The spring 2026 Research and Innovation Roundtable (RIR) – Leveraging AI to Advance Life Sciences and Agriculture – resulted in six projects selected for seed funding support from the Office of the President. All RIR projects are viewed as investments in the future of Iowa State University as outlined in the 2022–2031 Strategic Plan.
The May 4 RIR was designed to help position Iowa State researchers for emerging federal funding opportunities that leverage artificial intelligence to accelerate scientific discovery. Participants explored how AI can advance research in areas ranging from crop and animal agriculture to environmental stewardship, biotechnology, and renewable energy systems.
Following the event, 11 self-assembled teams submitted funding proposals. The six projects selected for investment bring together researchers from across the university to apply artificial intelligence and machine learning to challenges including plant genome engineering, drought resilience, precision livestock management, controlled-environment agriculture, renewable natural gas production, and conservation monitoring. Each RIR project will receive $60,000 in seed funding to generate preliminary results, establish proof of concept, and strengthen interdisciplinary collaborations. The awards are intended to position teams for larger-scale funding opportunities from federal agencies, industry partners, and private foundations.
Iowa State University’s Office of the Vice President for Research (OVPR) launched the RIR program in the 2022 fiscal year as an innovative and efficient way to spur interdisciplinary research in targeted areas. Since its inception, RIR-funded projects have generated an estimated $4.6 million in external funding, yielding a 4.81-to-1 return on investment.
Source : iastate.edu