The NET Institute will fund a number of scientific research projects in the
areas of network industries, including wired and wireless networks, “virtual
networks,” electronic commerce, telecommunications, and the Internet. Proposed
research may be either theoretical or empirical, and may also analyze issues of
public policy and antitrust. The deadline for proposals is
The topics of research include theoretical or empirical research on telecommunications, including new technologies such as voice over Internet Protocol (“VOIP”), the Internet and related issues, cable networks and digital convergence, market structure in industries with network effects including wireline and wireless networks, “virtual networks,” financial networks and B2B and B2C exchanges, pricing in the presence of network effects, pure and mixed bundling in markets with network effects, incentives for vertical integration and effects on social welfare in markets with network effects, dynamic competition and pricing in markets with network effects, the choice of technical standards and compatibility, quality and variety competition in the presence of network effects, security and reliability of networks including the Internet, electronic commerce, and competition policy issues in network industries.
Additionally, the NET Institute strongly encourages proposals that model the effects of entry and potential entry in markets with network effects. Of particular interest is the interaction of innovation and entrepreneurship with entry.
Proposed research need not be limited to the topics above, but has to be in the general area of networks, “virtual networks,” electronic commerce, and telecommunications.
Proposals should include
(i) a description of the proposed project, including
(a) an executive summary, up to two pages long;
(b) a clear description of the objective(s) of the project;
(c) a clear description of the expected output of the project;
(d) the scientific techniques expected to be used in the proposed project; including models and modeling techniques;
(e) a detailed outline of the steps necessary to reach the expected conclusions; many successful applications have included a detailed description of the proposed research, including conjectures, preliminary results and attached past relevant research; no page limit.
(f) an assessment of the likelihood that the research will be accomplished in the time allocated; and
(ii) a curriculum vitae of the researcher, indicating
(a) relevant previous scientific work; and
(b) educational background.
Only proposals submitted electronically will be considered and evaluated. Proposals and all supporting materials can be submitted to submissions@NETinst.org in either (i) Acrobat pdf format; or (ii) MS-Word format; or (iii) Rich text file (“rtf”) format.
Each funded proposal will receive up to $15,000 of financial support from the NET Institute. Successful proposals will receive 1/3 of the awarded funds when the project is approved for funding by the NET Institute and the remaining 2/3 of the funds upon successful completion of the project and delivery of the output of the research.