Announcing the WeRobotics Microgrants Program for Flying Labs

We're pleased to announce the launch of our Microgrants Program for Flying Labs, which provides labs with awards that can be used to address the barriers they face to scaling their work. These may include funding local trainings, engagements with local government through workshops, implementing operational projects and expanding their network by participating in local conferences. Consideration is also given to Flying Labs that want to increase the diversity within their community, such as gender balance or age and socioeconomic status. In addition, WeRobotics welcomes joint applications between Flying Labs that aim to work together on given projects or trainings.

WeRobotics is seeking grantees who will take their robotics expertise further, making clear connections between how robotics will be used to drive action and decision-making and considering how to scale their work.

The use of appropriate robotics solutions is just a first step towards empowering local leaders and communities, but it's not the final step. WeRobotics is seeking grantees who will take their robotics expertise further, making clear connections between how robotics will be used to drive action and decision-making and considering how to scale their work. Flying Labs should clearly articulate who will benefit from the grant (e.g., local municipalities, policymakers, local NGOs local youth) and how they plan to build and sustain these partnerships.

WeRobotics views the Microgrants program as a launching point for Flying Labs to deepen their investment in robotics-related activities that will lead to long-term change. Proposals that demonstrate a clear commitment and strategy for engaging in robotics beyond the 3-month grant period are strongly advised. This may include building community capacity in areas like developing further technology skills or training capabilities, for example.

The main sponsors of this Microgrant include The Rockefeller Foundation and the Flying Labs themselves thanks to their annual contributions to the Flying Labs Fund. The WeRobotics Microgrants framework is directly modeled on HOT’s excellent Microgrants framework. We thus fully credit HOT for the model. WeRobotics is very grateful to The Rockefeller Foundation, Flying Labs and HOT.

For more information of the Microgrants Program and to apply, please visit this page.