How to Focus Your Research Portfolio for Impact, Funding, and Differentiation

Research leaders are operating in a markedly different environment than even a few years ago. Slowing federal funding growth, rising global competition, and increasing scrutiny on ROI are forcing institutions to confront a difficult reality: Not all research can, or should, be sustained.

This interactive session will create space for Vice Presidents of Research and Chief Research Officers to go deeper on one of the most pressing challenges ahead: How to define, defend, and act on institutional research priorities.

Together, participants will engage in a candid exchange of strategies, tensions, and emerging practices, including:

• How institutions are reassessing research growth in an era where “more” no longer guarantees success
• Approaches to identifying true areas of differentiation across institutional strengths, market needs, and funder priorities
• Frameworks for making difficult prioritization decisions, including when to invest, pivot, or scale back research areas
• Strategies for navigating internal resistance and aligning stakeholders around tough tradeoffs

Grounded in EAB research and peer experiences, this session will move beyond high-level strategy into the practical realities of implementation. Attendees will leave with clearer frameworks for evaluating their current portfolio and greater confidence in leading complex, and often politically sensitive, conversations on their campuses.

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