Four Corners Research Alliance - joining forces to compete


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More than half of U.S. federal research and development funding goes to five states: California, Michigan, Massachusetts, Texas and New York. Why? These states have large populations with industrial and business sectors, more private sector research and more universities and are historically connected to federal research and development through large federal investments in labs, military bases and infrastructure. How can states that lack all of these resources compete for funding?

In 2005 university administrators from Nebraska, Kansas, Iowa and Missouri formed the Four Corners Research Alliance with the idea that by joining our expertise and resources we can compete. UNL is leading this effort, in partnership with the University of Kansas, Kansas State University, the University of Missouri-Columbia, Iowa State University and the University of Iowa.

The goal of the Four Corners Research Alliance is to collectively develop the expertise that will enable the region to compete for major national centers and other large-scale opportunities in areas where the institutions singly would not be as competitive. During the past 18 months the partners identified six broad areas of intersecting strengths where they will focus their efforts: environmental sciences, life sciences, drug discovery and delivery/bioprocessing, materials science and nanotechnology, food safety and security, and the bioeconomy and renewable energy.

On March 8-9 more than 80 faculty from these research areas and representing the six partner institutions met in Kansas City for a visioning and strategy retreat. UNL Vice Chancellor for Research Prem Paul gave the opening remarks and defined the goals for the retreat:
  • Learn about the expertise and significant infrastructure available at partner institutions.
  • Identify the grand challenges in the field likely to be research priorities at the agencies in the next 5-10 years.
  • Identify research themes/topics addressing these challenges that the alliance could successfully pursue.
  • Develop a strategy and timeline for developing selected themes/topics.
Breakout groups for each of the six focus areas met and gave presentations to the combined group to culminate the retreat. The groups presented well-developed themes and potential projects.

"The retreat generated a great deal of enthusiasm among the faculty, who are the key to the success of this venture," Paul said. "We made great progress in building the research collaborations that are the basis for the future of the alliance."


    




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