Request for Proposals - Climate Science

ADIA Lab has carefully reviewed the outcomes of its climate science invention sessions and stakeholder engagements over the past year. This process involved collaborating with external experts in climate science and related fields to identify key research thrust areas and corresponding application roadmaps.

For the 2025 proposal solicitation, ADIA Lab will focus on the following research thrust areas:


1. Earth System Data Curation and Platforms

  • Develop new datasets for satellite, IoT, and inferred Earth System data.
  • Address gaps in spatial and temporal data coverage.
  • Create scalable, high-quality climate data platforms.
  • Enhance Earth System Digital Twins (ESDTs).

2. Hybrid AI-Physics-based Earth System Models

  • Integrate physics-aware ML to improve climate models.
  • Enhance weather-to-climate prediction with AI.
  • Develop AI-powered large language models for Earth science.

3. AI for Climate Adaptation and Resilience

  • Quantify uncertainty in extreme weather projections.
  • Conduct region-specific case studies in water, energy, and infrastructure.

4. Ethical Climate AI and Governance

  • Establish science infrastructures for AI-driven climate applications.
  • Define standards for responsible AI in climate research.

Projects selected in this funding cycle will be evaluated based on their potential to contribute to the program’s targeted near-term goals for the next three years. Proposed projects should aim to create new knowledge and tools that move the identified research topics toward practical applications. Each proposal should clearly outline a path toward application, whether that involves progressing from fundamental research to technology development, or advancing from prototypes to system demonstrations and validations.

ADIA Lab will offer two prestigious awards, each up to $1.5 million, distributed over three years (annual cap of $500,000 per award). These awards support the development of new tools, models, and datasets that enhance climate science research, with a strong focus on tangible outcomes such as advanced AI-driven climate models, scalable data platforms, and validated climate adaptation solutions.


Research Awards

Two awards of up to $1.5M each, distributed over three years (annual cap of $500,000).

Award 1

Up to $1.5M
($500K per year)

Award 2

Up to $1.5M
($500K per year)



Important Information for Applicants

Please review the timeline below for key deadlines and an overview of the award process. For detailed information on eligibility criteria, award specifics, the review procedure, and more, please refer to the full RFP document.

If you have any questions, don’t hesitate to reach out at climatescience@adialab.ae.

Detailed submission and preparation instructions are given with referenced templates in the RFP. Proposals must adhere strictly to the specified page limitations. Proposals that are not compliant with the provided guidelines will be rejected without review.

Download RFP Document

Award Timeline

May 10, 2025 Registration: Due by Midnight (GMT)
May 31, 2025 Proposal submission: Due by Midnight (GMT)
July 25, 2025 Shortlisted proposals notified (cooperative agreement negotiation begins)
October 28, 2025 Official Award Announcement (Day 1 of ADIA Lab Symposium)
December 1, 2025 Award/Cooperative Agreement Effective Date
→


What Makes a Strong Proposal?

Clear Research Strategies

  • Outline data collection, modeling, and analysis approaches.
  • Emphasize the use of comprehensive databases, historical, and new data.

Collaborative Approach

  • Large teams involving academic, industry, and government sectors are encouraged.
  • Multi-institutional and multinational collaborations are a plus.
  • Projects addressing multiple research areas and leveraging partner resources will be prioritized.

Required Proposal Components

  • Comprehensive Project Plan: Integrate research, capacity building, and knowledge transfer activities. Ensure intellectual exchange among all partners.
  • Social and Environmental Responsibility: Include a plan for community outreach and environmental impact assessment.
  • Detailed Management Plan: Outline project oversight, team communication, risk management, and financial monitoring.

Collaboration with UAE-based Partners

  • Partnering with UAE research organizations or ADIA Lab Fellows is recommended.
  • Collaborating with the Earth-2 Climate Tech Lab in Abu Dhabi is encouraged for regional case studies or resources.

Application Readiness

  • Aim for an advanced level of application readiness by the end of the project.
  • Validation of prototypes or models in relevant environments is expected.
  • Include field testing or integration with existing systems where possible.