Grand Challenges Grants
Announcing the Grand Challenges 2.0 Grantees
Learn about the 11 teams representing more than 40 disciplines across campus in the latest round of grants.
The Grand Challenges Grants Program is the largest and most comprehensive of its type ever introduced at the University of Maryland, supporting projects that address emerging societal issues, including public health, education, food insecurity, access to clean water, environmental resilience, sustainability, and ethical and trustworthy technologies. Launched in partnership between the Office of the Provost and the Division of Research, this program is a Fearlessly Forward strategic initiative designed to accelerate solutions to humanity’s grand challenges within our communities and around the globe through education, research, scholarship, creative activities, and service.
In 2023, UMD launched the Grand Challenges Grant program, which demonstrated extraordinary impact due to the breadth of expertise and collaborative spirit across the research enterprise. Through Grand Challenges 1.0, faculty developed innovative approaches to issues from climate resilience to food insecurity to educational equity and more, strengthening partnerships across disciplines, engaging students in new opportunities, and positioning the university for greater external funding, scholarly impact and public engagement.
Building on that momentum, the UMD launched Grand Challenges Grants 2.0 in 2026 to support ambitious new collaborations to advance high-impact research. Nearly 80 proposals from every college and school were submitted involving 400 researchers. UMD is pleased to announce an investment of more than $15 million over three years across 11 projects with faculty representing more than 40 disciplines across campus. The projects will also receive a 50% matching in-kind and/or cash investment from their college or unit.
Grand Challenges Statistics as of 2025:
50
Projects
450
Partnerships
$30M
UMD Investment
$55M
Additional External Funding Secured
100%
Maryland Counties Benefited
6,500
Students Involved
94%
Projects Providing Experiential Learning for Students
63,000
External Stakeholders Engaged
