2025 Align Research Awards Program Description, EMEA

Program Description

The science and technology behind clear aligner treatment has advanced significantly in the past sixteen years. In order to continue improving this treatment modality, Align Technology is investing up to $100,000 USD in EMEA for university-based scientific research. Projects with objectives that directly benefit the treatment of patients with clear aligners are encouraged. Research of the performance of third-party corporation products in conjunction with basic research would not be considered by the committee.

This program provides research funding for full-time and part-time university faculty involved in orthodontic scientific research, but applicants may also be non-orthodontic scientists whose work would contribute to the improvement and understanding of clear aligner orthodontic therapy.

Awards

1. Up to four $25,000 USD awards will be issued to EMEA applicants from a total research pool of $100,000 USD in 2025. Consideration will be given to first-time applications from a university program.
2. Funding is provided for a period of one year only.
3. If a two-year study is anticipated, the applicant should split the project proposal into two separate one-year studies and apply for the second one-year project in a subsequent program year once the first-year project has been completed and the objectives met. There is no guarantee that Align will offer the award program in a subsequent year or that the applicant’s proposal will receive funding for the second year. However, any first-year results will be taken into consideration when application priorities are assigned by Align’s independent academic review committee.

Application Process

For complete program details, please download the 2025 EMEA Align Research Award Program Overview, and complete and return the 2025 EMEA Align Research Award Program Terms and Conditions form together with the 2025 EMEA Align Research Award Proposal Template.

1. Applicant must be a full-time or part-time faculty member at a university located in a country outside of the Americas (includes North America, Latin America and South America) where Invisalign® is available.
2. Research proposals must include all anticipated costs, including aligners if applicable.
3. Completed applications must be emailed to internationalresearch@aligntech.com by 5 PM PST on March 7, 2025.
4. All completed applications will be reviewed by an independent academic committee and their recommendations forwarded to Align Technology. Final selections will be made by Align Technology.
5. Award recipients will be notified by June 2, 2025.
6. Funding begins no earlier than July 7, 2025.

Questions

Any questions related to this program announcement, the research proposal format, or required documentation should be submitted as early as possible to internationalresearch@aligntech.com. Every effort will be made to answer all submitted questions within 5 working days.