Bayer opens applications for program focused on sustainability

Bayer has announced the opening of applications for the company's annual Grants4Ag initiative. For more than five years, the agricultural leader has offered researchers financial and scientific support to develop their ideas for new solutions to research and development challenges in agriculture. Since its creation in 2015, more than 100 scholarships have been awarded. This year, Bayer's Grants4Ag winning projects will focus on advancing a more sustainable food system. The deadline for registrations will be August 31, 2021.

“Our 4 Grants2020Ag program exceeded our expectations in attracting top proposals across a range of R&D activities,” said Phil Taylor, Open Innovation Lead for Bayer’s CropScience division. "At Bayer, we promote the responsible use of natural resources and this year our Grants4Ag program will support these commitments, aiming to advance a more sustainable food system by highlighting projects in this area."

Bayer's Grants4Ag program has no reporting requirements and each applicant retains the intellectual property developed in the project. Taylor says the company views these grants as an initial investment with the potential to become larger-scale, long-term collaborations with Bayer.

In addition to receiving a grant of between €5.000 to €15.000, successful applicants will be partnered with a Bayer scientist who will provide guidance and feedback on the project. Previous grant recipients highlight the importance of this professional mentoring as a defining feature of the Grants4 program in addition to traditional funding programs.

"The Grants4Ag program is a great way to start or jumpstart a research project," said Liz Skellam, assistant professor of chemistry at the University of North Texas, who received a 2020 grant and follows: the Bayer team's contribution to the organization Regular mentoring and organization updates are invaluable. Overall, you have the freedom to work on a project of your choice and develop it with the support of Bayer scientists.

Last year's program awarded 24 grants after receiving more than 600 submissions from 39 countries around the world. This year, during the submission process, Bayer's Grants4Ag program will once again partner with Halo, a marketplace that helps companies connect with scientists through an intuitive and simplified interface.

“We are thrilled to once again support Bayer in this year’s Grants4Ag program,” said Kevin Leland, CEO and founder of Halo. "We designed Halo as a partnership platform where researchers can join forces to tackle the world's most pressing challenges, and we look forward to seeing how Bayer's collaborations with universities and startups will advance sustainable development in agriculture

Full details about the programs' desired solutions, the application process and submission rules are available at halo.science/company/bayer-crop-science.