Washington State University is investing in big ideas — offering grants to researchers for projects that build upon the university’s core strengths and address the state’s most urgent needs.
The President’s Big Ideas Initiative, aimed at boosting WSU’s influence on the state, national and global level, was launched this month and the application process is open. Developed by WSU President Elizabeth Cantwell and Vice President for Research Kim Christen, the effort includes three major funding tracks, framed around building large-scale research platforms, publicly engaged research projects, and partnerships with the private sector.
President Elizabeth Cantwell described the project as an effort to target investments in mission-aligned projects to amplify WSU’s influence.
“Through the President’s Big Ideas Initiative, we are cementing WSU’s role as Washington’s public research laboratory — where bold ideas meet real-world challenges,” Christen said. “By investing in collaborative platforms and partnerships, we’re ensuring that our research enterprise drives innovation and delivers tangible benefits for communities across the state and beyond.”
By investing in collaborative platforms and partnerships, we’re ensuring that our research enterprise drives innovation and delivers tangible benefits for communities across the state and beyond.
Kim Christen, vice president for research
Washington State University
Letters of intent are due Nov. 10, with full proposals due in January. Awards will be announced in February, with funding commencing in March.
The three funding tracks are:
- Innovation Platforms for the Future:
This track supports the development of interdisciplinary research platforms, such as formal centers or institutes, that foster collaboration and innovation around a unifying, bold research vision. Proposals should demonstrate a plan for long-term impact and growth beyond the initial funding and should build on institutional strengths while addressing key gaps the funding could help address.
In this track, there will be three to five awards of $200,000 to $400,000 each. - Public Impact Research for Washington:
This track aims to support projects addressing statewide challenges such as wildfire prevention and response, water conservation, climate resilience and others, in partnership with a state or local agency or stakeholder. Projects should aim to produce tangible benefits for Washingtonians, with a pathway to inform public policy and understanding.
Four to seven projects will be awarded $100,000 to $200,000 each. - Enterprise Partnerships for Transformative Research:
This track is intended support partnerships with industry that move WSU research toward commercial applications, with the potential for attracting additional funding.
There will be between two and six awards in this track, ranging from $50,000 to $150,000 per award.
For more details, see the initiative’s website.
