Announcing: SAS/IIF Research Grants

The International Institute of Forecasters and SAS® announce two $10,000 grants to support research on forecasting. Per the announcement :

Forecasting research has seen major changes in the theoretical ideas underpinning forecasting effectiveness over the last 30 years. However, there has been less impact on forecasting practice. We aim to put this right. For the seventeenth year, the IIF, in collaboration with SAS, is proud to announce financial support for research on how to improve forecasting methods, and business forecasting practice, including organisational aspects of management of the forecasting process. This year’s support will consist of a total of two $10,000 grants in methodology and practice/management categories.

Applications should be submitted to the IIF Office by September 30, 2020. The application must include:

• Description of the project (at most 4 pages)
• C.V./resume (brief, 4 page max)
• Budget and work-plan for the project (brief, 1 page max)

Criteria for the award of the grant will include likely impact on forecasting methods and business applications.

Consideration will be given to new researchers, and whether supplementary funding is likely to be gained. It is also expected that the research supported by the SAS/IIF grant be presented in an International Symposium on Forecasting (ISF) organized by the IIF. The applications will be assessed through a committee appointed by the IIF directors. The results of the evaluation will be announced to the applicants within 12 weeks of the closing date.

Grant recipients are also required to author a paper reporting on their research for possible publication in the International Journal of Forecasting (IJF). Therefore it is useful to keep in mind the IJF suggestions for authors.

In addition to the advances made at our academic research institutions, there is also considerable innovation coming from practitioners -- as we've seen in the M4 and M5 Forecasting Competitions. Practitioners are encouraged to submit proposals.

Find more details about the application process, and learn about previous recipients, on the IIF website.

Application deadline is September 30, 2020.