Criteria
Q. How does Stanford Impact Labs define the term “solutions-focused R&D cycle”?
A solutions-focused R&D cycle involves developing and testing solutions in real-world settings. Solutions-focused R&D cycles are not defined by their method and therefore reflect a variety of different approaches to testing solutions in real-world settings. For example:
- A South Asian engineering firm, a Bangladesh-based research institute and Luby Lab are rigorously evaluating a new approach to reducing pollution from brick kilns in Bangladesh
- The US Environmental Protection Agency and RegLab are testing whether analysis of new data sources–like satellite technology–can improve detection of environmental noncompliance and ultimately improve environmental enforcement. In one setting, they found that analysis of satellite imagery could improve the detection of specific types of potential permit violations ~5x more efficiently than random audits.
- In partnership with the California Public Utility Commission (CPUC), Stanford’s Program on Energy and Sustainable Development conducted modeling on how to build a more reliable energy grid in California, engaged a number of stakeholders in interactive game-based workshops, and then used that feedback to improve their policy proposal. Based on this work, CPUC’s Energy Division submitted their policy recommendation for regulatory approval.
Q. How does Stanford Impact Labs use the term “Impact” when referring to impact-focused research?
Impact can be used differently depending on the context. For example, “research impact” is often used to refer to academic publications and the extent to which research may shape a scholarly field.
Generally, when SIL is using the term impact we mean a tangible change in the conditions of people’s lives. We’re open to–and support–a variety of different ways that that impact may come about–be it through policy change; scaling a program, product or tool; improving or opening up new markets, or other means.
Our staged and sequenced approach, aims to support insights along the path to large-scale impact. Generally, we’re most interested to learn about how research will be used and the impact that will have at-scale.
Q. The solution I’m proposing would scale through a private company or through private sector adoption–am I a good fit?
- SIL looks for proposals with solutions that have strong pathways from science to impact. A pathway to scale through the private sector is one powerful way through which scientific insights can reach a large number of people.
- Proposals with pathways to scale through the private sector that have the strongest potential for funding are those that are rooted in a social problem and can clearly articulate why grant capital is needed. SIL aims to allocate capital to problems that are underinvested in because the private sector doesn’t see a profit motive to invest in R&D. In describing the social problem, be sure to articulate the market failure that makes this partnership-based research unattractive to commercial capital.
- For example, the Gates Foundation funds research against neglected diseases (like malaria) that commercial companies have under-invested in because of the limited market power of people who are most affected by these diseases.
- Another example is the VMware Women’s Leadership Innovation Lab. They conduct research with private sector companies about how to improve gender equity in the workforce. Their research has a strong public good element. They publish and make their findings widely available. If left to private companies on their own, this publicly available research may be underinvested in.
Q. I have a new app or digital technology–am I a good fit?
- Digital technology can be a powerful tool for taking proven solutions to scale or for developing entirely new solutions that were previously not possible.
- Proposals for partnership-based research on digital technologies that have the strongest potential for funding are those that are rooted in a deep understanding of the behavioral or social challenge and why you believe that this technology is the best approach to solve the problem. In describing the social problem, articulate your hypothesis about why the particular social or behavioral change has not happened yet, and how technology responds to that specific problem.