Strategic Priorities

The activities of OVPR are informed by our values, which are Partnership, Discovery, and Integrity. They guide us as we implement a set of strategic priorities identified by the research community, leadership, and external partners to advance the University’s research mission which is the generation and preservation of knowledge, understanding, and artistry through scholarly and creative activities that benefit students, researchers, and communities across the state, the nation, and the world. In addition, we remain ever cognizant of the degree to which the research mission is tightly coupled to the teaching and public service missions of the institution as well. OVPR recognizes that it is the synergies across the University’s tripartite mission that make us one of the top ten public research institutions in the country.

To align with the University Systemwide Strategic Plan, and in particular with respect to Commitments 2 and 3, “Discovery, Innovation, and Impact” and “MNtersections,” OVPR has identified three strategic priorities that we use to guide our activities and budgeting. In particular, we evaluate both our ongoing work as well as potential new initiatives by assessing the degree to which they not only align with the Systemwide Strategic Plan, but also:

  • Enhance Research Excellence
  • Promote and Sustain Research Integrity 
  • Accelerate the Transfer of Knowledge for the Public Good
     

Enhance Research Excellence

Enhance research excellence by investing in research—people and infrastructure—to enhance research competitiveness,  foster interdisciplinary work, and address critical societal needs, while leveraging the unique advantages of the University of Minnesota. Examples include: 

Promote and Sustain Research Integrity 

Manage robust compliance activities, create a culture of responsible conduct of research, address research equity issues, and explore emerging ethical issues.  Examples include:  

Accelerate Knowledge Transfer for the Public Good

Because moving University-developed knowledge from academia to the community where it can do the most good is part of our Land Grant legacy, we support translational activities that build on basic research, facilitate commercialization of University technology, foster entrepreneurship, engage with business and industry, and engage students in research. Examples include: