RIO News & Announcements
The Research and Innovation Office (RIO) oversees the $1.3 billion annual research enterprise at the University of Minnesota, a top public research university. RIO works with a broad range of units and partners to advance the research mission and tracks key research metrics for the University.
UMN Research Newsletter
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UMN Washington Update
The UMN Washington Update is a weekly digest of congressional updates and funding opportunities prepared by Cozen O’Connor Public Strategies. See the latest UMN Washington Update.
Media Inquiries
Direct media inquiries to:
JoonHyung Cho
Assistant Vice President for External Affairs and Communications
224 McNamara Alumni Center, 200 Oak St. SE, Minneapolis, MN 55455
[email protected]
Recent RIO News & Announcements
National Security Research Institute Opens Fall 2026 Seed Grant Cycle
NSRI seed grants will help advance national security research and education at the University while connecting PIs to the NSRI’s initiatives. For the fall 2026 cycle, the program will fund up to two awards of up to $95,000 each for one year.
RIO and GPS Alliance Announce Four Winners for the UMN-SNU Research Partnership Seed Grants
The newly launched UMN–SNU research partnership seed grants will advance international technology and scientific collaboration by linking University of Minnesota PIs with shared expertise at Seoul National University. In its inaugural round, the program has awarded approximately $160,000 in total funding to four interdisciplinary projects across two colleges.
RIO Awards Twenty-Four Grant-in-Aid Projects for Spring 2026
The Research and Innovation Office has awarded 24 grants as part of the Spring 2026 Grant-in-Aid program. The awards have been presented to principal investigators representing 12 colleges and two campuses.
RIO Awards $570,000 to Six Projects Advancing National Security Innovation and Beyond
RIO and NSRI have selected six projects to receive the first NSRI Seed Grants. These grants are focused on catalyzing innovative research that addresses high-priority national security challenges.
RIO Seeking Nominations for the 2026 Research Technical Staff Award
This award recognizes 10 research staff for their significant contributions and distinguished service to the UMN research community with personal honorariums of $2,000 each. Submissions are due June 1, 2026.
Introducing LINC: A New Era of Interdisciplinary Collaboration
The University of Minnesota formally launches Learn-Innovate-Network-Collaborate (LINC), a strategic initiative to span research silos, bring cross-disciplinary researchers together, and share our knowledge and resources.
Building Minnesota’s Pipeline: 2025 Innovation Minnesota Annual Report Highlights Strategic Alignment
Innovation Minnesota has released its 2025 Annual Report which outlines a strategic model for a continuous, connected innovation pipeline linking early education and research universities with industry partners and government priorities.
Research Corporation for Science Advancement Information Session: June 2
Join us for a unique opportunity to meet Eric D. Isaacs, president and CEO of the Research Corporation for Science Advancement, and to learn more about his organization’s funding programs that support innovative basic research in the physical sciences.
Exploring the Future: Pi Day Virtual Field Trip 2026
The University of Minnesota participated in its first virtual Pi Day field trip on March 10, 2026. Co-hosted by the International Institute for Biosensing and the Minnesota Nano Center and in partnership with the AI hub, the Minnesota Supercomputing Institute and TwinCities IEEE Section, the online event gathered over 100 students, educators, and researchers to explore the power of “Pi” in our modern world.