NBER i3 Open Data Fellows Program 2027: Graduate Students Can Receive $1,500 Research Fellowships
Overview
The National Bureau of Economic Research Innovation Information Initiative Open Data Fellows Program 2027 provides funding and professional engagement for researchers building open access tools and data. The initiative is a data collaborative focused on open innovation data, analytics, tools, and metrics. The programme awards five or more fellowships to support graduate students and recent graduates who develop and share high-quality, reusable research datasets, tools, code, and metadata. The fellowship runs for 12 months from January to December 2027.
Who can apply
Applications are open to individuals currently enrolled in a Master or PhD programme, as well as those who graduated from a graduate programme within the previous six months. Eligible fields of study include economics, innovation, entrepreneurship, or related fields. International applicants are welcome to apply, though those studying in the United States on student visas are encouraged to consult their international student office beforehand to determine eligibility for receiving fellowship payments and travel reimbursements.
What you get
Selected fellows receive a financial award of $1,500. Five or more fellowships are awarded through the programme. Participants gain opportunities to contribute to the wider research community, connect with researchers working on innovation-related topics, and join a network of current and former participants. Fellows receive mentorship and guidance through periodic individual and group meetings to discuss progress and share ideas. Participants may also have opportunities to attend and present their work at future National Bureau of Economic Research conferences.
Requirements
Projects supported by the programme must focus on developing resources for public dissemination and reuse rather than private use. Eligible outputs include new research datasets, research tools and analytical resources, reusable research code, metadata that improves accessibility, and existing projects still under development. Projects can be entirely new work or ongoing initiatives. Fellows are expected to present their completed projects at the annual innovation information initiative Technical Working Group meeting in December 2027.
How to apply
Candidates must submit a project proposal through the Google form provided in the official National Bureau of Economic Research announcement. Proposals should clearly explain the proposed project, detailing how it will contribute datasets, tools, code, or metadata to the innovation research community with public dissemination in mind. International applicants should consult their institution international student office regarding payment and reimbursement eligibility prior to submission.
Key dates
The application deadline is 1 November 2026. Selected fellows are announced in November 2026. An innovation information initiative Technical Working Group meeting takes place on 4 to 5 December 2026, inviting selected fellows. The fellowship period runs from January to December 2027. The final project presentation occurs in December 2027 at the annual Technical Working Group meeting.