Core Research and Innovation
Join us in fostering a collaborative research environment that bridges institutions and empowers researchers statewide.
Core Support Areas
The Administrative Core (AC) will serve to connect participants and institutions across the research ecosystem, facilitate research and infrastructure collaborations, and communicate opportunities and statewide R&D successes. The main objective of this core is to enhance and sustain jurisdiction-wide research administration.
Enhance and sustain jurisdiction-wide research administration:
We will develop a proposal team that can assist all researchers in pre-post award grants management. We will also host grant writing academies specifically targeting faculty who do not have extensive experience. The creation of this “Research Admin SWAT” team will allow for networking between the positions to support each institution and to grow/enhance partner research administrative capacity to help faculty across the state.
Serve as a bridge for research opportunities and EPSCoR communications across the state: A primary goal of the AC is to serve as a connecting bridge between researchers and opportunities available to support their work through Communication and Dissemination and the Strengthening Partnerships for Advancing Research Capacity in Delaware Summit.
Administer Seed Funding, Fee Waiver, and Innovation Discovery Award Programs: In partnership with the RSC and the EPSCoR State Committee, the AC will oversee and manage:
- Fee waivers for laboratory use across the state to enhance access and strengthen research results.
- Seed funding for use-inspired research projects to multi-institutional and cross-sector teams that spark new and potentially disruptive scientific advancements, synergistic collaborations, and economic prosperity.
- Annual Innovation Discovery Awards to reward researchers who participate in innovative research and
are at the cusp of transforming their research fields. The awardees will be honored at the annual Celebrating Innovation Event hosted by the Office of Economic and Innovative Partnerships.
The Research Support Core (RSC) will create a statewide network of technical expertise to broaden research participation at all institutions in the state and industry partners through improved research support and service. The RSC will further develop state-of-the-art data networking infrastructure and enabling technologies.
Enhance RSC Data and Computing Infrastructure Statewide: To expand upon the data and computing infrastructure in the state, we will build on an advanced UD and partner institution infrastructure, including high-performance computing, research data storage, advanced networking, AI/ML innovations, and human resources that catalyze and integrate data-intensive and computational research. The datasets will be universally available by providing a managed data pool that allows access for Delaware research projects with specific requirements. Additionally, data and information generated from Delaware research projects including DEEPSCoR RISE will be made available for real-time visual analytics and management decisions to support the long-term sustainability of our efforts.
Broaden understanding and utilization of advanced cyberinfrastructure resources and computational techniques: the RSC will provide targeted training for researchers and students, both through virtual sessions as well as on-site workshops. This training will not only target regional infrastructure but also national resources available through ACCESS, Open Science Grid, National Research Platform, and others. To facilitate this, the RSC will take advantage of existing training available through ACCESS, CARCC, OSG, and Software Carpentry, which will also aid in better awareness of these resources among SPARC-DE partners.
Stimulate research innovation and broaden participation in STEM: We will stimulate research innovation and broaden participation in the research enterprise by hiring a DSU IP specialist who will work directly with faculty to capitalize on their innovations.
Coming Soon: Through EPSCoR E-CORE, seed funding, core fee waivers and innovation discovery awards are available to support faculty research activities across the state. The applications must align with and support S&T Plan priorities (DE S&T Plan, 2024) and will be encouraged to include the involvement of HBCU, industry, and Primarily Undergraduate Institution (PUI) researchers.
EPSCoR works with students and educators to broaden interest and participation in the STEM fields: science, technology, engineering, and math. The goals of Delaware EPSCoR’s STEM Pathways K-16 Core (SPC) will create statewide opportunities to expand communication and broaden participation in Delaware’s research ecosystem. We will host targeted outreach and demonstration activities that expose students to STEM education and career paths in the state, support high school students interested in pursuing science through research internships, and provide access to anyone interested in our ecosystem.
Through programs such as science camps for middle schoolers, outreach events for high school students, professional development for teachers, and summer research internships for college undergraduates, Delaware EPSCoR creates a pathway for people who are prepared for the 21st century job market and ready to tackle environmental, energy, and other challenges.
STEM Expos take place annually in March at all Delaware Tech campuses. The goal of this initiative is to improve STEM education for students from kindergarten through grade 16 by fostering partnerships and collaborations throughout the state and expanding research capabilities. The annual STEM Expos and Youth STEM Camps will expose young students to potential STEM career pathways in Delaware offered at Delaware’s IHEs.
These expos introduce students to career pathways and academic programs in science, technology, engineering, and math through hands-on exhibits and facilities tours.
A major goal of Delaware EPSCoR program is to help the State’s economy by attracting students to science and technology careers and by catalyzing the development of advanced technology-based businesses and new jobs. EPSCoR’s emphasis on collaboration with government agencies, industry and nonprofit organizations is one way the program makes an impact on the State’s economy.
EPSCoR also has a relationship with the University of Delaware’s Office of Economic Innovation and Partnerships, which helps file patent applications and provides business development mentoring to EPSCoR network faculty.
Stimulate statewide access to and participation in entrepreneurial training and workforce development (Spin In): An initiative to contribute to the development of the 21st Century Workforce by providing teams of undergraduate students with an experiential opportunity in entrepreneurship by engaging in the solution of real world business problems within a real world entrepreneurial environment is well underway. The purpose of the initiative, called Spin In®, is for early stage entrepreneurial companies to spin in their promising innovative ideas to the university, in situations where they don’t have the resources or expertise to develop the ideas on their own. establish a strong economic development/work force development track is well underway.
Engage students and faculty in STEM-centered research, exploration, and education: Provide opportunities for undergraduates, graduates, and faculty to work closely in the discovery of solutions to complex problems across disciplines, resulting in improved durable and technical skills for the marketplace. The tools necessary to enhance skills for students will be provided for instruction and training across disciplines such as Data Analytics, Information Technology, Cybersecurity, Finance, Marketing, HR, and Statistics. Student-focused support, such as professional certifications, conference attendance, or research training opportunities will be considered for qualifying students.
Engage undergraduate students in research statewide: Provide undergraduate students from across the research enterprise with the opportunity to participate in summer research experiences aligned with Delaware S&T priority areas and EPSCoR research projects.
Intellectual Merit
SPARC-DE employs an inclusive, networked strategy to enhance research infrastructure and workforce development, strengthening Delaware’s R&D ecosystem. By improving data and intellectual property infrastructure, expanding STEM access, supporting entrepreneurship, and fostering collaboration, it drives cutting-edge, interdisciplinary research and economic growth. Advanced networking and AI tools at PUIs will further connect institutions, creating new opportunities for collaboration, proposal development, and research advancement across the state.
Broader Impacts
With access to over 70,000 students and strong ties to the EPSCoR State Committee, industry, and partner institutions, SPARC-DE will unlock the potential of a collaborative R&D ecosystem. It will foster interdisciplinary research, strengthen alliances between academia, industry, and government, and create new opportunities in education and training. Ultimately, SPARC-DE will break down research barriers, drive innovation, and prepare the next generation of scientists and leaders to enhance Delaware’s R&D capacity and economic competitiveness.
Citing EPSCoR
The National Science Foundation (NSF) requires grantees to acknowledge EPSCoR support in every publication (including webpages) of any material based on or developed under this grant.
To acknowledge EPSCoR support under the E-CORE grant, which began in March 2025, please use this text: “This publication (or program) was made possible by the National Science Foundation EPSCoR Grant No. 2438144.
To acknowledge EPSCoR support under the RII-4 grant, which began in October 2018, please use this text: “This publication (or program) was made possible by the National Science Foundation EPSCoR Grant No. 1757353 and the State of Delaware.”
To acknowledge EPSCoR support under the RII-3 grant, which began in June 2013, please use this text: “This publication (or program) was made possible by the National Science Foundation EPSCoR Grant No. IIA-1301765 and the State of Delaware.”
To acknowledge EPSCoR support under the RII-2 grant, which ended in August 2013, please use this text: “Support provided by Delaware EPSCoR with funds from the National Science Foundation Grant EPS-0814251 and the State of Delaware.”
EPSCoR funding awardees are responsible for assuring that every publication of material (including webpages) based on or developed under this award, except scientific articles or papers appearing in scientific, technical or professional journals, contains the following disclaimer: “Any opinions, findings, and conclusions or recommendations expressed in this material are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the views of the National Science Foundation.”
NSF support must also be orally acknowledged during all news media interviews, including popular media, such as radio, television, and news magazines.
For more information, see the NSF Grant Policy Manual.
Unlock Research Opportunities
Discover the wealth of resources and support available through the Administrative Core. Connect with experts, enhance your research capabilities, and explore collaborative opportunities that drive innovation and success across Delaware.
