Blue Sky Initiative
Michigan Engineering has set its sights on enhancing its culture of creativity, innovation and daring through its Blue Sky Initiative funding model.
As part of the University of Michigan College of Engineering’s new internal research funding approach, the Blue Sky Initiative is designed to give research teams a chance to try big, daring ideas, show results and build enough momentum to secure significant investment from partners such as federal agencies or corporations.
Introduced in late 2017, the Blue Sky Initiative supports transformational concepts – high-risk, high-reward ideas. Selected research teams will progress through a series of defined milestones to consistently assess the development of their concepts. The initiative will give teams the resources to aggressively pursue an idea to either reinforce or define Michigan’s leadership position in a wide range of areas.
Successful projects will explore and secure external investments to develop and expand the concept through external partners.
The Blue Sky Initiative is one of three funding models introduced through the Research Pillar of Michigan Engineering’s 2020 Strategic Vision
- Blue Sky Initiative (up to $2.5M over 3 years): An investment to advance a transformational idea that is high-risk, high-reward. The goal is not to launch a company, but to eventually secure external investments to develop and expand the concept.
- Research Accelerator Initiative (up to $250k): A one-time infusion of funds to get a mid-stage idea off the ground. It is similar to angel investors or accelerators in a startup funding model in that it provides a jumpstart.
- Clusters and Themes Initiative (up to $25k): These seed investments are meant to kickstart an idea that is earlier-stage or has not yet taken definite shape. It is intended for faculty with similar expertise or interests to break down boundaries and organize.
“We aim to help foster an ecosystem that celebrates bold thinking, embraces noble failures and engenders intellectual curiosity. I am excited to see what happens when we open new doors for our faculty to explore.”
- Alec D. Gallimore, the Robert J. Vlasic Dean of Engineering, Richard F. and Eleanor A. Towner Professor, an Arthur F. Thurnau Professor, and professor of aerospace engineering