In its second phase, RIHN will continue to accept research projects within each of the five domains; they will progress in the established manner indicated in the top half of the figure below. Domain-based projects focus on description in the traditional manner of cognitive science.
In addition, beginning in 2010, the Core Research Hub will be able to directly launch projects within the Futurability Initiatives. Based on the findings of the Domain-based projects, Initiative-based projects will emphasize expanding the range of possibility in future development through design science approaches.
Domain-based Projects
Incubation Studies (IS) are proposed by individual researchers to the RIHN Project Review Committee. If approved, the researcher is granted seed money to prepare a proposal for Feasibility Study.
Feasibility Studies (FS) allow the study leader a period to develop a proposal for Full Research.
In the transitional Pre-Research (PR) period, the project leader formally assembles the team, establishes MoUs necessary for collaboration with other institutions and makes other preparations to enable Full Research.
Full Research (FR) lasts from three to five years. It typically involves a research team at RIHN and concurrent activity with collaborators overseas, several periods of field study, workshops and presentations, and outreach or communication to relevant communities. FR projects are evaluated by the Project Evaluation Committee at several stages.
Initiative-based Projects
Core research projects will develop synergies based on existing RIHN research and complement RIHN’s collaborations with universities and other research institutions around the world. They will be submitted directly as Feasibility Studies for review by the Project Evaluation Committee. If Initiative Feasibility Studies are adopted as Full Research, the schedule of evaluation is the same as that of Domain-based projects.
Completed Research
When a project moves to CR (Completed Research) status, the contract with RIHN is concluded. Research teams disperse to university research, teaching, and other duties. Project publications and other communications and contributions may follow for several years; they are assessed in the final post-evaluation, two years after formal project conclusion. At RIHN, however, each project forms part of the institute's heritage; project results and data are entered into the RIHN archives upon which future RIHN projects may be formulated.