About Us

Creating a culture of interdisciplinary research, innovation, and translation.

The Strategic Partnerships and Research Collaborative (SPARC) is a research and innovation hub based at the University of Minnesota.  SPARC engages researchers and practitioners across disciplines in the US and globally to establish new large-scale programs that catalyze collaboration, innovate for new discoveries, and deliver practical new solutions that address these critical challenges.  SPARC promotes and advances partnerships and projects that put our partners, faculty, staff, and students at the forefront of global innovation, impact, and change. 

SPARC provides a comprehensive supporting structure that allows partners from around the globe and faculty and staff from across the University system to build interdisciplinary and multi-sectoral programs for global impact. SPARC provides expertise and infrastructure to the greater UMN community, UMN faculty and staff, and our global network of partners to collide their ideas, leverage their collective global work, and foster large programs funded from traditional and nontraditional sources. 

Mission

Enhance research impact by catalyzing large-scale interdisciplinary research, building strategic partnerships, and leading strategic growth initiatives. 

Vision

Drive innovative research and build institutional capacity for an impactful and responsive university.

Partnership

SPARC is a system-wide resource sponsored by the Research and Innovation Office.