Additional Details

We will accept proposals for funding in the area of methane conversion chemistry with the goal of producing ethylene, propylene, or reasonable precursors for ethylene and propylene. Routes to the olefins cannot require syngas and syngas conversion chemistries are explicitly excluded.

Dow Chemical is seeking grant applications for the investigation of new technologies that could form the foundation of a commercially-viable process for converting methane, the major constituent of natural gas, to more valuable chemicals. Existing processes for the conversion of methane to higher hydrocarbons and chemicals, such as methanol, are indirect, first requiring the production of synthesis gas. Dow is interested in direct methane conversion processes, those that avoid costly and energy inefficient synthesis gas formation. Grant applications are sought for the conversion of methane to more useful chemicals, with the production of light olefins or olefin precursors being of greatest interest. Of priority are processes that directly produce ethylene and propylene, and processes that produce intermediates that are readily converted to ethylene and propylene and specifically, direct conversion of methane to ethylene and propylene, partial oxidation of methane to methanol, conversion to higher alkanes, conversion to aromatics, and new products from methane.

Proposals of two pages or less are sought from multiple principle investigators at single institutions or across multiple institutions. Information provided must be provided on a non-confidential basis and should include a list of principal investigators and their affiliations. Relevant previous work and expertise should also be referenced. In addition, the general area of activity must be described.

After preliminary screening, in-depth proposals will be requested that better outline the approach to be followed. Awards of approximately $1-2 million per year will be granted for three years.

All initial submissions will be made on a non-confidential basis only, will be reviewed by Dow and either rejected or accepted for further review at Dow's sole discretion.

Any award will be provisional upon successful negotiation and execution of a sponsored research agreement with the proposing institution. Regarding inventions resulting from this sponsored research, the agreement will stipulate that all inventions will be assigned to Dow or that Dow is granted a royalty-free exclusive license for the awardees’ sole and joint inventions for a field-of-use defined broadly enough to cover Dow's business interests. Dow will pay all costs for filing, prosecuting, and maintaining patent applications in which it has an interest. Dow is willing to negotiate a modest additional consideration for such license if required, but the amount will figure into Dow's decision whether to finalize the award. Other details of the agreement are negotiable within limits. Before submitting a proposal, applicants should consult with an appropriate officer of their institution for guidance on whether such intellectual property terms are acceptable.