Applications are now open. You may view our call for proposals and apply at this link.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
1.Who can apply?
Applications are open to Harvard University faculty.
2. How do I apply?
You may view our call for applications and apply at this link.
3. What type of projects are eligible for funding?
We invite proposals from Harvard faculty that create knowledge on how how AI is transforming firms and organizations with priority to large-scale field-based experiments with practical implications for industry, high-impact moonshot ideas, and pilots to deliver initial research insights. We welcome projects proposed by groups of faculty across schools and disciplines.
4. What is the award amount?
Selected projects will be funded at approximately $50,000.
5. How long is each award for?
1 Year.
6. Can ongoing research projects apply for funding?
Ongoing research projects may apply for funding if the proposal clearly demonstrates how the additional support will create unique insights or broader impact.
7. Can I apply for multiple projects?
Applicants may apply for funding for multiple projects but can receive only one award.
8. How often will project progress be monitored?
D^3 Associates will share progress by participating in quarterly cohort meetings and midterm and final reports to D^3.
9. What kind of support will the Digital Data Design (D^3) Institute provide during the project?
The Digital Data Design (D^3) Institute will advance impact for your research by delivering insights from your work with academic and practitioner audiences.
The D^3 Associates Program will guide awarded projects by hosting quarterly calls to discuss project progress, successes, and challenges.
The D^3 Associates Program does not provide support for the administration and compliance of awarded research, which is to be managed independently by the awardee in collaboration with Harvard research administration.
10. What are the post-award requirements?
Awardees will share progress by participating in quarterly cohort meetings and midterm and final reports to the Institute. Awardees will also actively engage with the Institute through:
- Awardees will authorize* use of their AI-related research publications for at least three Insights articles during their award term.
- Featured research may include work produced outside of the awarded project or prior to award term.
- At least one Insight should be based on new work produced during award term.
- D^3 Discussions is an exclusive webinar series hosted on Sana, D^3’s Learning platform, featuring the latest research and insights from D^3 faculty and affiliates.
- D^3’s Learning Pathways are self-paced short courses that teach learners to optimize their daily work using predictive, generative, and agentic AI. You can learn more about current pathways here: https://d3.harvard.edu/learning-programs-for-individuals
- Depending on the team’s content development needs, this can range from providing AI-related research to proposing and, upon approval, creating the draft of a Learning Pathway
The D^3 Associates Program award period ends on June 30, 2027, and use of funds expire on this date.
Expenses are required to be used within the policies of Harvard Business School. Awards may only support direct costs. You may view a description of direct costs at this link. Indirect, overhead, and Facilities and Administrative (F&A) costs (excluding the standard assessment rates on internal awards between 0 and 20% as defined by the Harvard school of the recipient — applicants may find this rate through their local Office of Sponsored Programs); fund fees; and subawards are not eligible for funding.
The D^3 Associates Program does not provide support for the administration and compliance of awarded research, which is to be managed independently by the awardee in collaboration with Harvard research administration.
*Full text of open access articles may be uploaded into LLMs for summarization purposes and to extract insights. For articles without open access, faculty may approve or deny this; if denied, articles may not be suitable for use in a D^3 Insights article.
11. Who can I contact for more information?
You may contact our team at d3associates@hbs.edu.