The Grainger College of Engineering announces the 2025 Strategic Research Initiatives (SRI) competition. The SRI program is intended to seed projects that initiate, grow, and/or support major collaborative, multidisciplinary research across the college and beyond. Successful proposals will show significant scientific and engineering promise to enhance the Grainger College of Engineering’s global leadership in research. New Phase 1 projects will begin May 16, 2025, and last through May 15, 2026. Phase 1 projects will be eligible for the Phase 2 competition, which will take place in Spring 2026. Phase 2 support is provided to selected projects from Phase 1 that show the most potential to result in externally funded, multi-investigator, multi-organization research, such as centers and institutes.
SRI funding is intended to allow Grainger Engineering researchers to embark on larger-scale efforts resulting in substantial support from federal, industrial, and/or other external sources. Therefore, proposals should address issues that will be of interest to multiple funding agencies, industrial partners, national laboratories, and/or philanthropic organizations. Preference will be given to those projects with a clear path to potential large-scale, multi-investigator, multi-organization research. Collaborations external to Grainger Engineering are encouraged, including those within the University of Illinois (such as campus IRUs and other colleges) and external to the university (such as national labs and industry). If a project includes Co-PIs from outside Grainger Engineering, the home unit(s)/organization(s) of the non-engineering personnel will be asked to commit funds to cover all costs associated with the participation of that person(s) in the project.
SRI proposal funding levels should be commensurate with the proposed project's scope. For Phase 1, the maximum funding for a single proposal will be $75,000 for one year. The amount of funding for a Phase 2 project will be commensurate with the scope of the proposed project and the available funds. It is expected that the majority of funds for Phase 1 will be spent or encumbered by February 28, 2026. In general, no-cost extensions after May 15, 2026, for Phase 1 projects will not be granted.
Funded activities may include workshops, seminars, colloquia, travel, and hosting visiting researchers to aid in the exploration of new research areas. This does not preclude more traditional research activities to establish expertise/results for seeking external funding (e.g., preliminary data collection for center-scale and other large proposals). Ultimately, the SRI-supported efforts should place Illinois on a path to becoming an internationally recognized leader in the proposed area, and position the team to be competitive for large-scale, multi-investigator research with significant scientific and societal impact.
For further information please download Competition Details and Proposal Preparation Guidelines Document (PDF) and the SRI Proposal Template (Word) .
Eligibility
Proposal teams must consist of a PI and at least one Co-PI.
Regardless of where the activity lies on the spectrum of early-stage team building to late-stage center-building activities, all proposals should be focused in some way on team, partnership, and visibility building activities.
I have read the announcement and understand all of the eligibility requirements. Any questions that I have were answered adequately by the College of Engineering, Office of Research.
PI Requirements
I have read the announcement and understand all of the PI requirements. Any questions that I have were answered adequately by the College of Engineering, Office of Research.
Office of the Vice Chancellor for Research & Innovation