Project Grant 2433218

This $397,171 project grant was awarded by the National Science Foundation (NSF) under the Technology, Innovation, and Partnerships (CFDA 47.084) program. The grant supports the Cross-Continental Collaboration Coalition (C4) project, an interdisciplinary endeavor involving five primarily undergraduate institutions - California State University Chico, University of Central Oklahoma, Central Washington University, SUNY Oswego, and Weber State University.

The C4 project aims to strengthen industry partnerships and enhance research capacity at the participating institutions. Key initiatives include establishing regional innovation partnerships to facilitate knowledge exchange, collaborative research projects, curriculum realignment, and experiential learning opportunities for students. The project also focuses on investing in research infrastructure, faculty development, and interdisciplinary collaboration platforms to position the C4 institutions as leaders in cutting-edge research and technology development. Through regular meetings, workshops, and joint initiatives, the C4 cohort will exchange best practices, co-create innovative solutions, and support each other in achieving their shared goals. The project is expected to impact the lives of 11,425 students annually and contribute to the broader advancement of best practices in higher education and industry collaboration.