RSP 605–02: Travel of Research Investigators to Potential Sponsors

To allow principal investigators on sponsored programs to meet with potential sponsors so principal investigators may market their ideas or interests and gain a better understanding of the goals of funding organizations

Office of the Vice President for Research and Economic Affairs

To enable principal investigator (PI) or investigators to meet with staff of potential sponsors, the vice provost for research has established a program entitled Travel of Research Investigators to Potential Sponsors (TRIPS) to fund travel and per diem expenses.

1. The proposed project or program must be of substantial nature, preferably multi-year.
2. At minimum, a letter of intent or a preproposal for the project must be prepared for submission or presentation to the potential sponsor. A copy must be attached to the TRIPS application, which is to be submitted to the Office of the Vice President for Research and Economic Affairs (OVPREA).
3. Travel must be to the sponsor headquarters or regional headquarters. TRIPS support is not available to meet sponsor staff at other meeting places.
4. A formal appointment must be made in advance of the trip and in advance of requesting funds from the OVPREA.
5. There is a limit of one trip per fiscal year on a no-match basis. Additional trips within the fiscal year will require at least a 50 percent match from the department, college, or unit.
6. The project must not be funded currently by the target sponsor.
7. Support will be limited to one person and to:
   
   1. coach, round-trip airfare (economy rate, if available) purchased at least two weeks in advance to any place in the lower continental United States

      and

   2. one day’s lodging and per diem.

8. Application forms for support from this program are available in the OVPREA.
9. Concurrence of the department chair or center director and the dean, shown by their signatures on the TRIPS Application and Approval Form is required for all trip requests. Notice of matching support is required for additional trip requests within the fiscal year.
10. A memorandum report of the meeting’s results must be submitted to the OVPREA within one week after returning from the trip.

The principal investigator prepares for additional trips within the fiscal year by following this procedure:

1. Prepare a proposal, preproposal, or white paper. The Office of General Counsel should review these to be sure they do not create binding legal obligations.
2. Obtain a commitment of matching funds from the department, college, or unit.
3. Follow steps 2 through 8 of the first trip procedure above.

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