UAEREP Unveils New Funding Structure for 7th Cycle Solicitation Document

Abu dhabi: The UAE Research Program for Rain Enhancement Science (UAEREP) convened an international assembly of leading scientists, experts, and stakeholders in a dedicated virtual workshop to discuss strategic research thrust areas and outline updates to its 7th Cycle Solicitation Document in alignment with the Program's 2030 roadmap. According to Emirates News Agency, the 7th Cycle introduces a new flexible funding structure with a total available budget of US$3 million distributed among up to five awards. For the first time, the program will offer three distinct funding categories tailored to varying project scopes and durations: projects of up to US$500,000 for one-year periods, up to US$1 million for two-year periods, and up to US$1.5 million for three-year periods. This expanded framework is designed to accommodate a broader range of innovative research proposals and accelerate impact across the program's thrust areas. Submissions will open to researchers worldwide following the publication of the upd ated solicitation document later this year. The high-level workshop focused on how the 7th Cycle solicitation will be updated to serve the 2030 roadmap for each of the five thrust areas, with thrust area leads presenting proposed updates and receiving feedback from all attendees to ensure the final solicitation reflects the highest standards of scientific rigour and strategic alignment. Workshop participants solidified key criteria for the upcoming cycle, including updates to technology readiness level (TRL) progression for technologies, models, and other relevant deliverables, as well as identifying high-priority research areas on which UAEREP will focus in its next grant cycle. Dr. Abdulla Al Mandous, President of the World Meteorological Organization (WMO) and Director-General of the National Center of Meteorology (NCM), emphasized the UAE's meaningful investment in science and its transformative results. He noted that the 7th Cycle marks a new chapter for UAEREP, expanding funding pathways and sharpeni ng the strategic focus to meet future water security challenges. Alya Al Mazrouei, UAEREP Director, highlighted the UAE's ongoing commitment to addressing global water challenges through science and innovation. She expressed confidence that the 7th Cycle will attract bold, transformative proposals advancing the frontiers of rain enhancement science. This year, workshop participants focused on five key thrust areas: Climate Intervention, Novel Cloud Formation and Rain Enhancement Systems, Seeding Materials, Unmanned Aerial Systems (UAS), and Modeling. Experts covered critical areas of interest across each thrust area, with dedicated presentations followed by in-depth question-and-answer sessions. Dr. Mohammed Mahmoud, UAEREP Strategic Direction Committee member and Workshop Chair, remarked on the program's commitment to supporting both short-term innovations and long-term research efforts. The feedback and insights shared during the workshop will inform the final solicitation document, ensuring alignment wi th the program's 2030 roadmap. The workshop brought together thrust area leads and working group members from world-class entities, including the US National Center for Atmospheric Research (NCAR), the Technology Innovation Institute (TII), North-West University (NWU), and the University of California San Diego (UCSD). The team of international experts engaged in discussions to review and refine the solicitation framework, identify priorities for each thrust area, and recognize opportunities for converging research and development pathways.