Strategic Framework 2026–2030
Built for the moment — advancing the future
Pillar 2
Engaging in radical collaborations for breakthroughs and public benefit
The University of Washington stands at a moment of extraordinary opportunity to empower the next generation of researchers, scholars and innovators whose work will define the future. Washington’s communities, industries and governments already rely on the UW as a trusted partner in addressing urgent challenges, and our comprehensive excellence and deep community roots position us to meet this moment by integrating our strengths in new ways.
We will expand radical collaboration through deeper, long-term partnerships grounded in shared goals, mutual learning and long-term commitments instead of short-term, transactional relationships. By harnessing grassroots creativity across our fields and campuses, we will strengthen and expand our world-leading research capacity to turn discovery into public benefit. Through trusted cross-sector partnerships, we will accelerate breakthroughs in science, technology and creative work and offer vital analysis for public decision-making. We will invest strategically to strengthen communities, fuel the state’s economy, address climate change and generate long-lasting public impact. To support this work, we will strengthen agile infrastructure and recruit, develop and retain excellent faculty and staff, expanding our ability to deliver solutions with lasting value. Together, these efforts will help set new standards for how universities work with communities to build a healthier, fairer and more sustainable future.
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Objective 2.A.
Co-designing partnerships that redefine what is possible
The UW is one of the nation’s leading public universities in federal research funding, fueling creativity and uniting disciplines to tackle some of the world’s most complex, interconnected challenges. We will advance our co-design practices with communities, moving from effective collaboration to exemplary partnership-driven innovation, creating authentic partnerships with nongovernmental organizations, governments, philanthropists, private sector businesses and global institutions to drive innovation at a larger scale.
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Objective 2.B.
Launching breakthroughs that shape tomorrow
The UW’s extraordinary track record of discovery and invention has delivered remarkable global impact. We will accelerate this excellence by driving breakthroughs in basic research, health, professional practice and technology that address challenges in areas such as behavioral health, civic health, climate change, population health and more. Through strategic, targeted investments, the UW will expand opportunities across fields. This work will lay the foundation for the next generation of technology-enabled discoveries, real-world applications and partnerships that strengthen Washington’s communities, fuel the state’s economy and prosperity, and generate lasting global impact.
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Objective 2.C.
Building nimble capacity to accelerate impact
The UW will sustain research excellence by diversifying and stabilizing funding, modernizing research support systems and recruiting, developing and retaining excellent faculty. We will broaden investment in advanced infrastructure, shared resources and leading-edge technology, including AI-enabled tools with strong governance frameworks, to create flexible, efficient and user-friendly research environments. We will also strengthen a resilient research ecosystem and uphold our responsibility as a steward of public and private investment by reducing administrative barriers and fostering a culture that rewards bold work across fields.