Call for Proposals: UofM Next Generation Supply Chains
Technologies and Innovation Challenge
The COVID-19 pandemic has led to major dislocations in global supply and demand, exposing vulnerabilities in almost every supply chain and bringing into sharper focus their importance to the functioning of civil society. Memphis has long served as a hub for the global supply chain with natural competitive advantages enhanced by industry-leading companies headquartered in our region.
To maintain our region’s world-leading status in this sector, research and industry must align to advance the next generation of supply chains. The University of Memphis Division of Research & Innovation, in partnership with the Fogelman College of Business & Economics, is launching the Next Generation Supply Chain Technologies and Innovation Challenge to advance focused research in this area.
The call challenges the entire University ecosystem to think broadly about the role of research in improving the supply chain. We hope to see creative solutions that engage topics, skill sets, research and approaches that bring a wider and innovative group of problem solvers together. All teams must be led by a UofM faculty member but may be comprised of multiple organizations and institutions in addition to UofM team members.
Proposal topics are welcome from all disciplines. Projects which address key challenges for the sector, uncover new concepts or reframe supply chain infrastructure and its role in society are welcome.
Possible Research Directions:
- Develop applications of artificial intelligence and machine learning for next generation supply chain challenge areas
- Create data-driven solutions for optimizing the supply chain
- Design urban and regional planning solutions for supply chain and last mile delivery infrastructure
- Solve Memphis and Delta region-specific logistics challenge areas
- Design workforce solutions that address stakeholder challenges including automation-related transformation
- Support logistics industry business intelligence decision making processes with innovative processes and tools
- Improve standards and practices in the supply chain sector
- Explore supply chain modeling solutions for industry improvement
- Strengthen healthcare supply chain and related disciplines with innovative hardware, software, informatics/analysis or other novel innovations
- Support biologistic and the cold chain solutions and improved efficiencies
- Enable reconfiguration of physical and cyber infrastructure to respond to unforeseen future challenges
- Reduce emissions within logistics infrastructure
- Resolve human-centered design challenges in the transition to automation and the wider next-generation supply chain
- Create improvements in key services for the next generation supply chain sector
- Improve agriculture infrastructure including food supply chain, intelligent farming, transactional infrastructure and supply chain management
- Development access to and improvement of “few in the world” manufacturing facilities to orchestrate production at the cutting edge of technology
- Semiconductor supply chain challenges including fabrication, advanced packaging and materials and equipment used to manufacture semiconductor products
This list is only an example of some high-priority challenges. Global supply chains impact every person; creating transformational change to such a large system requires a platform to enable those ideas at every level. Participants in this program will benefit not only from seed funding, but from a network of support that enables federal funding for ideas and builds on Memphis’ reputation as an international supply chain leader.
Proposal Requirements:
- Narrative (1-2 pages): Project narrative outlining the nature of the research including
the following sections:
- Innovation
- Broader Impacts
- External Funding Strategy (explaining specific external sponsor calls referenced)
- Budget Narrative (1 page): A brief summary of planned use of funds.
- Budgets narrative categories should conform to the federal budget categories (Personnel, Fringe, Travel, Equipment, etc.). Note: indirect costs are not required for internal dollars. The recommended project budget maximum is $15,000.
- Projects should be deliverable within a 6–12-month timeframe.
- Include in your budget narrative your UofM business officer (or equivalent) contact information.
- Outreach and Collaboration Plan (1 page): Detailed explanation of engagement strategy
to promote the growth of the next generation supply chain research ecosystem at the
University of Memphis. Innovative engagements and outreach concepts are encouraged.
- Include in the one-page a list of all personnel involved (UofM faculty, graduate students, postdocs, and external partners at other companies or organizations).
- Performance Period: All resources should be expensed within 18 months of the transfer of funds (or receiving award/funds). A midterm report will be due at 6 months and a final report due within 30 days of end of performance (or project) period.
Submission: All materials should be submitted through UofM InfoReady by March 29. All decisions will be made by the end of April.
For questions regarding this opportunity, email researchdev@memphis.edu.