In general terms, applications for the Echo360 Research Grant Program should:

Specifically, applications should address one or more of the following topics (although please note that applications that are outside these topics will still be considered):

Grant recipients are expected to perform their proposed research between 30 August 2010 and 2 September 2011.

Applications submitted for Echo360 Research Grants should comply with the following structure:

All applications must be submitted in one Microsoft Word document by the submission deadline of Friday 2 July 2010. Applications should be emailed to the Manager of the Echo360 Research Grants Program, Ms. Jocasta Williams, at jwilliams@echo360.com. The receipt of applications will be acknowledged in writing.

Questions regarding the Echo360 Research Grants and the application process should be addressed to the Manager of the Echo360 Research Grants Program, Ms. Jocasta Williams, at jwilliams@echo360.com.

The successful recipients of the Echo360 Research Grants will be required to submit two grant reports to track their progress. The mid-project report will be due by 28 February 2011 and the final report by 3 October 2011 (one month after the scheduled grant completion date).

Both reports should provide an overview of the research project and its achievements to-date against the objectives outlined in the original application. The reports should summarize the significant activities that have been undertaken, as well as any challenges that have arisen or results that have been gathered.

They should provide detailed accounting of the expenditure of grant funds. In addition to this, as part of the second report due after the completion of the grant period, the dissemination plan for the project findings should be confirmed, and any variances from the plan detailed in the original application should be identified.

From a dissemination perspective, the successful recipients of the Echo360 Research Grants are expected to engage in the following activities either during or at the completion of their projects:

All applications will be blind reviewed by the Echo360 Research Grants Program judging panel, which will consist of three representatives from Echo360 clients and two other persons designated by Echo360, who may include members of the Echo360 management team. The judging panel will have the discretion to award a maximum of four grants, in the amount of US$10,000 [or, for applicants located outside the U.S., an amount in local currency equivalent to US$10,000 on 30 August 2010].. The Echo360 Research Grants will be awarded by the panel based on the fit of the application against program criteria, as outlined above, and the panel may award less than four grants if, in its assessment, less than four applications appropriately fit the program criteria.

All applicants will be notified in writing whether or not their application has been successful by 20 August 2010. Awardees must confirm their acceptance of the grant, via email, within ten days of being notified, or will forfeit the grant. Awardees must also sign the Sponsored Research Agreement document and return it to the Manager of the Echo360 Research Grants Program, Ms. Jocasta Williams, at jwilliams@echo360.com by 30 September 2011.

On or after 30 August 2010, following receipt of written acceptance of the Echo360 Research Grant from the applicant, a brief summary of the successful applicants and their applications will be posted on the Echo360 community website.

Please note that by submitting an application for an Echo360 Research Grant, applicants are authorizing Echo360, on behalf all members of the proposed research team and the institutions with which they are affiliated, the right to use the applicants' names and the names of their respective institution, should the application be successful. In addition, the submission of an application authorizes Echo360 to make the applications and all subsequent reports, publications and presentations regarding the proposed research publicly available.

By submitting an application, applicants are agreeing to abide by the terms of the grant program described above. Additionally all applicants represent that they have the right and authority to submit the application, to perform the proposed research, to perform all other obligations required by the program, if the application is successful, and to comply with the requirements of this paragraph. Applicants may not include in any application, report, research, publications or presentations, without first obtaining all necessary permissions, licenses, releases and third-party consents, any materials that are subject to the proprietary rights of others, or that violate privacy rights, rights of publicity, or trademark rights of any third party, or that misappropriate another’s trade secrets or wrongfully disclose another’s confidential or proprietary information. Grant recipients agree to perform all research in compliance with applicable laws. By submitting an application, applicants grant to Echo360 and its affiliates a non-exclusive, royalty-free irrevocable license (i) to post materials submitted to Echo360, such as applications, reports and presentations, within the websites of Echo360 and its affiliates, and (ii) to include within the marketing and related materials of Echo360 and its affiliates references to applicants and their respective institutions in connection with the grant program, which rights will include rights to display the applicants’ institutions’ trademarks and logos, without modification, provided that Echo360 agrees not to display those trademarks or logos in any manner implying an institution’s endorsement, affiliation with, or sponsorship of either Echo360 or the grant program. Applicants agree to hold Echo360 and its affiliates harmless in connection with the grant program, and to indemnify Echo360, its affiliates, and their respective officers, directors, employees and agents against any breach of the applicant’s representations or warranties in accordance with these terms, and against any damages suffered by Echo360 and its affiliates arising from the applicant’s breach of its duties if awarded a grant under this program. IN NO EVENT WILL ECHO360 AND/OR ITS AFFILIATES HAVE ANY LIABILITY TO ANY APPLICANT, INCLUDING ANY GRANT RECIPIENT, IN CONNECTION WITH THE GRANT PROGRAM OR ECHO360’S AND/OR ITS AFFILIATES’ EXERCISE OF THE RIGHT GRANTED TO IT BY THE APPLICANT AS DESCRIBED ABOVE, FOR ANY INDIRECT, INCIDENTAL OR CONSEQUENTIAL DAMAGES, OR FOR MONETARY DAMAGES EXCEEDING, IN AGGREGATE, ONE DOLLAR. Echo360 makes no guarantee that any particular applicant will receive a grant, or that any number of grants will be granted. Echo360 reserves the right to cancel the grant program at anytime. Each applicant understands that agreement to these terms is a condition of Echo360’s acceptance of applications and is an essential basis of Echo360's willingness to offer the grant program. By submitting an application, and in consideration for the opportunity to submit an application, each applicant agrees to the terms and conditions of this paragraph. Each applicant agrees that, if awarded a grant, that, as a condition to receiving a grant, it will enter into a Sponsored Research Agreement with Echo360.