Grand Challenges

Solutions to society’s most vexing issues aren’t going to come from research silos. Here, we’re forging unique interdisciplinary collaborations and pursuing new approaches through the Grand Challenges Grants Program.

Backed by more than $30 million in first-round institutional funding, it’s the largest and most ambitious initiative of its kind in UMD history. The initial 2023 grants supported 50 projects on topics including high-tech defenses against deadly wildfires, new methods to fight respiratory infections and AI approaches to weather forecasting. And the university has already seen a sizable return on its investment in a surge of additional funding for the projects unlocked from external sources—nearly double the initial expenditure so far. The combination of internal and external funding has allowed these projects to involve 6,500 students, to create 450 partnerships and to deliver benefits to 100% of Maryland’s counties, in addition to those outside of Maryland and around the world. With this foundation, the university launched a second call for applicants to the Grand Challenges Grants Program in spring 2026.

Supporting Grand Challenges grants amplifies the University’s efforts to deliver real progress for real people. By continuing to grow discretionary funding for this program, UMD will sustain resources to engage future challenge teams to take on new mission-driven projects.