Global Meeting Grants
Events
Global Meeting Grants
Optica supports the global optics community through a variety of programs. This includes considering requests for meeting grants/sponsorships. Grants are usually modest (under USD 5,000) and are not intended to fully underwrite a meeting. Priority is given to meetings held in developing or underrepresented countries, those focused on emerging topics of interest to the Optica community, and those that align with Optica's strategic goals. Optica receives more requests for funding than it can fulfill, and unused/unclaimed funds will be released. Therefore, grants must be processed before the start of the meeting.
NEW: Meetings will now be reviewed three times per year following the schedule below. If your meeting is taking place January-April 2026 and you have not yet submitted an application, please contact the meeting grants team at meetinggrants@optica.org.
Please note that if you submit your application early, it will be held until the appropriate review cycle.
Deadline: 01 February (Review and Decision by 01 March)
Meetings taking place between May and August
Deadline: 01 May (Review and Decision by 01 June)
Meetings taking place between September and December
Deadline: 01 September (Review and Decision by 01 October)
Meetings taking place between January and April
View a list of recently supported events.
If you have questions please contact us at meetinggrants@optica.org.
What will Optica fund?
Support from Optica is intended for student prizes or grants to encourage student, invited speaker and/or attendee participation. Optica funds are not available for publications, catering, facility rental or other operational expenses.
Can individuals apply directly for support to attend a meeting/conference?
No, this program provides sponsorship funds/grants directly to meeting organizers, not to individuals. If you are seeking personal travel support for a meeting/conference, please contact the meeting organizers directly.
What information is required?
The following information should be submitted to meetinggrants@optica.org:
General Information
- Meeting name
- Acronym
- Dates
- Location
- Website
- Primary contact name
- Primary contact affiliation
- Primary contact email
- Chairperson name (if different from above)
- Chairperson affiliation
- Chairperson email
Meeting Information
- A short description of meeting scope, purpose, topics and target audience
- Estimated total attendance
- Estimated student attendance
- Expected number of presentations (contributed, invited, plenary, tutorial, poster, etc)
- Current program committee, with affiliations
- Invited speakers with affiliations (please note which are confirmed)
- Whether this meeting is one in a series of conferences
- The number of attendees at the previous meeting
- When did it take place and where
- How often the meeting takes place
Funding Request
- Amount requested
- How the funds will be used
- How will Optica be recognized as a sponsor
- List of any other co-sponsoring or cooperating organizers, including the type and amount of support they are providing
