I3R Watershed Grants Program – Now Accepting Proposals
Proposal Submission Deadline 5:00 p.m. on Monday, July 20, 2026
For questions, please contact Philip Sambol at psambol@uark.edu
I3R Watershed Grants Program | Office Hours
July 9, 1-3 p.m.
New Funding Opportunity
I3R Watershed Grants Program – Where New Ideas Gain Momentum
The I3R Watershed Grants Program brings together researchers, innovators, industry partners, and communities to tackle complex challenges, launch new collaborations and translate discovery into impact. With funding for team formation, research development, and commercialization activities, Watershed Grants help transform promising ideas into funded projects, new technologies, and lasting solutions. If you have an idea with the potential to make a difference, we want to help you move it forward.
The program emphasizes collaboration among University of Arkansas colleges, I3R faculty and facilities, external partners, and community stakeholders. Projects should address significant societal challenges and demonstrate potential for sustained impact beyond the one-year seed funding period (August 15, 2026 - August 14, 2027.)
Priority areas include:
- Metabolic, rural, maternal, and accessible health
- Food and nutrition
- Robotics and VR/XR
- Artificial and natural intelligence
- Community engagement for health improvement
- Related interdisciplinary research areas
What makes I3R different?
I3R is a new kind of public research institute, one with convergence at its core and differentiated by a dual mandate to advance research excellence and impact economic development. Most research institutions focus on discovery and development. Some venture into delivery. Our goal is deployment of innovations at scale through partnerships with industry, community and philanthropic organizations while educating and empowering a qualified future workforce. This is how we move technology through Technology Readiness Levels 8-9 to ensure positive societal impact.
Upcoming Events
World Cup Watch Party
July 9, 3 p.m.
I3R Watershed Grants Program | Office Hours
July 9, 1-3 p.m.
World Cup Watch Party
July 10, 2 p.m.
World Cup Watch Party
July 14, 2 p.m.
World Cup Watch Party
July 15, 2 p.m.
Innovation Lab: Inspiring Tomorrow's Changemakers with I3R and Cox
July 23, 9 a.m. - 4 p.m. | Registration Closes July 16
Note: this event is currently at registration capacity, but please check back before July
16, as spots may become available if another participant cancels. Registration closes
on July 16. If you have any questions, please contact Caroline Wahlgreen at crwahlgr@uark.edu.
Press
Walter Reed Clinical Trial Participant Restores Sense of Touch from Neural-Enabled Prosthetic Hand
December 3, 2025
A Soldier at Walter Reed National Military Medical Center is taking part in a clinical trial to test a “neural-enabled” prosthetic arm, a next-generation device designed to restore the sensation of touch through advanced nerve stimulation technology.
Building Design + Construction Network - Mass timber featured in University of Arkansas, Fayetteville, research facility
August 25, 2025
The design for the 144,000-sf Institute for Integrative & Innovative Research building draws inspiration from Arkansas’ forested landscape.
HGA News - University of Arkansas Opens New Home for the Institute for Integrative & Innovative Research, a Hub for Convergent Research and Economic Development
August 21, 2025
Nature-Inspired Building with Mass Timber Canopy to Drive Convergence Research and Stimulate Regional Economic Growth