The National Center for Technology Innovation (NCTI) is asking collaboration teams to submit proposals for their Technology in the Works 2009 competition. The award competition promotes excellence in short-term, quasi-experimental evaluations studying the impact of learning and assistive technologies (AT) to improve educational outcomes for all students, with a particular focus on students with special needs.

The annual competition calls for "quick turnaround" collaborative research efforts that inform the development of innovative and emerging assistive technologies, tools that provide greater access for students with disabilities. The objective of the competition is to encourage researchers, including graduate students, and developers to work collaboratively to study the effectiveness and feasibility of a particular technology intervention. Letters of intent must be received no later than March 23. Award recipients must secure matching funds of at least $15,000 to be eligible. Funds may be used to support an expansion of an already existing research project.