Call for Proposals: Regulatory Approaches to Emerging Technologies

The George Washington University Regulatory Studies Center (RSC) aims to generate practical recommendations for regulation of emerging technologies. Traditional tools, including notice-and-comment rulemaking and benefit-cost analysis, may not be dynamic enough for evolving technologies, such as artificial intelligence (AI), drones, autonomous vehicles, personalized healthcare, cryptocurrencies, etc. Alternative regulatory approaches—such as those that value experimentation, learning, and feedback, take advantage of new developments in AI and big data, and potentially rely on industry self-regulation and soft-law tools—could prove more adaptable and agile.

To expand the body of applied research in this area, RSC seeks proposals for research papers that examine actionable, constructive policy approaches to emerging technologies that recognize benefits, as well as potential risks, and that do not impede beneficial new innovations or protect entrenched interests. We welcome submissions from a range of perspectives, including public policy and administration, economics, law, political science, the natural and physical sciences, and economic history. Cross-disciplinary collaboration is encouraged.

Once selected, authors will have approximately six months to draft their essays. In the spring of 2026, invitation-only research roundtable at the George Washington University will bring together essay authors and other experts (including practitioners as well as scholars) to workshop ideas and provide feedback to support the authors’ final papers. Paper authors will present their final manuscripts and participate in discussions at a full-day public event in Washington, DC, in the fall of 2026 aimed at interested academics, practitioners, and policy officials. Authors will be encouraged to publish their papers, perhaps jointly as part of a symposium issue of an interdisciplinary journal. By eliciting research across disciplines and convening interdisciplinary experts to share their ideas and insights, we hope to break down silos that may pose barriers to realizing novel policy approaches that enable innovation.

Paper proposals will be judged in terms of academic rigor and practical viability to ensure the final products can yield meaningful change. Conceptual, theoretical, and/or empirical proposals are welcome. Proposals should be no more than 700 words and highlight both the approach and practical implications of the research.

Selected paper authors will receive an honorarium of $5,000, with $2,000 payable on delivery of the draft paper and $3,000 due on completion of the project.

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Timeline

Please reach out with questions: RegulatoryStudiesgwu [dot] edu (RegulatoryStudies[at]gwu[dot]edu)