Faculty researchers are invited to join Interdisciplinary Innovation for Critical Supply Chain Resilience, the Bold Challenges program’s new theme for Pollination. Designed to spark novel ideas and scientific collaborations, Bold Challenges’ Pollination events convene faculty from across campuses to share their work and uncover potential new interdisciplinary research directions. In anticipation of federal funding interest in strengthening supply chain resilience, Bold Challenges invites faculty researchers to explore the complex challenges to national preparedness – from cybersecurity to natural disasters to the need for reshoring production and transportation of raw materials and bio-based products.

This interactive Pollination event will enable researchers from diverse disciplines to share ideas, gauge research synergies, and lay the groundwork for competitive research projects around supply chain resilience and adaptiveness. Possible areas of interest may include risk management; national security and cybersecurity; sustainability and ethics; digital transformation and technology, such as AI/ML, semiconductors and microelectronics; advanced manufacturing and biomanufacturing; pharmaceuticals; resource utilization; transportation; and critical minerals and materials.

Bold Challenges also presents opportunities for seed funding to catalyze innovative, high-impact projects. These opportunities range from $10,000 (Pollination Awards, available only to event participants) to $75,000 (Boost program) to $50,000-$125,000 (Accelerate); each of these opportunities includes staff support for project management and strategic planning.

Event Highlights:

External funding landscape in supply chain topic areas
Opportunities to combine strengths for transformative research
Seeding interdisciplinary teams for critical supply chain research
Seed funding opportunities to jumpstart collaborative projects; for Pollination awards, event participation is required in order to be eligible.
The event will be held in the Vandenberg Room in the Michigan League on Friday February 6th from 9:00am to 12:00 pm. This is an in-person event with no hybrid option available. Light breakfast and boxed lunches will be provided. Please register by January 23rd.

If you have any questions about this form or event details, please reach out to Kathryn Hendrickson at kathendr@umich.edu.