NLGI announces Research Grant Program

The National Lubricating Grease Institute is inviting proposals for advanced research into lubricating greases, under a newly launched Research Grants Program. The grants are intended to enable qualified universities and nonprofit institutes to undertake high-level, original investigation into this unique and fascinating material.

The Institute’s president, David Como of Dow Corning, said NLGI is prepared to accept research proposals from now through Sept. 15. “Our goal is to award the initial grant before the end of this calendar year to fund research work during the academic term starting January 2018,” he said. “Depending on the quality of the proposals we see, the grant amounts can range from $1,000 up to $50,000 per calendar year.”

Types of research that will be considered include but are not limited to fundamental grease chemistry; thickener systems; improved test methods; insights into grease processing technologies; and sustainability of grease production, materials or use. Pre-competitive research of interest to the wider grease community will be favored, the Institute said.

The immediate aim is to grant an award for research that begins by January 2018, emphasized Gareth Fish of Lubrizol. Fish chairs the technical subcommittee responsible for reviewing the grant proposals and making recommendations to the NLGI Board of Directors for awarding the grants. After this initial round, the focus in subsequent years will shift to the fall academic term, with proposals being accepted from Jan. 1 to March 15 and funds awarded during the summer.

NLGI has a history of funding academic research into lubricating grease, and of supporting post-graduate work at various universities, including Penn State and Imperial College London. According to Kim Hartley, NLGI’s executive director, “Renewing this program shows that NLGI’s members and our Board of Directors see the value of supporting academic and fundamental research that adds to the world’s knowledge about lubricating greases.”

NLGI is committed to a rigorously fair and open process for the grants, and guidelines for the program are posted online at www.NLGI.org. The guidelines were developed by a volunteer task force drawn from the lubricating grease industry and academia.

To be considered for a grant, qualified applicants must download and complete the Research Grant Form and submit it electronically to NLGI Headquarters, along with the lead researcher’s qualifications and references, a description of the proposed work and how it meets NLGI’s criteria for research grants, and who will conduct it.

To obtain more information, review the General Guidelines and NLGI Expectations, or to download the Grant Proposal Application Form, visit www.NLGI.org and click on the link to “Research Grants.”