SPARC Services

The following services are available from the Strategic Partnerships and Research Collaborative (SPARC) and can be accessed by UMN faculty, researchers, and teams for support in any part of the project timeline, from strategic research planning through proposal development and administration of large projects or program awards. The services listed are not exhaustive. SPARC is committed to meeting individual project needs.

Strategic Research Planning

• Facilitated strategic planning for achieving the desired research portfolio

Opportunity Identification and Analysis

• Funder and opportunity identification, horizon scanning, and suitability assessment

Proposal Development

• Strategic planning, project/program design, proposal project management, narrative development and editing

Administration and Organization Consultation

• Consultation for administrative and organizational design, including external partners and networks

Writing and Editing

• Proposal narratives and other supporting materials

Monitoring and Evaluation

• Development and implementation of monitoring and evaluation plans

Resource and Strategic Partnership Matching and Management

• Analysis, identification, alignment, and recruitment of internal and external resources and partners

Interdisciplinary Team Recruitment and Support

• Identification and recruitment of faculty, staff and partners to best meet project/program needs and team support

Financial (Pre-Award)

• Proposal budget and justification development, Sponsored Projects Administration liaison, and proposal submission

Financial (Post-Award)

• Financial and effort management, reporting, transaction processing, and approvals

Communications

• Planning, graphic design, and development of branded materials

Facilitation

• Workshops, strategic planning, program effort and tasks

Project and Program Management and Implementation

• Project planning, operational management, logistics, administration, quality control, staff management

International and Specialized Project Management and Facilitation

• International or specialized hiring, international money transfers and management, travel management, security

Project Governance

• Executive director recruitment, governance planning, recruitment and management of internal and external councils