The Strategic Partnership Grants (SPG) Program is a competitive grant funded by the Michigan State University Research Foundation, that provides funding for major projects in key areas of research, scholarship, and creative activities.

These initiatives are of a caliber that positions the faculty to compete for significant external funding, including the development of research ideas with significant commercial potential, and to raise the stature of the university. Some of these initiatives may have strong potential to develop into a center or institute-level research program.

The SPG program focuses on such opportunities by supporting research and scholarship that is leading-edge, interdisciplinary, or futuristic, and capitalizes on the existing intellectual capital at Michigan State University.

The SPG program is a continuation of the mission of the MSU Research Foundation to provide seed funding for the development of new knowledge, to initiate centers of excellence at the university, and to invest in the development of Michigan State University as one of the nation’s leading research institutions.

The SPG is managed by the Michigan State University Office of the Vice President and Innovation in close collaboration with the Council of Research Deans.  SPG Applications may be in one of two categories:

• Research and Scholarly Development – funding for this category has a maximum of $480,000 inclusive of a 20% cash match from the college or related sources budgeted at $160,000/year for up to three years.

• Center Development – funding for this category has a maximum of $240,000, inclusive of a 50% cash match from the college or related sources budgeted at $120,000 for up to two years.