Addressing the need to strengthen and modernize partnerships through bold approaches that dramatically increase impact from collaborative innovation.
The global research ecosystem is at a critical inflection point, presenting a unique opportunity for universities and industry to reimagine collaboration, accelerate innovation, strengthen societal impact, and modernize partnerships for the future.
A Global Imperative for Research Collaboration
How SAMI Works
SAMI convenes leaders from across the sectors to identify shared challenges, define practical points of intervention, and advance partnership models that can be implemented across the research ecosystem.
Where SAMI Is Today
SAMI began with multi-sector, structured listening sessions and interviews across geography and interests. Today, the initiative is advancing targeted projects and pilot-ready models grounded in cross-sector alignment and practical feasibility.
See the initiative’s Advisory Board and Contributing Partners (U.S. National Science Foundation, Amazon, Arizona State University, Microsoft, and Elsevier)
SAMI is focused on these three priority concept areas:
Building Industry-Prepared PhD Talent Pipelines
This cluster explores new approaches to doctoral education that better align training with the skills, experiences, and expectations required for careers in industry and other non-academic settings. It also examines the funding models that shape doctoral training, building on UIDP’s Expanding STEM PhD Funding Streams work.
Enhancing Industry Competency and Preparedness
Defines industry-relevant competencies for PhD students, explores flexible training modules, and assesses the feasibility of a nationally recognized certificate or credential.
Streamlined Industry-Oriented PhD
Explores scalable models for accelerated, industry-oriented doctoral training that reduce time-to-degree and training costs while maintaining academic rigor.
Advancing Industry-Driven Models for Collaborative Research
This cluster focuses on mechanisms that help companies initiate, shape, and participate in collaborative research with universities and other partners, especially in pre-competitive and multi-sponsor settings.
Idea Sourcing for Collaborative Research
Creates structured processes for companies with shared interests to surface common research challenges and build pathways toward collaborative investment.
Industry-Led University Research Centers
Explores models where industry helps drive pre-competitive research consortia while preserving university strengths and appropriate oversight.
Streamlined Multi-Sponsor Joint Solicitations
Develops approaches to simplify how multiple sponsors collaborate with agencies to co-fund research solicitations.
Reimagining IP Management to Accelerate Research Translation
This cluster explores how intellectual property is managed, negotiated, and valued across sectors to reduce friction and accelerate research translation.
Guiding Principles for IP in Cross-Sector Partnerships
Defines shared principles that position IP as one part of broader partnership management and support more flexible, access-oriented approaches.
IP Attitudes and Approaches by Technical Sector
Examines how IP expectations vary across technical domains to inform more tailored, fit-for-purpose partnership structures.
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Get Involved
Strengthening and modernizing partnerships requires collaboration across universities, industry, government, nonprofit organizations, and the broader research ecosystem. The SAMI initiative is shaped through ongoing engagement with stakeholders who are actively working to improve how research partnerships are built, managed, and translated into impact.
We invite organizations and individuals to contribute insights, experiences, and ideas that can help advance the future of cross-sector collaboration.
There are many ways to participate, including:
- Joining listening sessions, working groups, and collaborative discussions
- Sharing case studies, pilot programs, or partnership models
- Contributing ideas that can inform new approaches and frameworks
- Supporting implementation and pilot development efforts
- Identifying barriers and opportunities in research collaboration, talent development, infrastructure, or IP management
The initiative is building a growing body of knowledge designed to strengthen research partnerships, accelerate innovation, improve talent development, and increase societal and economic impact across science and engineering.
Share Your Perspective
Please share your ideas for strengthening and modernizing partnerships. We seek case studies and information about existing programs to share and ultimately improve innovation and research in science and engineering.
We welcome:
- Examples of innovative university–industry partnerships
- Existing programs and collaboration models
- Lessons learned and best practices
- Emerging ideas for modernizing cross-sector engagement
- Perspectives on improving research translation and innovation outcomes
Your contributions will help inform practical recommendations, future pilots, and actionable strategies that support stronger, more effective partnerships across the global research community.
Share an Idea