Amazon Research Awards AI for Information Security Call for Proposals Spring 2026 offers funding for key AI projects in security.
Researchers tackling tough problems in information security have a new chance to get support. Amazon launched its Research Awards program for AI in information security, with proposals due by May 6, 2026. This call focuses on using AI to solve real-world security challenges in cloud systems and beyond.
Program Overview
Amazon wants to push forward solutions for information security issues. The program targets AI research that can make security stronger and more reliable. Principal investigators from academia or approved research groups can apply for funds to explore cutting-edge ideas.
This spring 2026 cycle builds on Amazon’s goal to fund work that improves security operations. Awards come as one-time gifts with no strings attached on how to spend the money, except no admin overhead. Successful applicants also get AWS credits and training from Amazon experts.
Key Research Topics
Amazon lists specific areas where they seek proposals. These topics center on agentic AI, which means AI systems that act on their own in security tasks. Here are the main focus areas:
- Trustworthy AI agents for security operations, including ways to test them.
- Governance for AI agent access, like policy checks and safe authentication.
- Detecting threats, intrusions, or odd behavior in AI systems and clouds.
- AI tools for handling incidents and testing defenses through red-teaming.
- Using AI agents to find and fix vulnerabilities.
Other topics include building better foundation models for security tasks through training methods. Researchers can propose work on securing AI systems themselves, protecting generative AI from data leaks, or using reinforcement learning for security. Additional ideas cover graph-based anomaly detection, learning from limited data, malware analysis in clouds, secure code generation, and AI for cloud compliance.
Funding and Benefits
Selected projects receive up to $80,000 USD in unrestricted funds on average. Teams also get up to $40,000 USD in AWS promotional credits. Plus, access to training like tutorials and sessions with Amazon scientists.
Budgets must list costs in USD without overhead. The final amount depends on the review panel. These resources help researchers test ideas on real AWS tools.
Who Can Apply
Eligibility is clear and straightforward. The lead researcher, or Principal Investigator, must be a full-time faculty at an accredited school. Or, a permanent researcher at a non-profit with legal status like a U.S. 501(c)(3).
Applicants need to be adults in their country. Each person can submit just one proposal per cycle. This keeps the process fair.
How to Submit a Proposal
Start by going to the Amazon academic research portal to log in and submit. Detail your project, budget, and fit with the topics. Check the full call for proposals page on Amazon Science for all guidelines.
Deadlines matter, so aim to apply before May 6, 2026. Strong proposals match the listed topics and show clear impact on security.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the deadline for submitting proposals?
Proposals must be submitted by May 6, 2026.
Who can apply as the principal investigator?
Full-time faculty at accredited schools or permanent researchers at qualified non-profits, like U.S. 501(c)(3) organizations, can apply.
What funding and benefits do selected projects receive?
Projects get up to $80,000 USD in unrestricted funds, up to $40,000 in AWS credits, and access to training from Amazon experts.
What are the main research topics for this call?
Key areas include trustworthy AI agents for security, governance for AI access, threat detection, incident handling, vulnerability fixing, and securing AI systems.
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