Awarded upon request to all newly formed RAS Section and Student Branch Chapters within 12 months of the Chapter formation date.

Please submit proposals by completing the Chapter Start-up Grant Form for review by the IEEE RAS Membership Activities Board.

For more information, questions, email [email protected].

Submission of Event/Activities/Meeting Report with photos and brief description of Chapter activities (2-3 paragraphs) on the Chapter Grant Report Submission Form.

The report may be included in the IEEE Robotics & Automation Magazine Society News and/or IEEE RAS eNews.

To provide funding to RAS Section and Student Branch Chapters in support of local programming to encourage volunteerism and society involvement with the goal of broadening participation in robotics and automation in the local environment.

Options for grant funding may include: chapter-centered events for practicing engineers; chapter meeting featuring industry executives; outreach to get students at primary schools interested in robotics and automation; design competitions; or other ideas. Chapter grants can be used for event organizing fees, travel support, awards, materials, and components.

Preference will be given to Grant applications involving multiple local RAS chapters and RAS student chapters

Chapters are limited to TWO Chapter Initiative Grant applications per calendar year, one application per grant cycle.
In 2026 and onward, chapters will be eligible to receive an initiative grant once per calendar year in order to support more of our many chapters.

Workshop/Competition -Local high quality technical events (such as local workshops or small conferences) to serve the local or regional community. Events should target themes of interest to RAS members.

Seminar – Aimed at networking and with topics of interest to industry members. Formats include panel sessions, and presentations or lectures by industry experts. Content should be created based on interest to industry.

Project – RAS Chapter Initiative funding is generally not granted to purchase of materials, components, and manufacturing for projects. Identify value of project to RAS community. (need justify benefit to RAS community)

Other – Additional options for grant funding may include: chapter-centered events for practicing engineers; chapter meeting featuring industry executives; outreach to get students at primary schools interested in robotics and automation; design competitions; or other ideas.

Please submit proposals by completing the Chapter Initiative Grant Form for review by the IEEE RAS Membership Activities Board.

Please note the following:

1. A chapter may submit an application once a grant cycle. If multiple submissions are presented, only the last submitted application will be reviewed.
2. Chairs cannot submit for multiple chapters.
3. Applications requesting over $2000 USD will be immediately rejected.
4. Starting in 2026 and onward, chapters will be eligible to receive an initiative grant once per calendar year in order to support more of our many chapters.

For more information, questions, email [email protected].

Submission of Event/Activities/Meeting Report with photos and brief description of Chapter activities (2-3 paragraphs) on the Chapter Grant Report Submission Form.

The report may be included in the IEEE Robotics & Automation Magazine Society News and/or IEEE RAS eNews.

Grants up to 2000 USD awarded on a competitive basis twice annually

• 31 January – Grant Submission #1 Deadline
• 15 March – Notification #1 of Approval/Rejection *Delayed to March 31, 2026
• 31 May – Grant Submission # 2 Deadline
• 15 August – Notification #2 of Approval/Rejection