myBama
Research & Economic Development

Strategic Objectives

Objective #1: Promote Additional Interdisciplinary Collaboration

Goal

Cultivate collaboration between academic disciplines, academic units, and research centers and institutes to foster innovative research addressing fundamental science needs to enable transformative technologies and solutions.

Motivation

Addressing today’s grand challenges is too complex for any single discipline. By bridging across units, ORED will foster a collective ecosystem where the excellent and complementary expertise of UA researchers converges to tackle fundamental and applied questions. Through these collaborations, we will bring more large, externally funded initiatives to campus, driving enhanced educational experiences, research sustainability, and impactful growth.

Specific Actions

  • Empower Interdisciplinary Research Teams. Identify opportunities, assemble potential researchers, and provide dedicated resources to support interdisciplinary teams focused on preparing competitive proposals for external research collaborations and major federal awards.
  • Forge External Collaborations for High-Profile Competitive Research Centers. Pursue strategic alliances with national laboratories, non-governmental organizations, economic development agencies, industry leaders, and two-year and four-year institutions of higher education to position UA as a hub for research activities, amplifying research capacity and fostering impactful discoveries.
  • Nurture Seed Funding for Interdisciplinary Projects. Enhance competitive seed funding programs to support early-stage, cross-disciplinary projects, encouraging researchers from different fields to collaborate on innovative ideas.
  • Invest in State-of-the-Art Research Facilities. Continue to prioritize investment in shared, advanced research facilities supporting interdisciplinary work, enabling researchers from various fields to access the tools and resources necessary for pioneering research and technology development.
  • Augment the Office for Research Communications. By increasing visibility for UA’s research achievements, expanding research communications to provide broader coverage of research success will magnify the University’s reputation, attract new research partners, and demonstrate the value of UA’s research contributions to stakeholders, funding agencies, Alabama industry, and the broader public.
  • Host Leaders and Events in Strategic Areas of Excellence. Organize and host events featuring leading scientific societies, professional organizations, and individual leaders in key research and economic development areas. By positioning our campus as a nucleus for pioneering discussions, networking, and cross-disciplinary collaboration, UA will foster an environment that drives innovation to raise the profile of the state and drive economic benefit to Alabama’s industries.

Key Performance Indicators

  • Number of external research proposals developed and submitted by interdisciplinary teams, along with the percentage receiving funding
  • Number of new external collaborations formed with national laboratories, non-governmental organizations, industry leaders, and other institutions, and evaluation of their contributions to high-profile research initiatives
  • Number of interdisciplinary projects supported through seed funding programs resulting in external funding awards, peer-reviewed publications, or patents
  • Usage rate of service centers, as well as investments made in new or upgraded facilities that enhance interdisciplinary research capabilities
  • Number of research achievements highlighted through the Office for Research Communications, including media coverage, presentations at high-profile conferences, and invitations to host national or international research events

Objective #2: Develop Robust Infrastructure to Support Large-Scale Teams and Projects

Goal

Broaden the solid foundation of administrative, technological, and collaborative resources, to enable researchers, discipline-specific teams, and interdisciplinary teams to tackle complex challenges and pursue ambitious projects attracting recognition and enhancing the research and educational environment.

Motivation

Recognizing the importance of a supportive environment, where researchers can focus on their work’s highest purpose, driving education, discovery, and innovation, is key to the long-term success of the research enterprise.

Specific Actions

  • Grow the Research ASSIST Office. Strengthen the centralized support hub for large-scale research projects, providing comprehensive proposal development support.
  • Expand Specialized Research Administration Education Programs. Implement a campus-wide comprehensive training program to strengthen stakeholder expertise, focusing on the unique needs of large-scale, interdisciplinary research projects.
  • Enhance Internal Training Programs for Federal Grant Navigation and Submission. Expand the scope of internal training programs to help researchers navigate the distinct requirements, compliance standards, and proposal structures for different federal agencies. Develop targeted workshops, mentorship from experienced grant recipients, and resources on regulatory requirements.
  • Modernize and Integrate Electronic Research Administration (eRA) Systems. Upgrade the University’s electronic research administration (eRA) systems to a user-friendly platform integrating with other campus systems across the research administration life cycle.
  • Operational Efficiency. Develop and implement strategies to achieve operational excellence. Identify and address areas of opportunity through deep analysis and process redesign, realigning staff to enhance efficiency, reduce redundancy, improve productivity, and allow staff to focus on high-impact activities that support the strategic goals.
  • Establish the High Performance Computing and Data Center (HPC). Advanced technological infrastructure, such as high-performance computing (HPC) facilities and secure data management systems, support data-intensive education and research across disciplines. Accessible to students and researchers and adaptable for various project needs, these resources will ensure UA has the computational power and data handling capabilities to compete on myriad projects, including those requiring specialized data handling concerns (e.g., industry and national security efforts), such that it is a resource to Alabama’s industry.

Key Performance Indicators

  • Number of researchers and projects supported by the Research ASSIST Office, and the impact on proposal submission rates and success in securing funding for large-scale initiatives
  • Percentage of faculty and staff participating in internal training programs and subsequently securing federal grants emphasizing large-scale, interdisciplinary projects
  • Number of non-federal awards from industry and non-governmental organizations
  • Usage of the HPC and data center facilities, including the number of research projects supported, types of disciplines utilizing the resources, and feedback from researchers on accessibility and effectiveness in meeting project needs, especially after January 2027
  • Upon implementation of a new eRA system, track time saved, efficiency improved, and reallocation of staff to high-impact activities

Objective #3: Broaden Collaborations with Industry

Goal

Expanded relationships with industry will enhance the University’s impact, drive innovation, provide student training and workforce development experiences, and create pathways for practical applications of researcher discoveries to support Alabama’s economy. By fostering collaborative relationships with major corporations, small businesses, and startup companies, we will connect students and faculty members with industry insights, addressing pressing challenges, accelerating the development of transformative technologies, and providing a means by which to attract more businesses to the state of Alabama.

Motivation

Translating academic research into practical, impactful solutions benefiting society is a hallmark of a flagship university. By collaborating with industry leaders, UA gains access to unique resources, insights, and technologies, and these relationships provide invaluable opportunities for faculty members, staff, and students, supporting the state’s economic growth and enhancing the educational experience for students.

Specific Actions

  • Streamline Intellectual Property and Licensing Processes through the Creation of a Research Foundation. Simplify and clarify the process for managing intellectual property, licensing, and technology transfer, making it easier for industry partners to engage in collaborations and commercialize UA researcher-developed innovations in a mutually beneficial way.
  • Implement an External Advisory Board. Form advisory panels with key stakeholders to regularly discuss research priorities, market trends, and emerging industry needs.
  • Create Incentives for University-Industry Collaborative Research Projects. Launch a funding program offering seed funding to support collaborative research projects between UA researchers and industry teams, encouraging the development of joint initiatives with high potential for real-world impact and enhanced student training experiences.
  • Offer Solutions to Address Research Needs for Industry. Form a specialized group of individuals within ORED focused on fostering and managing relationships with industry collaborators, ensuring a streamlined approach to identifying, developing, and sustaining collaborations.
  • Increase Industry Research Consortia. Foster research consortia bringing together multiple industry stakeholders, faculty, and students around specific themes and opportunities of interest to the state and nation. These consortia will foster larger, multidisciplinary initiatives pooling resources, talent, and expertise from various sectors to tackle complex, pre-competitive challenges.

Key Performance Indicators

  • Average, minimum, and maximum time required to negotiate and finalize intellectual property agreements and licensing deals; and number of patents awarded, patents filed, and disclosures reported to the Office for Innovation & Commercialization
  • Number of proactive contributions from advisory board members, and impact of key initiatives influenced by board recommendations
  • Number of graduate students and postdoctoral researchers engaged in industry-funded projects, internships, or consortia, and the percentage who transition into industry roles after their time at UA
  • Number of collaborative research projects with industry partners, and the total funding secured for these initiatives
  • Number of industry consortia established and evaluation of their impact, such as funding generated and participation of industry and academic stakeholders

Objective #4: Advance Research Efforts Aligned with National Security

Goal

Advance research efforts in areas of expertise (e.g., materials science and water security) while nurturing emerging areas (e.g., food security and precision timing) to address crucial national security needs. By leveraging the talent of our faculty, staff, and students in these fields, UA will develop cutting-edge solutions enhancing national resilience, safeguarding infrastructure, and contributing to the global defense enterprise while also being a leader in next-generation workforce development programs.

Motivation

Meeting the increasing demand for innovative solutions to complex security challenges impacting national safety, domestic prosperity, and economic stability positions UA to attract top-tier student and faculty talent, educational experiences, collaborations, and funding to support sustained growth and impact. By aligning our research efforts with national security priorities, especially those corresponding with government agencies and industry in the state, UA both strengthens its role as a vital contributor to the nation’s research enterprise and elevates its academic reputation.

Specific Actions

  • Establish a Dedicated Internal National Security Working Group. Create a specialized group focused exclusively on national security research, with interdisciplinary labs for high-impact research aligning with the national security priorities of the state and federal governments.
  • Develop Strategic Relationships with National and Defense Laboratories. Forge active collaborations with key agencies. These partnerships will involve joint research initiatives, data-sharing agreements, and technology transfer opportunities, establishing UA as a trusted research ally in addressing national security concerns.
  • Establish Secure Research Facilities and Clearance Programs. Develop secure, restricted-access research facilities meeting federal standards for handling classified information, enabling the University to conduct research on sensitive national security projects. In parallel, ORED will implement a clearance sponsorship program to facilitate security clearances for faculty, staff, and select students, building a workforce capable of engaging in classified projects.
  • Launch a Competitive Research Fellowship Program for National Security Scholars. Create a fellowship program to attract top doctoral and postdoctoral talent focused on national security research. Offering competitive stipends, resources, and mentorship from leaders in defense research, this program will build a pipeline of skilled researchers while positioning UA as a leading destination for national security-focused scholars.
  • Engage Partners Through a National Security Research Advisory Board. Establish a group of thought leaders in national security focused on developing solutions for research and economic development opportunities in this space.