UCSC Interdisciplinary Innovation Program – I2P

CITRIS and the Banatao Institute, UC Santa Cruz invites Principal Investigators on the Santa Cruz campus to apply for research support through our Interdisciplinary Innovation Program (I2P) – formerly known as the CITRIS UCSC Campus Seed Funding Program. Separate from the broader CITRIS Core Seed Funding initiative, which funds collaborative research between the four CITRIS campuses, the I2P focuses on strengthening interdisciplinary connections here on the Santa Cruz campus. Through the program, we will fund early-stage research, which furthers the CITRIS and the Banatao Institute mission and has a strong promise of securing external funding.

The 2024-25 program will fund innovative, multidisciplinary projects focused in the three topic areas outlined below. Proposals should focus on the innovative use of existing technology, the development of new technology, or examinations of the impacts of specific technologies and applications related to this year’s areas of research. Projects should address solutions to significant social challenges in their respective area. The program requires projects to include at least two PIs from different UC Santa Cruz campus divisions.

Proposals may address projects utilizing information technology or examining its uses and effects in, but not limited to, the following areas of research:

  • Responsible/Ethical Technology
    • The rapid emergence of Artificial Intelligence applications have reanimated many public discussions of ethical issues, but these issues are not limited to AI. How do we encourage the ethical use and development of all technologies, including robotics/UAVs, autonomous systems, sensors, genetics/bioengineering, etc., across the range of application areas, including transportation, agriculture, healthcare, social media, games and art? Projects engaging these issues in innovative ways as well as those developing tech solutions to encourage ethical use are welcome.
  • Educational Technology – EdTech
    • Information technology is argued to hold immense potential to create better, more equitable outcomes and opportunities for all students. Projects developing innovative EdTech solutions to challenges facing students, teachers and/or institutions of learning are welcome.
  • Art and Technology
    • Technology has become a transformative instrument for artists, enabling novel modes of expression and connection with audiences. Through experimentation with augmented reality exhibitions and live-streamed performances, artists leverage technology to seamlessly traverse digital and physical realms, expanding audience reach, facilitating critique, and preserving arts. Art and Technology support projects that explore artistic applications of technologies and ideas related to technology and culture with opportunities for public engagement. Collaborative art projects engaging with or integrating information technology in innovative ways that provide societal benefits are welcome. This collaboration is also encouraged in the other two focus areas.

 

Submission Deadline: August 15, 2024

Awards Announced: Early September, 2024

Funds Released: September 23, 2024

Questions: mmatkin@ucsc.edu

CITRIS and the Banatao Institute create information technology solutions for society’s most pressing challenges. Established in 2001, the Center for Information Technology Research in the Interest of Society (CITRIS) leverages the interdisciplinary research strengths of four UC campuses – Santa Cruz, Berkeley, Davis and Merced – to advance the University of California’s mission and the innovative spirit of California. The institute was created to shorten the pipeline between world-class laboratory research and the development of cutting-edge applications, platforms, companies, and even new industries. 

RESOURCES:

Want help connecting with a PI from another division? Reach out directly to Michael Matkin – mmatkin@ucsc.edu

View or download a sample draft of the Application Form.

Answers to your Frequently Asked Questions.

UCSC – 2024 Campus Seed Funding

Area of Interest: Research that includes a focus on Information Technology and proposes to solve a significant societal issue related to:

  • Responsible/Ethical Technology
  • Educational Technology – EdTech
  • Art and Technology
Total Funds Available: minimum of $100,000
Project Amount: $1,000 – $40,000
Eligibility: All applicants must have PI status on UCSC campus.
At least two PIs from different campus divisions (Engineering, Physical and Biological Sciences, Social Sciences, Humanities, Arts) are required.

 

Timeline:

Eligibility and Proposal Requirements:

  • Projects are expected to include a focus on Information Technology and propose to solve a significant societal issue related to Climate Resilience. Proposals that include applications of such technology in developing regions and/or underserved communities are welcome.
  • Exclusions:
    • CITRIS Seed Funding may not be used for faculty salary or non-resident tuition.  
    • Principal Investigators may participate in a maximum of one proposal per application cycle.
    • Principal Investigators who have previously received seed funding through the CITRIS Core Seed Funding or UCSC Campus Seed Funding Initiatives must submit an online status report for the previous project(s) before being considered for a CITRIS UC Santa Cruz Campus Seed Fund Award.
    • To encourage multidisciplinary collaboration, each proposal for 2024-25 is required to include at least two Principal Investigators from at least two different UCSC divisions: Engineering, Humanities, Social Sciences, Arts, Physical and Biological Sciences.

Evaluation Criteria:

CITRIS UC Santa Cruz Campus Seed Funding proposals are evaluated according to the following criteria:

  1. Feasibility: Can the stated goals be achieved within 12 months?
  2. Creates solution to a societal challenge: Is the societal problem and its scale clearly identified? Will the proposed project help to address this challenge?
  3. Potential for follow-on funding: Has this area of research been identified by federal agencies or other funders as an area of future investment? Will the CITRIS Seed Fund Award help the investigators make a stronger case for future external funding?
  4. Alignment with CITRIS mission and the charter of the Banatao Institute: Does the proposal contribute to solving a societal issue through the creation or application of Information Technology?
  5. Inclusion of pre-tenured faculty is highly encouraged but not required.

Submission Instructions and Requirements

The online application portal can be accessed here on the CITRIS UC Santa Cruz Campus Seed Funding webpage. You can easily submit and manage your applications online when the portal opens on June 15, 2024. We suggest that the Lead PI initiates the online application for each proposal team, using a campus email account. Any listed co-PI(s) will receive an automatic email link to log on and view or edit the joint proposal. To help you prepare, please have the following information ready to complete the online application:

❏ Name, home department, and CV link for each PI

❏ Project Title

❏ Abstract (250 words max)

❏ Brief narrative (2-3 pages) What problem does the proposal address? What new technology will be developed? Will the project apply existing technology in a novel way? If successful, what would be the impact of the new technology or application? What qualifications do the team members offer to address the challenge?

❏ Budget narrative with allocation of funds between PIs (paragraph). Please include the name and email of the Research Administrator for each PI.

❏ Up to five references (web links). These may refer to the challenge being addressed or previous work that the PIs intend to build upon.

❏ Optional: upload a one-page .pdf or image file to illustrate the project.

❏ List of prior CITRIS Core Seed Awards (if any): PI names, year, project title.