Introduction

2008 CIRS Competition Announcement

Dear Colleagues,

I am disappointed to announce that the Critical Initiatives in Research and Scholarship competition will not be held this year. Unexpected cuts this year to the Office of the Vice Chancellor for Research recurring budget, including the elimination of the $2,400,000 State of Illinois matching funds program, severely impacted our ability to fund our core programs. The campus is developing mechanisms to deal with these shortfalls now. The CIRS program is an important stimulus to multidisciplinary research on the campus. We hope to restore funding and resume the Critical Initiatives in Research and Scholarship program next academic year.

Sincerely,
Charles F. Zukoski
Vice Chancellor for Research



Program Description

The Critical Initiatives in Research and Scholarship (CIRS) Program was established to stimulate continued innovation and outstanding scholarship at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. The preceding Critical Research Initiatives (CRI) Program has been expanded this year as part of the UIUC Strategic Plan to help catalyze and engage all disciplines in pursuing large scale problems of broad scope.

During the last eleven years, the CRI Program has been an outstanding catalyst for discovery and has resulted in several high-profile programs for the campus. The CIRS Program seeks to support radical innovation in research and scholarship by supporting interaction between and among disciplines that are not traditionally affiliated.

Program Overview

The CIRS Program provides support for broad multidisciplinary research projects that will position the campus to become a national or international leader in emerging areas of research or scholarship. A key review criterion is that projects have the potential for transformative impact on the University. In addition, projects should leverage existing campus strengths and distinguish UIUC from peer institutions.

The CIRS Program does not provide interim or incremental support for ongoing research or scholarly activities – rather, it seeks to support radical innovation by promoting interactions between and among disciplines that, traditionally, are not affiliated.

Program Goals