Bold Challenges, an Office of Vice President for Research initiative, leads events and programs to empower researchers to create dynamic teams, produce transformative discoveries and improve the quality of life for our communities, state, nation and world. Our programs are designed to build faculty skills, knowledge and capacity so that U-M researchers are ready when big opportunities arise:

Pollination Events

provide facilitated events that are based on research themes or funding opportunities. Events include networking, finding collaborators and resources, learning about the future of funding, and forming new teams. Seed funds up to $10,000 are available to attendees and include Research Development staff support.

Boost

is an annual cohort-based program to support multi-school teams working on significant transdisciplinary projects with substantial potential for large-scale funding, providing up to $75K in funding. 

Accelerate

offers precision proposal support from Research Development professionals. This program offers expert consulting for activities directly related to increasing the probability of a successful proposal for a specific large-scale funding opportunity. Teams on track to submit a large-scale proposal within two years are eligible for financial support of up to $125K