Autodesk Research Residency Program
Application Overview
Application Overview
The Autodesk Research Residency Program is a diverse global community of innovators from industry, academic, and entrepreneurial sectors collaborating to design, make, and de-risk the future together.
The Autodesk Research Residency Program is a diverse global community of innovators from industry, academic, and entrepreneurial sectors collaborating to design, make, and de-risk the future together.
Focus areas
Focus areas
We are interested in on-site or satellite resident teams whose work spans at least one Autodesk industry, with a particular focus on thematic alignment with our internal research. Our research areas include but are not limited to AI, human-computer interaction and visualization, robotics, manufacturing, architecture, industrialized construction, and media and entertainment.
Residency options
On-site residents
Join our network in-person in San Francisco or Boston
Participate in programming in-person or online
Gain access to studio space, training, fabrication experts, and equipment in our workshops
Satellite residents
Join our global network on Slack
Participate in programming online
Gain access to software, workflow, and fabrication consultation
Resources
Criteria
The Residency Program operates with a rolling enrollment process and we invite teams with well-defined projects to submit proposals at any time. We evaluate proposals against the following criteria:
Alignment
Alignment
While we are broadly interested in work that spans at least one Autodesk industry, we also look for alignment with Autodesk Research. Learn more about our internal research areas.
Impact
Impact
We’re particularly interested in work that explores real-world design and make challenges and solutions, with the potential to have tangible benefits on related industries and research.
Feasibility
Feasibility
We evaluate whether we have the space, equipment, and necessary expertise in our Technology Centers and Residency Program to support proposed projects.
Project requirements
Projects generally run between 2-12 months, though some run for longer. A minimum commitment of 2 months is required for mandatory safety training and program onboarding. Resident project reviews are conducted annually to evaluate progress including changes to the scope of the project, milestone completion, and to determine if an extension may be granted.
Resident teams vary in size depending on the scope of the project, but typically are in the range of 3-8 people. Larger organizations may dedicate a small team to focus on their residency project. Smaller organizations are recommended to have at least two people working on a project to ensure that they can safely operate in the Technology Centers. All team members must be 18 years of age or older.
The Residency Programwelcomes on-site teams who are co-located to our Technology Centers in Boston or San Francisco, or plan to travel to one of those locations. We also accept remote residency proposals from teams who wish to engage with the Residency Program in a satellite capacity and do not plan to come onsite.
Preparing your application
Explain your project
Proposals should include a well-defined project or area of research, with an associated timeline and milestones that the team aims to achieve while in the program. While the Residency Program can accommodate project changes, knowing specifics helps us to evaluate and plan effectively. If your work is highly technical, it is useful to provide context for how the technology will be applied and what impact it stands to have on design and make industries.
FAQ
Access to our global network of innovators, online and in-person programming, and our fabrication facilities is free. The cost of required insurance for on-site teams and materials for fabrication are the responsibility of the resident team.
No. We don’t invest in projects or acquire companies. We host startups but provide support through different resources. Many of our startup teams join us in parallel to a startup incubator or accelerator. If you're part of a non-profit or startup, you can also look into the Autodesk Foundation to see if your project is a fit.
Your team’s IP belongs to you. Autodesk has no ownership of the work that is done in our space. If IP is sensitive to your team, it is your responsibility to manage that in a way that feels comfortable. Our space is open and visible by design, so this is helpful to consider.