President's Research Catalyst Awards

Launched by President Napolitano in 2014, the President’s Research Catalyst Awards have provided $10 million to fund multicampus research in areas of strategic importance to UC that could benefit California and the world. Catalyst projects must involve a minimum of three UC campuses and address topics that have the potential to improve human lives, society, the environment, or the economy, enhance culture and community or provide other public benefit. Awards are open to all fields and are made on a competitive basis.

The first round of five awards was made in 2015, and totaled $3.1 million. In 2016, four additional projects, totaling $4.8 million, were launched. The third round of three awards, totaling $2.1 million, commenced in 2017. Learn more about the most recent round of Catalyst Award recipients in the press release for the 2017 awards.