Conference: Enhancing institutional capacity across the research ecosystem

Conference: Enhancing Institutional Capacity Across the Research Ecosystem This project seeks to expand the research, technology transfer, and programmatic capacity of emerging research institutions, and enhance their capacity for sustained cross-sector and multi-institutional partnerships with industry, government, nonprofit, and academic organizations. By equipping institutional leaders from NSF EPIIC awardee institutions, all of which are emerging research institutions, with actionable tools for expanding partnerships and innovation ecosystems, this project aims to promote the progress of science and advance national health, prosperity, and welfare. Emerging research institutions are eager to contribute to the nation’s science, technology, engineering, and mathematics workforce and to the research enterprise but face structural and resource constraints that limit their participation in large-scale, cross-sector collaborations. The conference will enable EPIIC PIs to share institutional capacity building strategies and successes through an interactive workshop structure. The event will emphasize strategies for increasing institutional innovation, entrepreneurship and research capacity, building collaborative network connections, and expanding knowledge of NSF funding opportunities. The program will feature plenary and breakout sessions, structured networking, 1-1 coaching with subject matter experts, and poster sessions. The program also includes a focus on building industry partnerships, providing participants with multiple opportunities to hear from and network with industry leaders and additional experts in technology transfer. Anticipated participant outcomes include acquisition of strategies for enhancing research institutional infrastructure; increased knowledge of future funding opportunities and other sustainability strategies; and increased confidence in each PI team's ability to build strategic partnerships with industry and participate in regional economic growth. Project evaluation will assess progress and success toward project goals, including changes in participant-reported knowledge, network connections, and impacts on strengthening institutional capacity and cross-sector partnerships. The project will culminate in two reports, a conference evaluation report summarizing short-term findings based on conference participation, and an annual evaluation report that summarizes all project activities. This award reflects NSF's statutory mission and has been deemed worthy of support through evaluation using the Foundation's intellectual merit and broader impacts review criteria. NSF Award ID: 2620526 | Program: 01002627DB NSF RESEARCH & RELATED ACTIVIT | Principal Investigator: Susan Renoe | Institution: University of Missouri-Columbia, COLUMBIA, MO | Award Amount: $558,358 View on NSF Award Search: https://www.nsf.gov/awardsearch/show-award/?AWD_ID=2620526 View on Research.gov: https://www.research.gov/awardapi-service/v1/awards/2620526.html