The co-located 2026 ACM Conference on Collective Intelligence (CI 2026) and 2026 ACM Conference on Human-AI Complementarity and Alignment (HCOMP 2026) offer two travel grant opportunities to support attendee participation in Alexandria, Virginia (September 27–30, 2026).
Which Grant Should You Apply For?
- NSF Student Travel Grant: For undergraduate and graduate students enrolled at US-based institutions.
- SIGWEB Fair Access Travel Grant: For MSc/PhD students, postdocs, and non-tenured professionals residing in eligible developing countries.
NSF Student Travel Grant
Priority Deadline: August 15, 2026
Applications received by August 15, 2026 will receive best consideration.
What is Provided
Travel Stipend: A flat stipend awarded to cover travel expenses, including conference registration, flights, lodging, and meals (recipients make their own travel arrangements).
Eligibility & Requirements
- Student Status: Open to undergraduate and graduate students currently enrolled at US-based institutions.
- Age Limit: Applicants must be at least 18 years old at the time of travel.
- Fly America Act: All flight travel funded by this grant must comply with the Fly America Act (booked on US-flag carrier airlines or ticketed through a US carrier).
- Code of Conduct: Awardees must review and formally acknowledge the Policy Against Harassment at ACM Activities prior to the release of funds.
- Post-Conference Reporting: Recipients must submit a 1–2 page summary answering key questions about their conference experience following the event.
Application Requirements
- Curriculum Vitae (CV): Highlighting relevant experience, background, and research accomplishments.
- Research Overview: A short paragraph describing your research interests and background.
- Statement of Benefit: A short paragraph explaining how attending the conference will benefit your career and academic goals.
- Conference Status: Indication of whether you have an accepted submission (including papers, posters/demos, doctoral consortium applications) or have attended CI or HCOMP previously.
- Faculty Advisor Support Letter: Emailed directly by your faculty advisor. The letter must include verification that you are not currently supported on US Federal funds for this travel. It should also outline the availability (or lack) of alternative travel funds and a formal commitment to cover travel costs exceeding the grant.
How to Apply
- Submit Application Form: Complete and submit your application online via the NSF Travel Grant Google Form.
- Submit Advisor Support Letter: Have your faculty advisor email their letter of support directly to hcomp-ci-2026-travel-grants@acm.org with the subject line
CI+HCOMP 2026 Travel Grant Support Letter.
SIGWEB Fair Access Travel Grant
Rolling Deadline
Applications are open immediately and will be reviewed on a rolling basis until funds are exhausted.
Overview
SIGWEB is committed to promoting fair access to its conferences and to achieve this goal, SIGWEB is increasing and broadening the support offered at these events. This initiative aims to reduce financial barriers for students as well as early researchers from economically developing countries, thus enabling broader participation in conferences and creating a more inclusive academic community.
Grant Details
- Total Allocation: A total pool of $10,000 is allocated for the conference.
- Award Amounts: The size of individual awards may vary depending on factors such as the number of qualified applicants and distance traveled.
- Submission Status: Applicants may submit applications prior to learning whether their submissions have been accepted. However, preference will be given to individuals who have an accepted submission (including papers, posters/demos, doctoral consortium applications) and who will be presenting that work themselves.
Eligibility Criteria
- Roles: Open to all MSc and PhD students, post-doctoral researchers, or non-tenured professionals.
- Residency: Applicants must be residents in any of the countries listed on the ACM Developing Countries Listing.
- Covered Costs: The grant may be used to support travel to the conference, including conference registration, flights, accommodation costs, and other costs related to obtaining a VISA.
Application Requirements
Your submission packet must include:
- Completed application form (PDF).
- 1–2 page CV.
How to Apply
- Download Form: Download the SIGWEB Fair Access Grant Application Form (PDF).
- Submit via Email: Email your completed application form and 1–2 page CV directly to hcomp-ci-2026-travel-grants@acm.org with the subject line
CI+HCOMP 2026 Travel Grant Application.
Questions or Concerns?
If you have any questions or concerns regarding either travel grant opportunity, please contact the organizers at: hcomp-ci-2026-travel-grants@acm.org.