Think Tanks

Overview

USF Think Tanks

Global Challenges. Transformative Discoveries. Bold Solutions.

Supported by the USF Research Development Institute (RDI), Think Tanks are an organic, faculty-driven effort to bring together dynamic, interdisciplinary teams capable of generating transformative discoveries and bold solutions for the world's most pressing challenges. These challenges have forever shaped the communities and environments in which we live, while offering opportunities to build more resilient, sustainable, and adaptable ecosystems that are ready to accelerate innovation and the translation of research into products and processes that impact communities.

Think Tanks serve as catalysts for faculty collaboration and innovation, mobilizing interdisciplinary teams and accelerating their pathway to breakthrough discoveries.

Converge	Collaborate	Discover	Catalyze	Scale
Discuss promising and emerging areas of high impact, interdisciplinary research	Stimulate nimble research collaboratives responsive to evolving technologies and changing environments	Generate new research pathways and solutions to pressing regional and global challenges	Amplify research competitiveness, capacity, and impact	Accelerate research to impact continuum through sustainable public – private partnerships

How Does the RDI Support Think Tanks?

The RDI supports USF’s growing number of Think Tanks through initial “launch” sessions, hosted lightning talks, and roundtable workshops, as well as by assisting Think Tank facilitators with the organization and promotion of events and activities.

The RDI also connects Think Tank members and teams with competitive funding opportunities, proposal development and granting writing support, and strategic intelligence to elevate the success of submitted grant proposals.

The RDI aims to equip teams with the resources and connections to pursue large-scale, center-level funding and works closely within USF’s robust innovation ecosystem—including Florida High Tech Corridor, Technology Transfer Office, USF CONNECT, USF I-Corps, and Tampa Bay Regional Consortium—to accelerate the translation of research to industry and communities for sustainable growth and impact.