3: Operations and Governance

STRATEGIC PRIORITY 3.1: Establish N.C. PSI as a Model for Interdisciplinary Structure, Governance, Policy, Staffing and Sustainable Funding

In recent years, much of N.C. PSI’s efforts have focused on areas akin to those of many start-ups: securing funding, building collaborative workspaces, identifying talent and initiating early projects. In this next stage of N.C. PSI’s evolution, we must build out the additional structures, operational processes, staff and support that can reduce barriers to interdisciplinary research and build a more sustainable organization for the future.

The development of these supports is essential to N.C. PSI’s future success, as well as the success of future large-scale collaborative initiatives through NC State. N.C. PSI is one of the first major, and largest, interdisciplinary efforts undertaken at the university, where it already operates as one of the most visible connection points among researchers, growers, industry partners, public-sector agencies, university leadership and many other stakeholders. Beyond its linkages with partners and profile among external stakeholders, N.C. PSI is also viewed as one of the most ambitious efforts to recruit and unite researchers from across NC State around a shared research agenda. We do this through an innovative model that breaks from the traditional department- and college-focused structures entrenched within the university by focusing on activating and engaging with all colleges throughout NC State to raise awareness of agricultural challenges and promote interdisciplinary opportunities to develop corresponding solutions.

Our success will directly inform the success of future interdisciplinary centers and initiatives as a blueprint for how such efforts can maximize their productivity and impact. We can also serve as a catalyst for building upon NC State’s proven track record of research commercialization. Our operating and physical environment is specifically designed to promote entrepreneurship in bringing world-class researchers to solve challenges. In many instances, this will involve the development and commercialization of intellectual property. We must build upon the foundation we offer for commercialization, designing and implementing policies where necessary that can benefit others across our ecosystem and expanding on existing supports to promote tech transfer within N.C. PSI, moving research concepts from the laboratory and accelerating them into a commercial setting.

N.C. PSI has a unique and necessary opportunity to establish models for how interdisciplinary research activities are selected or funded outside of the traditional structures and financial streams; how university, college and departmental policies encourage interdisciplinary research; how diverse perspectives and stakeholders inform research areas of focus and activities; and how decisions are made in an inclusive way that fosters transparency and trust among those who affiliate or are impacted by these research enterprises.

GOAL 3.1.1: CREATE ADVISORY AND COLLABORATIVE DECISION-MAKING STRUCTURES

KEY INITIATIVES

Key Initiative 1: Establish an institutional advisory board, consisting of diverse representation from across the university, to guide and transparently communicate key N.C. PSI funding or strategic decisions to university stakeholders

Key Initiative 2: Build an internal advisory structure with representation from organizations and research teams engaged with N.C. PSI to serve as a venue for elevating operational insights and recommendations to N.C. PSI leadership, thereby enhancing access to and transparency and ownership of the initiative

Key Initiative 3: Establish an N.C. PSI Diversity Council to align areas of focus and activities with best practices for inclusive stakeholder engagement

GOAL 3.1.2: INFLUENCE POLICIES AND STRUCTURES THAT ENHANCE FACULTY PARTICIPATION IN INTERDISCIPLINARY RESEARCH ACTIVITIES

KEY INITIATIVES

Key Initiative 1: Serve as a pilot for a new facility and administrative (F&A) cost formula at NC State that encourages greater interdisciplinary collaboration

Key Initiative 2: Establish a joint resource or shared position organizational model for university interdisciplinary centers, including organizational components like cost recovery functions, ideal reporting structures and operational guidance

Key Initiative 3: Work with the NC State Office of Research Commercialization to build a master research agreement (MRA) and intellectual property (IP) management framework for N.C. PSI research activities that can be leveraged toward other university interdisciplinary efforts

Key Initiative 4: Work with university leadership to identify a model or mechanisms for acknowledging, rewarding or incentivizing researchers to participate in interdisciplinary research initiatives