Innovation Partnerships Grant (IPG) program

Innovation Partnerships Grant (IPG) program is sponsored by Oak Ridge Associated Universities (ORAU). ORAU's Innovation Partnerships Grant (IPG) program funds events that can bring more thought leadership around the topic of building a national strategy for STEM education and workforce capacity building. In 2024, there were 15 IPG program award recipients.

Innovation Partnerships Grant Program | ORAU Innovation Partnerships Grant Program ORAU's Innovation Partnerships Grant Program is currently undergoing some restructuring. Please check back soon for more information on future grant opportunities.

These grants are structured to build stronger relationships between university members and ORAU collaborators by focusing on research and education topics that align well with ORAU’s expertise and current priorities. ORAU will accept applications until the limit of two awards per fiscal year is reached. Applications will be accepted until resources are depleted.

Applications must be focused on one or more of the FY 2025 ORAU core focus areas. An ORAU collaborator will be assigned to the university PI for each award. Each event must be a minimum of four hours in length.

FY 2025 Innovation Partnerships Grant Program focus areas and example topics Improving Our Behavioral Health - health equity, social determinants of health, stress, loneliness, cultural approaches to healthcare, stigma, substance use disorders, and population health The Post-Pandemic World - remote working and learning, worker vulnerability, organizational and workforce resilience, disease surveillance, health communication, healthcare surge, and telehealth Implementing Innovative Technologies - data safety and cybersecurity, privacy, the digital economy, the digital divide, cross-border data sharing, and ethics Our Changing Planet - sustainability, environmental justice, clean energy, renewable energy, extreme weather events, water and air quality, ecosystems, urbanization and the built environment, and community resilience Each member university is limited to two awards per fiscal year.

Up to $4,000 may be requested to support an in-person or virtual event that involves participants from more than one ORAU member institution, including students. Innovation Partnerships Grant applications should focus on focused workshops/conferences that highlight your university’s strategic STEM research and education growth areas, and where collaborations with other member universities would add value.

We are specifically interested in events that can bring more thought leadership in building a national strategy for STEM education and workforce capacity building. Member universities are encouraged to collaborate around this topic in anticipation of federal funding initiatives. Funding is provided exclusively from non-federal monies by ORAU.

ORAU does not allow overhead charges or indirect costs on the award. Funding for FY 2025 awards is available from date of award through September 30, 2025. Frequently asked questions Who is eligible for ORAU Innovation Partnerships Grants?

Any ORAU member institution in good standing may submit an Innovation Partnerships Grants application through their ORAU Councilor . Only applications endorsed by an institution’s ORAU Councilor will be considered. An institution is considered in good standing when membership fees are up-to-date and required reports for existing award programs are current.

What are the criteria for Innovation Partnerships Grants? Innovation Partnerships Grants will be considered for events that meet the following criteria: Participation by more than one ORAU institution is required. One ORAU member university will submit the proposal and manage the grant funds.

Potential impact of the event, including the number of institutions or participants will be a big factor in our decision. Participation by students is considered a positive factor. New events are preferred over ongoing or annual events with established financial models.

Preference will be given to events in STEM disciplines. A representative from ORAU must be invited to the event and will attend, if possible. The event must be a minimum of four hours in length.

What are the reporting requirements for Innovation Partnerships Grants? A report documenting participation and outcomes using this template (. PDF, 192 KB) must be submitted within 30 days following the event.

Reports should be submitted to university. partnerships@orau. org .

What is required if the awarded event is cancelled or is rescheduled? If, for some unforeseen reason, the event cannot occur as stated in the grant request, please contact the University Partnerships Office to inform us of the revised date. If the awarded event is cancelled, the grant funds need to be returned to ORAU.

Contact university. partnerships@orau. org to receive further guidance.

Are there restrictions on the use of the grant funds? Funding is provided exclusively from non-federal monies by ORAU, and overhead charges or indirect costs are not allowed on the award. How can I collaborate with ORAU on an Innovation Partnerships Grant?

ORAU is home to a diverse group of professionals, each with unique experiences and specialized knowledge in various research fields. These individuals, as the forefront of ORAU's innovative thinking, are ideally positioned to evaluate the potential benefits of an Innovation Partnerships collaboration, ensuring a broad array of insights and expertise are leveraged.

Member university personnel with active relationships with ORAU staff are encouraged to reach out directly to discuss the potential for an Innovation Partnerships Grant collaboration. In addition, an email from your ORAU Councilor endorsing your request is required and should be attached at the bottom of the application.

Innovation Partnerships Grant Program FY25 Award Recipients Florida International University NanoFlorida 2025 Conference Molecular Magnetism in North America (MAGNA) Georgia Institute of Technology Workforce and Community-Engaged Team Building Approach for Lithium-Ion Battery Recycling in the US Southeast: Addressing Social and Ecological Implications The CARE Coalition Project IEEE Nanotechnology Youth Day Navajo Technical University Integrating Lab Technologies into Curriculum North Carolina State University Materials and Technologies for Wearable Sensors Cyberinfrastructure-enabled Sustainability Research and Education Nitrogen fate shapes agriculture's sustainable future Southern Illinois University at Carbondale LLMs Nexus: Bridging Technical Innovation and Ethical Horizons Southern Illinois University at Carbondale CAM x AI: Innovating Creativity Symposium Tennessee State University Role of Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning in Promoting Environmental Sustainability, Renewable Energy, Mitigating Extreme Weather Events, Urbanization, and Enhancing Community Resilience Southeast Polymer Forum: sustainability and clean energy 5th Conference of Society for Image-Guided Neurointerventions University of Southern Mississippi Gulf Coast Polymer Conference: Building Community Resilience via Inclusion and Innovation University of Texas at Austin 2025 Southern Experimental Mechanics Student Symposium Virginia Tech Autism Clinic & Center for Autism Research Biennial Spring Conference “Promoting Wellbeing for Autistic People” Advancing STEM collaboration: Innovation Partnerships Grant program strengthens research, education, and workforce capacity building The Innovation Partnerships Grant (IPG) program strengthens connections between university members and ORAU collaborators by emphasizing research and education themes that align closely with ORAU’s expertise and strategic priorities.

In 2025, there were 17 IPG program award recipients. Learn more about a few of our 2025 award recipients and how these grants are f ostering collaborative opportunities with other member universities.

ORAU grant program celebrates, strengthens university partnerships for innovation in STEM ORAU’s Innovation Partnerships Grant (IPG) program funds events that can bring more thought leadership around the topic of building a national strategy for STEM education and workforce capacity building.

In 2024, there were 15 IPG program award recipients, and it’s important to note that none of this would be possible without strong relationships with university consortium members at the highest levels.

ORAU partners with SIUC to explore AI and innovative technology in art, design and media While the roots of artificial intelligence are deeply embedded in fields like computer science and engineering, its applications have significantly expanded over the years to now offer innovative opportunities for creative fields such as art, design and media.

Southern Illinois University, Carbondale, is one of ORAU’s university consortium members, and its College of Arts and Media applied for ORAU’s Innovation Partnership Program with an idea to create a symposium to dive into the world of AI. To learn more about the ORAU Innovation Partnerships program, contact Tracie Curtright at university. partnerships@orau.

org .