The key to advancing our research goals is to continue to focus efforts on topics and initiatives we have already defined among our research strengths: One Health, Precision Agriculture, Agriculture Genomics and Synthetic Biology, and BioEconomy Advancement. UT AgResearch scientists should strive to submit at least four initiative driven proposals (at an award amount of $4 million+ each).
As we advance our established initiatives, we must also look to the future. UT AgResearch is committed to fostering bold, faculty-driven programs that build capacity and strengthen competitiveness in emerging science. There is also value in encouraging our researchers to build new collaborations and strengthen external networks, furthering our reputation for impactful research. The new strategic plan introduces two flagship efforts designed to achieve this: Strategic Partnership Seed Grants and AgForward Innovation Hubs.
Strategic Partnership Seed Grants
Strategic Partnership Seed Grants provide targeted seed funding to catalyze collaborations between UT AgResearch faculty and external partners such as UT Knoxville, TN commodity groups, TSU, ORNL, USDA-ARS, and TN industrial partners. By embedding stakeholders directly into the research process, these grants ensure that projects address pressing agricultural challenges with practical, real-world solutions for novel funding streams. The program not only strengthens relationships with key partners but also creates a clear pathway toward competitive, large-scale, multi-investigator proposals. In doing so, Strategic Partnership Seed Grants enhance the relevance of UT AgResearch’s work, expand its impact, and ensure that innovations translate into benefits for producers, communities, and society at large.
Year 1
- Launch competitive seed funding program (e.g. $30-50K awards)
- Require partnerships with UTK, TSU, ORNL, USDA-ARS, or industry
- Selection criteria: clear path toward large, multi-PI proposals ($1M+)
- Metrics:
- Number of grants awarded
- Number of external partners engaged
- Proposals in development
Year 2
- Expand program to support multi-year partnerships
- Link grantees with proposal development pods for federal NOFO targeting (NSF, DOE, USDA)
- Metrics:
- Number of large proposals submitted
- Increase in interdisciplinary submissions
Year 3
- Prioritize renewal funding for teams with strong proposal pipelines
- Publicize success stories to strengthen UT AgResearch’s national profile
- Metrics:
- Number of proposals at $1M+
- Portfolio diversification (NSF/DOE/USDA/industry)
Year 4
- Conduct impact review: $leveraged, partnerships sustained, career impacts for faculty
- Decide whether to institutionalize program with recurring internal funding
AgForward Innovation Hubs
AgForward Innovation Hubs support interdisciplinary faculty teams exploring bold, high-risk/high-reward research in emerging scientific domains such as agricultural data and AI, circular bioeconomy, synthetic biology, and next-generation systems. By providing support, visiting scholars, and thought leader engagement, the hubs create an environment where innovative ideas can grow into nationally competitive initiatives.
AgForward Innovation Hubs bring together faculty, stakeholders, industry partners, and thought leaders to identify and develop the next major opportunities in agricultural sciences. These hubs serve as collaborative engines for generating bold ideas, aligning research with emerging needs, and catalyzing large-scale, multiinstitutional initiatives. By integrating scientific expertise with real-world insight, the AgForward Innovation Hubs help UT AgResearch anticipate future challenges, enhance faculty visibility in emerging fields, and embed graduate students and postdoctoral researchers in high-impact, cross-disciplinary projects.
Year 1
- Planning phase: identify 2-3 priority frontier areas through faculty and stakeholder input
- Recruit faculty cohorts across departments and campuses
- Secure initial funding for hub support (travel seed grants, visiting scholars, seminar series)
Year 2
- Official launch of 2-3 hubs
- Provide funds, external thought leader seminars, and short-term visiting scholars
- Metrics:
- Publications
- White papers
- External proposal submissions
- New collaborations formed
Year 3
- Continue support with competitive renewal process
- Encourage cross-hub collaboration and integrations with external partners
- Metrics:
- Major grant awards
- Invited talks
- Leadership roles in national and international initiatives
- New collaborations formed
Year 4
- Evaluate hub productivity and alignment with national funding trends
- Transition most successful hubs into potential permanent UTIA centers
