The Franco Family Institute for Liberal Arts and the Public Good has opened a call for proposals for Research Innovation Collaboratives to begin work during the 2026–27 academic year.
These collaboratives—including three new options co-sponsored by University-wide Strategic Framework initiatives—encourage research and creative practice across departments and disciplines to inform, influence, and inspire innovative scholarship.
Each collaborative will consist of a group of scholars pursuing a core question. The cross-disciplinary collaboratives will foster research, artistic practice, teaching, and public engagement.
The program, now in its third year, is currently accepting applications for four types of collaboratives: Humanities Collaboratives, Arts Collaboratives co-sponsored by the Notre Dame Arts Initiative; Global Catholic Research Collaboratives co-sponsored by the Global Catholic Research Initiative; and Sustainability Collaboratives co-sponsored by the Just Transformations to Sustainability Initiative. Applicants may request consideration in more than one category.
“The Humanities Collaboratives have been a core project of the newly reimagined Franco Institute, and we have been proud to expand that program by fostering interdisciplinary work linked to the strategic initiatives,” said Kate Marshall, director of the Franco Institute, associate dean for research and strategic initiatives, and the Thomas J. and Robert T. Rolfs Collegiate Chair in the Department of English. “This year we have worked closely with Arts, Global Catholic Research, and Just Transformations to Sustainability to partner on this program, creating new opportunities for faculty to participate, and in some cases to expand the global reach of their projects. It's an exciting moment for this program and the Franco Institute."
Each collaborative must be led by two principal investigators from different departments, with at least one PI holding a primary appointment in the College of Arts & Letters. Teams must also include at least three additional collaborators, who may include faculty, postdoctoral scholars, graduate students, staff, or external partners.
Projects may take many forms, including public events, performances, exhibitions, scholarly publications, digital resources, and new courses. Each collaborative will receive a $25,000 research grant per year for two consecutive years, with the possibility of renewal for a third year, along with one course release for each PI with a primary appointment in the College of Arts & Letters during the grant period. Collaboratives that partner with Notre Dame Global sites will be eligible for an additional $5,000 in research funding per year.
Proposals will be evaluated by an interdisciplinary faculty committee based on interdisciplinarity, collaboration, scholarly excellence, and impact, with special review committees convened for arts, global Catholic, and sustainability projects.
An informational webinar about the program will be held on Feb. 13. Applications are due April 1, 2026, through the Franco Institute’s Submittable portal. Funding decisions will be announced in May.
Previously funded Research Innovation Collaboratives include a wide range of topics, from Critical Approaches to Art and Technology to African Governance to Social Health Dynamics.
Originally published by at strategicframework.nd.edu on February 02, 2026.