Research

Areas of interest include, but are not limited to, the following.

1. Economic opportunity: How we can give people more choice, encourage competition, and maintain a thriving digital economy. Here are some recommended research questions and topics, for example:

• How can we lower barriers to access to economic opportunity for creators, developers, SMBs, NGOs, and educators in the metaverse?
• Enabling / frameworks for interoperability in the metaverse
• Enabling / frameworks for data portability in the metaverse

2. Privacy: How we can minimize the amount of data that’s used, build technology to enable privacy-protective data uses, and give people transparency and control over their data. Here are some recommended research questions and topics, for example:

• How can the metaverse enable interoperability and data portability while keeping data secure and protecting privacy?
• What guardrails should there be for biometric data and inferences that can be made from that data?
• What guardrails are needed for using XR data for advertising?
• How do we preserve user privacy when recording multi-modal data that includes health indicators (e.g., heart rate, blood pressure, and so on) as well as eye tracking/kinematics/etc?
• Frameworks for bystander privacy in the context of wearable devices (such as AR glasses)
• Biometrics and human computer interaction (HCI) privacy models in the context of wearables

3. Safety and integrity: How we can keep people safe online and give them tools to take action or get help if they see something they’re not comfortable with. Here are some recommended research questions and topics, for example:

• How do we encourage community safety and well-being in the metaverse?
• What are the main principles for safety, privacy, and well-being that need to be considered for developing a safe metaverse experience?
• What are some of the key harms anticipated in relation to women’s safety, and what solutions can be proposed to address these harms?
• What are some of the key harms anticipated in relation to child safety, and what solutions can be proposed to address these harms?
• What are some of the specific measures needed to protect young users (minors), to enable them to have a safe and responsible metaverse experience?
• What should the role of the government be in creating a safe environment, while still enabling industry to develop the metaverse in an innovative and responsible manner?
• What rules or policies should govern how virtual content is created and shared, in public and private spaces?

4. Equity and inclusion: How we can make sure these technologies are designed inclusively and in a way that’s accessible. Here are some recommended research questions and topics, for example:

• How will the growing use of VR require new forms of digital literacy, specifically for the less skilled, to avoid an even bigger digital divide? What could potential frameworks look like?
• How can we increase accessibility of devices and of immersive experiences?

5. New use cases: What are new applications of immersive technology that create substantial value for people and communities. Here are some recommended topics and applications, for example:

• Education, training, and skills-building
• Wellness
• Cultural promotion and preservation
• Sustainability
• Climate resilience

Proposals should include

• A summary of the project (one to two pages), in English, explaining the area of focus, a description of techniques, any relevant prior work, and a timeline with milestones and expected outcomes
• A draft budget description (one page) including an approximate cost of the award and explanation of how funds would be spent
• Curriculum Vitae for all project participants
• Organization details; this will include tax information and administrative contact details

Eligibility

• The proposal must comply with applicable U.S. and international laws, regulations, and policies.
• Applicants must be current faculty or employed in a role focused on research at an accredited academic institution, university, non-governmental institution, or non-profit organization. Students, including PhD students, are not eligible as applicants.
• Applicants must be the Principal Investigator on any resulting award.
• Meta cannot consider proposals submitted, prepared, or to be carried out by individuals residing in or affiliated with an academic institution, university, non-governmental institution, or non-profit located in a country or territory subject to comprehensive U.S. trade sanctions.
• Government officials (excluding faculty and staff of public universities, to the extent they may be considered government officials), political figures, and politically affiliated businesses (all as determined by Meta in its sole discretion) are not eligible.
• Applicants cannot be current employees or contractors at Meta or any of its affiliated brands.

Meta’s decisions will be final in all matters relating to Meta RFP solicitations, including whether or not to grant an award and the interpretation of Meta RFP Terms and Conditions. By submitting a proposal, applicants affirm that they have read and agree to these Terms and Conditions.

• Meta is authorized to evaluate proposals submitted under its RFPs, to consult with outside experts, as needed, in evaluating proposals, and to grant or deny awards using criteria determined by Meta to be appropriate and at Meta sole discretion. Meta’s decisions will be final in all matters relating to its RFPs, and applicants agree not to challenge any such decisions.
• Meta will not be required to treat any part of a proposal as confidential or protected by copyright, and may use, edit, modify, copy, reproduce and distribute all or a portion of the proposal in any manner for the sole purposes of administering the Meta RFP website and evaluating the contents of the proposal.
• Personal data submitted with a proposal, including name, mailing address, phone number, and email address of the applicant and other named researchers in the proposal may be collected, processed, stored and otherwise used by Meta for the purposes of administering Meta’s RFP website, evaluating the contents of the proposal, and as otherwise provided under Meta’s Privacy Policy.
• Neither Meta nor the applicant is obligated to enter into a business transaction as a result of the proposal submission. Meta is under no obligation to review or consider the proposal.
• Feedback provided in a proposal regarding Meta products or services will not be treated as confidential or protected by copyright, and Meta is free to use such feedback on an unrestricted basis with no compensation to the applicant. The submission of a proposal will not result in the transfer of ownership of any IP rights.
• Applicants represent and warrant that they have authority to submit a proposal in connection with a Meta RFP and to grant the rights set forth herein on behalf of their organization. All awards provided by Meta in connection with this RFP shall be used only in accordance with applicable laws and shall not be used in any way, directly or indirectly, to facilitate any act that would constitute bribery or an illegal kickback, an illegal campaign contribution, or would otherwise violate any applicable anti-corruption or political activities law.
• Funding for winning RFP proposals will be provided to the accredited academic institution, university, non-governmental institution, or non-profit organization with which the primary investigator / applicant is affiliated pursuant to a gift or other funding model as specified in the RFP call. Applicants understand and acknowledge that their affiliated institution / organization will need to agree to the terms and conditions of such gift or other agreement to receive funding.
• Applicants acknowledge and agree that by submitting an application they are consenting to their name, institution / organization’s name and proposal title being made public on Meta’s blog on the research.facebook.com website if they are chosen as an RFP winner or finalist. If an applicant is selected as a winner or finalist, they will then have the opportunity to provide written notification that they do not consent to the research.facebook.com blog inclusion.