Google Cloud research credits expand to nonprofit researchers

To fuel the breakthroughs of the future, today’s researchers need easy access to the most innovative cloud technologies. That’s why we are delighted to announce the latest expansion of Google Cloud research credits beyond its previous scope of government and academic research institutions to researchers at nonprofit institutions. This initiative is part of our ongoing efforts to make the advantages of cloud research available to more people everywhere--and to drive more discoveries faster. 

To serve researchers outside of academia, we are now offering nonprofit institutions access to Google’s research credit program. Leading centers of scientific knowledge like the New York Genome Center, Scripps Research Institute, the Vector Institute in Toronto, the Ontario Institute for Cancer Research, and the Allen Institute for AI (AI2) have already benefited from the efficiencies of managing and analyzing their datasets on Google Cloud.

Michael Schmitz, Director of Engineering at AI2, reports that “Google Cloud has been essential for our research program. While we have an on-premise installation for custom hardware, the ability to use Google Cloud for isolated workstations (where researchers always have guaranteed access to a development environment) and bursting with increased need (such as our summer intern surge or a hyperparameter tuning just before our deadline) has been a critical part of conducting our research.”

Also, to better support Ph.D. students, we are updating the terms of Google Cloud credits for use toward advanced research. Now, Ph.D. students can apply for up to $1,000 grants that are renewable over the five years of their programs. We know that the researchers of the future need the best resources now.

Hassaan Maan, Ph.D. student at the University of Toronto/Vector Institute, says “when the pandemic started, I began working on a web-based platform to help researchers analyze genome sequences of the COVID-19 virus in real time and compare with data from labs around the world. Deploying the Covid Genotyping Tool (CGT) platform was challenging, as I had minimal experience hosting web applications and we required a scalable and fine-tuned deployment. Google Cloud’s comprehensive user interface and thorough documentation made for a seamless deployment, and I was able to get the platform up and running in less than two weeks. Google Cloud was a huge factor in the success of this project, and I hope to be able to use it further during my Ph.D. studies.”

To ramp up your own research project with Google Cloud, apply now for free credits in selected countries. To supplement your own learning on Google Cloud, sign up to earn four Google Cloud skills badges that you can share on your social platforms.