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University of Wisconsin–Madison

Igniting Interdisciplinary Innovation

sparkler BY PIXABAYThe Igniting Interdisciplinary Innovation (I³) initiative is a campus-wide effort led by the Office of the Vice Chancellor for Research (OVCR) to catalyze bold research collaborations that cross or complement UW–Madison’s RISE themes—AI, EARTH, and THRIVE. Running from November 2025 through May 2026, the program will bring together researchers from across schools and colleges to develop revolutionary, high-impact interdisciplinary projects that will advance solutions to complex societal challenges and position teams to attract exceptionally large extramural funding support relative to standard awards in a given field. Through structured collaboration events and seed funding, I³ will strengthen UW–Madison’s position as a national leader in addressing grand societal challenges.

Meeting 21st-century challenges—from energy transitions and trustworthy AI to human well-being and planetary resilience—means seeking interdisciplinary perspectives and solutions. I³ responds to this imperative by fostering new collaborations that cross or complement RISE areas to position UW–Madison to compete effectively for large-scale team initiatives. We are seeking exceptionally innovative approaches to key societal challenges, such as:

  • Reducing environmental contaminants and mitigating their effects on human health and planetary resilience: technologies, processes, and policies
  • Curing disease and improving health and well-being: mechanisms, diagnostics, treatments, and health systems
  • Building the workforce and manufacturing of the future: emerging materials and technologies, education/skill development, and public policy
  • Designing robust food, water, and agriculture systems: production, distribution, affordability, and access
  • Developing future energy infrastructure: efficiency, reliability, and accessibility

People and post it notesBY PIXABAYCharacteristics of a Strong I³ Project

I³ seeks to catalyze project concepts that are creative, viable, and strategically positioned for growth. Strong projects will exhibit many of the following characteristics:

1. Interdisciplinary Team

  • Involves faculty across multiple departments and schools/colleges
  • Includes a thoughtful mix of junior and senior faculty
  • Comprises faculty who have not previously collaborated
  • Participation of RISE hires is encouraged but not required

 

2. Niche Expansion or Niche Creation

Niche Expansion: 

      • Leverages existing institutional strengths, infrastructure, facilities, or centers
      • Expands an established research direction into new domains, funding pathways, or collaborations

Niche Creation:

      • Identifies an emerging field or theme aligned with new capabilities and opportunities
      • Positions UW–Madison for early leadership in a developing national or global space


3. Transformational Vision

          • Describes where UW–Madison is today, where it could be, and how I³ will accelerate the transformation
          • Demonstrates how the work could elevate the university’s visibility, competitiveness, or capacity


4. Partnerships

          • Describes how the project will build or enhance partnerships with other universities, national laboratories, Industry, community partners, or government


5. Potential Impact

          • Describes anticipated contributions to science, technology, education, innovation, or society
          • Articulates how this project advances the Wisconsin Idea


6. Potential for Extramural Funding

          • Identifies credible sponsors (e.g., federal, industry, philanthropy)
          • Demonstrates a compelling path toward large-scale competitive proposals within 12–24 months

I³ Process

  • I³ Information Sessions: Attend an online 1–hour session introducing the I³ process (December 4, 8, and 11). Please see links below.
  • Expression of Interest (December 23, 2025 deadline): Register to attend one or more topic-focused incubation session to find and network with potential team members. Participation at an incubation session is required to submit a proposal.  Please see sign-up links below.
  • Incubation Sessions: 4-hour matchmaking, networking, and team-building events, each focused on a societal challenge listed above (9:00 am–1:00 pm, January 15 and 30; February 6, 16, and 27),
  • Proposal Development: Teams work together to refine ideas into a 3-page proposal requesting up to $250,000 in seed funding (January–March 2026).
  • Proposal Submission (April, 1 2026 deadline): Teams submitting a proposal must be available to present at the I³ Showcase if chosen as a finalist.
  • Proposal Review: Submitted proposals for I³ Showcase will be peer-reviewed. Finalists will be notified by mid-April.
  • I³ Showcase: Pitch event featuring finalist teams (late April 2026). Selected teams will receive I³ funding up to $250,000 and team development support.

Information Session links:

December 4, 10 a.m. – 11 a.m.

Join Zoom Meeting

Meeting ID: 943 4247 0046

December 8, 4 p.m.-5 p.m.

Join Zoom Meeting

Meeting ID: 977 7740 3568

December 11, 2 p.m. – 3 p.m.

Join Zoom Meeting

Meeting ID: 940 1787 4795

people sitting around a table BY PIXABAYSign up for an Incubation Session —

The incubation sessions are all 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. and the incubation session dates and links to sign up sheets are below:

Eligibility

  • The lead Principal Investigator (PI) must be a UW–Madison tenure-track faculty member or a researcher with permanent PI status.
  • CHS faculty, research professors and other academic staff without permanent PI status may participate as co-PIs.

FAQs

      • Do I have to attend one of the December information sessions to participate in an incubation session? No.
      • Can I attend more than one incubation session? Yes.
      • Can I attend an incubation session online? No. All incubation sessions will be held in person.
      • Do I have to attend an incubation session to submit a proposal? Preference will be given to teams for which most or all members have participated in an incubation session. At least 2 team members must have attended an incubation session for the team to be able to submit a proposal.
      • How do I submit a proposal? Details of the submission process will be provided at the incubation sessions  

 

For questions about incubation sessions or proposal preparation, contact the appropriate divisional AVC. Technical questions should be sent to competitions@research.wisc.edu.