Good Morning,

The Public Interest Technology University Network (PIT-UN) Challenge, supported by the New America Foundation, seeks to encourage new ideas, foster collaborations, and incentivize resource- and information-sharing among a national network of universities working to create a robust Public Interest Technology field. Internal applications are now being accepted for this limited submission opportunity. A synopsis and link to the internal competition can be found below:

Public Interest Technology University Network (PIT-UN) Year 5 Challenge

Harvard Pre-Proposal Deadline: April 9, 2023

FAS/SEAS/OSP Full Proposal Deadline (if nominated): May 8, 2023

Sponsor Full Proposal Deadline (if nominated): May 15, 2023

Award Amount: Tranche 1: up to $90,000; Tranche 2: $90,001 to $180,00. Of the three new proposals Harvard may submit, only one proposal can be in the $90,001 to $180,000 tranche.

The Public Interest Technology University Network, (PIT-UN), is a partnership of colleges and universities committed to educating students who can better apply technical understanding and practice to questions of individual rights, justice, social welfare, and the public good, particularly for those members of our society least well served historically and today by existing systems and policies. 

For its fifth year, projects addressing either of the two priority areas below related to Public Interest Technology in university settings are welcome to apply for a grant. 

• Educational Offerings
• Career Pipeline/ Placement

Harvard University may submit up to three new proposals to this opportunity. The Office of the Vice Provost for Research is facilitating an internal application and review process to select nominees. Those interested in securing the Harvard nomination for a new proposal must submit an internal pre-proposal via the link above. Projects that have received prior funding from the PIT-UN Challenge in 2019, 2020, or 2021 but have not received three years of Network Challenge funding can apply for additional funding to expand and/or scale their project. Prior Network Challenge awardees who wish to expand and/or scale up their previously awarded work should contact VPR@Harvard.edu prior to starting an application.  

The PIT-UN full proposal will ask applicants to describe how the institution has demonstrated buy-in for the project to help sustain the project’s impact, and an institutional letter of support will be required. While the internal proposal does not require an institutional letter, the internal proposal will ask applicants to confirm that they have begun conversations with the requisite administrators or leadership regarding the necessary institutional support.

More information on the PIT-UN challenge can be found at https://pitcases.org/active-network-challenge/

Questions from FAS or SEAS faculty about this opportunity may be directed to Erin Hale (erin_hale@fas.harvard.edu) or Jennifer Corby (jcorby@fas.harvard.edu).

Requests for support related to the application portal may be directed to vpr@harvard.edu.