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 2025-26 program will fund innovative, multidisciplinary projects focused in the three topic areas 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.

Society, Media and Technology

Information technology has played a role in shaping many of the current challenges facing deliberation and discussion in democratic societies, from voter manipulation to social media and the spread of misinformation and disinformation, erosion of trust in professional journalism; the list goes on and on. Projects critically examining these processes and/or exploring how IT can counter these challenges are welcome.

Agricultural Technology – AgTech

As changes to climate increasingly impact arable land, water and air, new approaches to food production become more critical. We welcome projects critically examining and exploring IT solutions to these challenges, including those aimed at improving working conditions, increasing productivity, and supporting more sustainable agricultural practices. Proposals that also consider the social impacts of automation—such as job displacement and community resilience—are especially encouraged.

Educational Technology – EdTech

Information technology is argued to hold immense potential to create better, more equitable outcomes and opportunities for all students. AI in particular has proven to be a disruptive tool from both the side of teachers and learners. Projects developing innovative EdTech solutions to the challenges facing students, teachers and/or institutions of learning are welcome, as well as projects proposing innovative approaches to integrate AI tools into teaching and learning and those critically examining the implications of the use of educational AI technologies.

Submission Deadline: August 15, 2025

Awards Announced: Early September, 2025

Funds Released: September 23, 2025

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.

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UCSC – 2025 Campus Seed Funding

Area of Interest:

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

Society, Media and Technology

  • Information technology has played a role in shaping many of the current challenges facing deliberation and discussion in democratic societies, from voter manipulation to social media and the spread of misinformation and disinformation, erosion of trust in professional journalism; the list goes on and on. Projects critically examining these processes and/or exploring how IT can counter these challenges are welcome.

Agricultural Technology – AgTech

  • As changes to climate increasingly impact arable land, water and air, new approaches to food production become more critical. We welcome projects critically examining and exploring IT solutions to these challenges, including those aimed at improving working conditions, increasing productivity, and supporting more sustainable agricultural practices. Proposals that also consider the social impacts of automation—such as job displacement and community resilience—are especially encouraged.

Educational Technology – EdTech

  • Information technology is argued to hold immense potential to create better, more equitable outcomes and opportunities for all students. AI in particular has proven to be a disruptive tool from both the side of teachers and learners. Projects developing innovative EdTech solutions to the challenges facing students, teachers and/or institutions of learning are welcome, as well as projects proposing innovative approaches to integrate AI tools into teaching and learning and those critically examining the implications of the use of educational AI technologies.
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:

  • May 2025: Call for 2025-26 CITRIS and the Banatao Institute UCSC Seed Fund proposals announced online, via email to existing CITRIS PIs and distributed to campus news outlets.
  • June 13, 2025: Online application portal opens for submissions. 
  • June-Aug 2025: Matchmaking and multi-division team formation occurs among Principal Investigators. Complete the seed funding interest form for assistance with finding compatible co-PIs.
  • June 18, 12:00-2:00 pm: Zoom Info Session 1 – click here to register:

https://ucsc.zoom.us/meeting/register/go5FQgtNSYOi01NG3jOjwA

  • June 24, 4:00-5:00 pm: Zoom Info Session 2 – click here to register:

https://ucsc.zoom.us/meeting/register/5SfB_SN1QgGGVgQDr-XIcQ

  • August 15, 2025 at 11:59 pm PST: Applications are due online.
  • Early September, 2025: Awardees are notified.
  • September 15, 2025: Funds Transferred to PIs
  • September 21, 2025: Performance period begins for 2025-26 Seed Fund Award projects.
  • September 20, 2026: Final reports for 2025-26 Seed Fund Award projects are due.

Eligibility and Proposal Requirements:

  • Projects are expected to include a focus on Information Technology and propose to solve a significant societal issue related to this year’s themes listed above. 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 2025-26 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 13, 2025. 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.

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