Are you a researcher looking for new sources of research support? Are you interested in being part of research teams that span the University and connect with organizations doing important work outside the U? Are you a grant administrator looking for support for large and complex grant proposals?

If so, please join us on either April 15th or 16th for the UMD launch of the University of Minnesota’s Strategic Partnerships and Research Collaborative (SPARC). This new Systemwide research service and innovation hub was created to help multidisciplinary teams submit and execute complex grant proposals, particularly for opportunities from nontraditional funding agencies or those that require external partners.

University researchers and support teams will have an opportunity to share their needs with the SPARC team and meet others in the UMN community interested in collaborating toward global impact.

Background

Creating a culture of interdisciplinary research, innovation, and implementation of new solutions is critical to solving the world’s biggest challenges. SPARC aims to mobilize a global community of partners and UMN faculty and staff from across campuses, colleges, sectors, and disciplines to fulfill our land-grant mission, providing solutions that benefit our state, our nation, and our world.

• SPARC provides a comprehensive structure that allows for multidisciplinary teams of faculty, staff, and students to readily submit and execute complex global grants that span University systems’ colleges and schools, involve nontraditional funding agencies, and require external partners.
• These opportunities require management, implementation expertise, and administrative oversight that go beyond individual faculty capacities and necessarily involve institutional commitment to be successful.
• Through multiple large-scale and multi-disciplinary projects, SPARC leverages this work and expertise for new funding and opportunities.

SPARC is a Systemwide initiative led by Amy Kircher, DrPH., and Katey Pelican, DVM, Ph.D. and is supported by the UMN Office of the Vice President for Research and the UMN Global Programs & Strategy Alliance. The launch event is designed to facilitate face-to-face networking. If you are unable to attend the event in person, feel free to contact SPARC leaders for more information.