobii Pro 3 Eye tracking glasses and analysis software, VR/AR equipment).
  • Newly renovated facilities in the 17th & Horton building (including team workspaces, Human Interaction Viewpoint and Embodiment (HIVE) Lab, EngageAI Classroom of the Future, IDEA Lab, and Meta VR Cave)
  • LIVE’s network of diverse learning technology, product development and social entrepreneurship expertise

Evaluation Criteria

  1. Significance & Originality: How important is the learning challenge being addressed? How promising and novel is the approach to addressing it?
  2. Advancement & Feasibility: Does the project propose a significant but achievable advance in the state of the learning technology? Do the project needs align with the available considering capabilities of the technical team?
  3. Impact & Inclusivity: How likely is the technology to significantly advance learning practices and/or outcomes? Does the project demonstrate a commitment to ensuring that the solution is accessible and beneficial to a broad spectrum of learners?
  4. Scalability & Sustainability: What is the potential for widespread use and impact? Does the project outline a clear path for continuation or expansion beyond the grant period?

Eligibility & Terms

  • Vanderbilt faculty, research scientists, postdocs, and doctoral students are eligible to apply
  • Projects must be complete by December 15th, 2024 
  • Applicants can submit multiple proposals; however, it is strongly recommended that they focus their efforts on a single proposal. By concentrating on one proposal, applicants can dedicate more time and resources to ensure it is of the highest possible quality, well-developed and competitive.
  • By accepting a LIVE Ignite Tech Development Grant, awardees agree to participate in bi-weekly meetings, and commit to timely communications with LIVE development team on feature requests and feedback via a set of mutually agreed project management practices, where both parties respond to inquiries within 2 workdays. 
  • Grants can not be extended past the award deadline.

Any external funding or industry partnerships arising based on work from Ignite Grants must be coordinated in collaboration with LIVE

2024 Ignite Tech Development Grant Cycle

Important Dates

  • August 28 – Grant announced
  • September 18 – Proposals due
  • September 27 – Awards announced
  • October 1  – Grant work begins
  • December 15 – Grant work complete

Proposal Submission Process

Submit your application materials here

  • Title
  • Abstract (max 100 words)
  • Project Description (max 500 words, upload as PDF)
    • Learning Challenge and Approach: Describe the learning challenge of interest, why it is important and make a compelling case for the promise of your innovative approach to addressing it. 
    • Development Vision and Goals: Outline your overall vision for the technology, its current status, and specific development goals for this grant. Highlight existing capabilities and limitations, and explain how this project will advance the technology to the next stage.
    • Next Steps: Describe your plans to continue your efforts post grant. What will the development advance allow you to do that was not possible before (e.g. pilot testing, grant applications or other)? 
    • Eventual Impact: Explain how the technology will transform learning practices and demonstrate its potential for widespread use. Discuss any commitments to providing benefits to a diverse learner population.
  • Work Plan (max 250 words, upload as PDF)
    •  Identify tasks to be completed and required skills to complete them, provide a 2.5-month timeline, including # of hours expected per week, with development phases and key deliverables for each phase. The maximum possible support provided is 1 person-month (160 hours).

For any questions regarding LIVE Ignite Tech Develop Grants please email LIVE@vanderbilt.edu