Applications due September 15, 2026
Breakthrough technology ideas often start in university labs long before they reach a product roadmap. With this thought in mind, the Sony Research Award Program works to ensure these ideas don’t stay siloed. Since its launch, this open innovation program has aimed to foster collaboration between academia and Sony researchers to advance technical areas of mutual interest.
For the 2026 edition, two things stand out: the program now covers a significantly larger group of European countries, and the official Sony Research Award Program website has been updated with a FAQ section designed to help applicants find the information they need more quickly.
More than a grant: a sponsored research collaboration
The principal investigators (PIs) of awarded proposals are matched with Sony researchers for the duration of the project. This creates a genuine collaboration rather than a hands-off sponsorship, helping to cultivate advanced concepts within academic and research institutions while also contributing to Sony’s broader research activities.
The program is open to full-time faculty and researchers, including those at government and nonprofit research institutes, who are eligible to supervise PhD students.
What the Sony Research Award Program offers
The Sony Research Award Program provides sponsored research funding for one-year projects and is structured around two award tracks:
• Faculty Innovation Award – up to $100,000 USD for research in Sony’s general areas of interest. Applicants select the single keyword best suited to their proposal from broad categories such as information technology, entertainment technology, and device technology.
• Focused Research Award – up to $150,000 USD for research aligned with one of Sony’s published Focused Research Themes, in areas of immediate interest.
In recent years, Sony has sought proposals that support the company’s long-term “Creative Entertainment Vision,” covering multiple disciplines including machine learning, computer vision, human sensing, audio and language processing, robotics, visualization, and advanced device technologies.
More European countries eligible this year
The Sony Research Award Program is already well established in the U.S., Canada, India, and select European countries. This year, the European list has expanded and now includes Bulgaria, Croatia, the Republic of Cyprus, Czech Republic, Estonia, Greece, Hungary, Latvia, Lithuania, Malta, Romania, Slovakia, and Slovenia, joining Austria, Belgium, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Ireland, Italy, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, and the United Kingdom.
The updated list of eligible countries reflects the program’s aim to identify strong research across a broader geographic range and to extend participation opportunities to institutions across Central, Eastern, and Southern Europe.
What participation involves
Principal investigators must belong to a university, educational institution, or governmental/nonprofit research institute, and must be full-time professors or researchers eligible to supervise PhD students. Full professors, associate professors, and assistant professors are eligible to apply. For the United Kingdom, this includes senior lecturers, principal lecturers, lecturers, and readers who are eligible to supervise PhD students at their institutions. Co-PIs, meaning one or more researchers who share leadership of the project alongside the main principal investigator, are welcome, provided they are from the same institution as the PI and meet the same criteria.
Selected projects transition into a sponsored research agreement negotiated between Sony, the PI, and the PI’s institution, covering objectives, milestones, publication, use of research, and patent rights. Funding follows once the agreement has been finalized.
Start with the FAQ Section
The program website includes a dedicated FAQ section covering the questions applicants most often raise about eligibility, proposal format, rules on budget and indirect costs, theme and keyword selection, submission rules, and what happens after selection. Checking the FAQ document saves time on both sides: applicants get clarity immediately rather than waiting for a reply, and the program team can focus on questions that require a case-specific response.
Anything the FAQ does not resolve can be sent through the official inquiry form.
Interested in applying, or want to see if you fit the eligibility guidelines? Details about the program, current themes and keywords, and submission requirements are available at the Sony Research Award Program site.
The current call for proposals closes on September 15, 2026. Visit the official website to learn more and submit an application.
We want to hear from you
Is your organization planning to apply for the 2026 Sony Research Award Program? Has a research team from your organization been selected in previous years? Share your thoughts with the U-I community on our LinkedIn page.
Thank you to Alina-Madalina Dumea, Sony Research Award Program coordinator, Europe, for contributing this timely 3-Minute Read.
The 3-Minute Read is a UIDP member information piece and does not represent the opinions of our members or representatives. We welcome your comments on our LinkedIn profile.
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The 3-Minute Read is a UIDP member information piece and does not represent the opinions of our members or representatives. We welcome your comments on our LinkedIn profile.