The University of Missouri-Kansas City earned a Carnegie Research 1 designation in February. This elite designation, held by only 6% of U.S. institutions, serves as a powerful catalyst for increased research investments, driving growth and innovation at UMKC and within the Kansas City community.

“With R1 status, we are positioned to expand our research capacity and build new partnerships that will drive discoveries,” said Sumeet Dua, vice chancellor of research and innovation. “These investments are just the beginning of what will be a thriving, collaborative research ecosystem at UMKC.”

The transformative milestone unlocks a wealth of opportunities, enhancing the university’s ability to attract funding, foster collaboration and elevate academic excellence. To build on this momentum, UMKC is making five key investments in research.

1. Rebranding the Division

The division is now “Research and Innovation” to better reflect the university's commitment to advancing cutting-edge research, fostering innovation and driving real-world impact through commercialization and interdisciplinary collaboration.

2. Launching C-IGNITE

UMKC is launching a new Collaboratory for Integrating Growth, Innovation and Research Excellence (C-IGNITE). This new initiative will connect faculty across disciplines with industry and community partners, while offering dedicated support for grantsmanship, large collaborative proposals and targeted funding opportunities. The UMKC Research Collaboration Conference on May 3 is organized to identify and highlight key areas of collaborative research strength at UMKC.

3. Introducing the BUILD Fund

The university has established a new BUILD Fund with an initial $1 million investment. The fund will help advance research capabilities through upgrades to facilities, acquisition of advanced equipment for core facilities and development of innovation labs. As an initial component of BUILD-supported resources, the Request for Proposals site is live.

4. Expanding Research Administration

Three new positions will be added to the research and innovation team, enhancing the ability to improve grants services and provide better support for faculty and researchers.

5. Launching Research and Innovation Excellence Awards

The Office of Research and Innovation is establishing a suite of new awards to honor outstanding achievements and cultivate a culture of high-impact research.

• The Pioneer Grant Award will be awarded to first-time federal principal investigators.
• The Million Dollar Milestone will be granted to investigators who have received $1 million or above in cumulative research funding at UMKC.
• The Rainmaker Award will be awarded for significant and international impact in the recipient’s fields.
• The awards will be celebrated through various communication initiatives such as an annual research conference, a campus research newsletter and a magazine.