Microsoft AI Economy Institute – Cohort 3 Open Call (March 23 Deadline)
$75,000 Research Grants on Frontier Firms & the Transformation of Work
The Microsoft AI Economy Institute (AIEI) has launched its third global Call for Proposals, inviting senior researchers to study how frontier firms adopting AI at scale are reshaping work, productivity, and economic structures worldwide.
Cohort 3 focuses on understanding how leading-edge firms are transforming job design, workforce skills, leadership expectations, and regional economic dynamics as AI diffuses through the economy.
Organization: Microsoft AI Economy Institute (AIEI)
Support Type: Research grant + Senior Fellows cohort program
Geographic Focus: Global
Proposal Deadline: March 23, 2026 (5:00 PM Pacific)
About the Funder
Microsoft AI Economy Institute was launched in 2025 to support independent, policy-relevant research on how artificial intelligence is reshaping productivity, labor markets, education systems, and economic opportunity.
All supported research is conducted independently; findings and conclusions represent the authors’ views, not Microsoft’s.
Research Focus: Cohort 3
Theme: Frontier Firms and the Transformation of Work in the AI Economy
AIEI is seeking rigorous research examining firms that are adopting AI at scale and serving as early indicators of structural economic change.
Proposals may address:
- Productivity at the Frontier – How AI is reshaping production and organizational design
- Occupational Change & Workforce Transformation – Skill demands, leadership expectations, and job restructuring
- Economic Geography & Diffusion – Regional spillovers and market-level effects
- Historical Analogues – Comparisons to prior technological shifts
- Forecasting AI Diffusion – Labor market signals and early transformation indicators
Priority will be given to empirical, policy-relevant studies that generate actionable insights for policymakers, educators, employers, and workers.
Award & Support
- 💰 Grant Amount: $75,000 (single award per selected proposal)
- ✈️ Travel Support for In-Person Workshop:
- $7,500 (U.S., Canada, Mexico)
- $20,000 (all other regions)
- 📚 Publication Opportunities:
- Contribute a chapter to an edited trade book on the AI economy
- Submit a manuscript to a high-quality open-access academic journal
- 🎓 Designation: AIEI Senior Fellow
Program Timeline
- 🗂 Submission Portal Opens: Expected February 24, 2026
- ⏰ Proposal Deadline: March 23, 2026 (5:00 PM Pacific)
- 📢 Award Notification: April 2026
- 🧪 Research Period: April–September 2026
- 📍 In-Person Workshop: July 13–15, 2026
- 📘 Book Chapter Submission: July 2026
- 📄 Manuscript Submission: November 2026
- 📚 Book Publication: January 2027
The program spans approximately 12 months and includes bi-weekly virtual convenings and a multi-day in-person workshop with Microsoft subject-matter experts.
Eligibility
Applicants must:
- Be affiliated with an accredited university or research institution worldwide
- Hold a PhD or equivalent terminal degree (MD, JD, DrPH, etc.)
- Have held that degree for at least five years at time of application
- Submit no more than two Principal Investigators (only one awardee per proposal)
Interdisciplinary teams are strongly encouraged.
Application Components
Applications include:
- Applicant Biosketch
- Personal statement (≤300 words)
- One-page professional summary
- Up to three contributions to science
- Current research support and citation metrics
- Project Overview (≤1 page)
- Research question and methods
- Policy relevance
- Target journals (up to three)
Review Criteria (Equally Weighted)
- Scientific Strength (25%) – Rigor and methodological quality
- Feasibility (25%) – Realistic scope and timeline
- Pragmatic Applicability (25%) – Actionable policy and institutional insights
- PI Productivity (25%) – Demonstrated research execution and publication record
Why This Opportunity Is a Good Fit
This program is ideal for:
- Senior scholars studying AI’s impact on labor markets and organizational change
- Economists, sociologists, policy scholars, and interdisciplinary researchers
- Researchers leveraging novel datasets or AI-enabled methods
- Comparative or cross-national studies on AI diffusion
The AIEI Cohort 3 Open Call offers a structured, high-visibility research opportunity with publication pathways and direct engagement with policy and industry leaders.
Apply / Learn More:
➡️ https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/research/group/aiei/aiei-open-call-3/
Corporate Grants Guide Notes
Review Type: Competitive global call
Award Amount: $75,000
Best Suited For: Senior academic researchers examining AI’s impact on firms, labor markets, and economic transformation
Deadline: March 23, 2026 (5:00 PM Pacific)
