# New Ideas Award

**Funder:** Simons Foundation
**Budget:** Up to $300,000 per year
**Duration:** Up to 2 years
**Application:** 2-stage: letter of intent (rolling from 29 April 2026) → invited full application (4 weeks to submit)
**Frequency:** Annual
**Official call:** https://www.simonsfoundation.org/funding/new-ideas-request-for-applications-2026/
**Last updated:** 25 Oct 2026

## Eligibility & scope

Early-stage, exploratory research testing novel hypotheses in autism and related neurodevelopmental disorders. Applicants and key collaborators must hold a PhD, MD or equivalent and a faculty position; no funding to institutions in China or Hong Kong; preliminary data not required but feasibility must be demonstrated.

## Summary

The Simons Foundation New Ideas Award funds early-stage, exploratory research testing novel hypotheses in autism and related neurodevelopmental disorders, offering up to $300,000 per year for up to two years. It targets faculty-level researchers who want to pursue high-risk ideas without preliminary data, provided they can demonstrate feasibility. The call uses a two-stage process starting with a letter of intent, accepted on a rolling basis from 29 April 2026.

## Who should apply

- Faculty-level researchers (PhD, MD, or equivalent) and their key collaborators
- Investigators proposing early-stage, exploratory hypotheses in autism or related neurodevelopmental disorders
- Researchers without preliminary data but with a clear feasibility case
- Applicants not affiliated with institutions in China or Hong Kong

## Key dates

- Rolling letter of intent accepted from 29 April 2026
- Invited full applications must be submitted within 4 weeks of invitation
- Up to 2-year project duration

## Tips for applicants

- Frame the proposal around a novel, testable hypothesis rather than an extension of existing funded work, this call explicitly favors early-stage ideas over preliminary data.
- Since preliminary data isn't required, use the feasibility section to address technical and conceptual risk directly rather than relying on prior results.
- Submit the LOI as soon as the idea is ready since the deadline is rolling, there's no benefit to waiting for a fixed date.

## Frequently asked questions

### How much does the Simons Foundation New Ideas Award pay?

Up to $300,000 per year for up to two years.

### Do I need preliminary data to apply for the New Ideas Award?

No, preliminary data is not required, but applicants must demonstrate the feasibility of their approach.

### Who is eligible for the Simons Foundation New Ideas Award?

Applicants and key collaborators must hold a PhD, MD, or equivalent and a faculty position, and the award does not fund institutions in China or Hong Kong.

### What is the application process for the New Ideas Award?

It is a two-stage process: a rolling letter of intent followed by an invited full application due within four weeks.

### When can I submit a letter of intent for the New Ideas Award?

Letters of intent are accepted on a rolling basis starting 29 April 2026.

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Source: [The Great Grantsby](https://grantsby.eu/grants/simons-foundation-new-ideas-award-2026) — EU grant monitoring for academic researchers. Always verify details on the funder's website before applying.

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