University of Iowa Research Foundation
The University of Iowa Research Foundation is an internal unit of The University of Iowa that manages intellectual property, technology transfer, and commercialization of UI-developed inventions, while supporting faculty and graduate researchers through grant development, methodology consulting, and research incubation services.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1975
- HeadquartersIowa City, United States
- Headcount1–10
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingServices
What University of Iowa Research Foundation does
The University of Iowa Research Foundation (UIRF) is an internal unit of The University of Iowa operating under the Office of the Vice President for Research (OVPR). Founded in 1975 and headquartered in Iowa City, Iowa, UIRF is staffed by 1-10 employees and functions as the technology transfer and intellectual property management arm for the university, handling invention disclosures, patent prosecution, and commercialization of UI-developed technologies. The foundation operates under the governance of the Iowa Board of Regents and is led by VP for Research David C. Schwebel; Aliasger Salem was promoted to senior associate vice president for research effective July 1, 2026.
UIRF's service portfolio is delivered through OVPR's larger research support infrastructure. The Research Development Office (RDO) provides grant writing, funding opportunity identification, proposal review, and targeted programs including the NIH K Club+ (with ICTS) and NSF CAREER Club. The Center for Social Science Innovation (CSSI), established in 2024, adds methodological consulting, a 49-researcher affiliate network, survey research services via Verasight and SurveyHarvest, and grant development capacity that supported 102 grant applications seeking $53 million in 2024. The Arts and Humanities Initiative (AHI) provides internal funding for humanities scholars. Delivery is direct to UI faculty, researchers, and graduate students through institutional channels — websites (research.uiowa.edu, cssi.research.uiowa.edu), monthly newsletters, events, and dedicated offices — including CSSI's facility at 605 E. Jefferson St. in the Social Sciences Research Building.
The business model is institutional rather than commercial: most services are provided free to UI researchers as part of OVPR's central support function. The only direct fee-bearing offerings are the Write Winning Grant Proposals Seminar ($200 per registrant, including workbook and materials, registration deadline September 30, 2026) and the Intensive Workshop and Consultation ($4,400 per participant, cost-shared with the participant's college, department, and OVPR). The foundation has no external customers, no venture funding, and no M&A activity; it derives its operating scope from its structural position as UI's official research transfer office rather than from market-based revenue.
University of Iowa Research Foundation firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- University of Iowa Research Foundation
- Legal name
- University of Iowa Research Foundation
- Website
- https://research.uiowa.edu
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1975
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 1–10 employees
- Short description
- The University of Iowa Research Foundation is an internal unit of The University of Iowa that manages intellectual property, technology transfer, and commercialization of UI-developed inventions, while supporting faculty and graduate researchers through grant development, methodology consulting, and research incubation services.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
University of Iowa Research Foundation industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Research Administration and Technology Transfer Services
- NAICS
- Colleges, Universities, and Professional Schools (611310), Scientific Research and Development Services (5417), Educational Services (611), Research and Development in the Social Sciences and Humanities (54172)
- SIC
- Services-Educational Services (8200), Services-Engineering, Accounting, Research, Management (8700)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Public Research Universities with Academic Medical Centers (AMCs) (EDAHAAAC)
- akta.pro secondary industry
- Science, Technology & Innovation Administration (National R&D Policy) (BPAIAAAK)
Keywords
Where University of Iowa Research Foundation is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Iowa City
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices2 records
Markets served
University of Iowa Research Foundation business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Others
Revenue model
- Sponsored Research Funding: The organization facilitates research funding from federal agencies (NIH, NSF, DoD, DOE, NASA), foundations, and other sponsors. UI researchers received $534M in FY25 research funding across 2,300+ active sponsored research projects.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| One time/ perpetual license | Multi-year contract | Write Winning Grant Proposals Seminar |
| Professional services/ project-based | Multi-year contract | Write Winning Grant Proposals Workshop and Consultation |
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels2 records
Marketing channels6 records
University of Iowa Research Foundation product offering
Product offeringCore offering
The University of Iowa Research Foundation (UIRF) operates as a unit within the university's Office of the Vice President for Research, providing intellectual property management, technology transfer, and commercialization services for University of Iowa inventions and discoveries. Its broader portfolio includes the Research Development Office (RDO) for grant proposal support, the Center for Social Science Innovation (CSSI) for social science research services, and training programs such as the NIH K Club+, NSF CAREER Club, and the Arts and Humanities Initiative. Most services are delivered free to UI faculty and researchers, with select fee-based workshops and seminars.
Product overview
The University of Iowa Research Foundation operates under the Office of the Vice President for Research (OVPR) and functions as an institutional research support infrastructure rather than a technology product company. It provides a comprehensive ecosystem of research support services including the Research Development Office (RDO) for grant development, NIH K Club+ and NSF CAREER Club for early career researcher training, the Arts and Humanities Initiative (AHI) for humanities funding, and the Center for Social Science Innovation (CSSI) for social science research infrastructure. These offerings include workshops (Write Winning Grant Proposals seminar), methodological training, survey research services, and residency programs. The foundation does not offer a commercial software product or technology platform.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- UI Research Foundation (UIRF) Intellectual property management and technology transfer office that helps UI faculty protect, disclose, and commercialize inventions and discoveries developed at the University of Iowa.
- Research Development Office (RDO) Provides grant writing support, funding opportunity discovery, proposal review, and career development programs for UI researchers and faculty.
- Center for Social Science Innovation (CSSI) Central hub for social scientists providing research incubation, multimethodology research services, grant development support, residency programs, and access to survey platforms such as Verasight and SurveyHarvest.
- Arts and Humanities Initiative (AHI) Competitive internally-reviewed grant program supporting scholars in humanities and creative arts with funding up to $30,000 for major projects, $10,000 for conferences, and $7,500 for standard grants.
- NSF CAREER Club Researcher development program offering editing, graphic design, internal/external review, and consultation to assistant professors preparing NSF CAREER applications.
- NIH K Club+ Jointly delivered with the Institute for Clinical and Translational Science (ICTS) K Club, providing assistant professors and postdocs with graphic design, editing, and grant review services for NIH K award applications.
- Write Winning Grant Proposals Seminar and Workshop Comprehensive grant writing training presented by Grant Writers' Seminars & Workshops (GWSW) covering practical and conceptual aspects of writing competitive grant proposals for NIH, NSF, and other federal agencies. The seminar costs $200 per registrant; the intensive workshop costs $4,400 per participant.
- SurveyHarvest Survey Research Service Survey initiative providing UI researchers access to nationally representative or tailored samples for web surveys on various topics through the Verasight platform.
- CSSI Research Incubation Programs Suite of programs including CSSI Faculty Research Fellowship, Summer Researcher-in-Residence Program, Dissertation Completion Program, Grant Writing Residency Program, Research Convergence Residency, and Writers' Circles (Write on Target, Grant Writers' Circle).
- Grant Development Services (CSSI) Grant development support including budget preparation, proposal review, and consultation managed by the CSSI Grant Development Manager and Grant Development Specialists.
Quantifiable outcome
- CSSI supported 102 grant applications applying for $53 million in funding in 2024
- +2 more outcomes
Companies that use University of Iowa Research Foundation
Customer profileNamed customers6 records
Segments5 records
Ideal customer profiles4 records
University of Iowa Research Foundation technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
University of Iowa Research Foundation partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Seven partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.
- Institute for Clinical and Translational Science (ICTS)coreCollaborative partnership with ICTS K Club to provide NIH K award support programs. The NIH K Club+ is jointly designed and delivered, combining expertise in clinical research development and career development award preparation.
- Advancing Research Impact in Society (ARIS)coreNSF-supported organization that provides Broader Impacts/Research Impacts seminars and training. ARIS presents workshops on broader impacts concepts including BI 101, BI Partnerships, and Evaluating BI for NSF CAREER awards.
- AtKisson Training GroupcorePresenter of K Award Ecosystem and NSF CAREER grant writing seminars. Provides expert training on proposal components, review criteria, and career development award preparation.
- Grant Writers' Seminars & Workshops (GWSW)corePartnership to deliver Write Winning Grant Proposals seminar and intensive workshop. Dr. John Robertson from GWSW presents comprehensive grant writing training with proven methodologies.
- Johnson County (Iowa) GovernmentminorPartnership for public opinion research including jail assessment surveys, Sheriff's Office evaluations, and Community Violence Intervention program needs assessment.
- Iowa City Police DepartmentminorAnalysis of traffic enforcement patterns and data collaboration for research on policing and public safety.
- Iowa Cancer Registry ConsortiumminorPartnership with Sarah Nash (CSSI researcher affiliate) providing cancer surveillance data for public health research.
Scale indicators9 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights5 records
University of Iowa Research Foundation competitors and assessment
Company assessmentEmerging players
- Hanover Research: Hanover provides subscription-based research and grant-development support to universities and school districts, directly competing with UIRF/CSSI-style internal services in the social science and education research space.
Direct peers
- Grant Writers' Seminars & Workshops (GWSW): GWSW delivers the "Write Winning Grant Proposals" seminar and intensive workshops that UIRF/OVPR resells to its researchers; it is both a commercial partner and a direct functional peer in grant-development training.
- Purdue Research Foundation: Purdue Research Foundation operates a comparable university-affiliated research commercialization and economic-development organization at another Big Ten public R1, with overlapping tech transfer, IP management, and research park functions.
- MIT Technology Licensing Office: MIT TLO handles invention disclosures, patenting, and licensing from MIT research, including the formation of startups around MIT IP. Direct functional peer for UIRF's tech transfer operations.
- Penn Center for Innovation: University of Pennsylvania's tech transfer office handles invention disclosure, patenting, licensing, and startup formation. Comparable to UIRF's commercialization function, though at a private R1 with a higher licensing-revenue base.
- Stanford Office of Technology Licensing (OTL): Stanford OTL is a top-tier university technology licensing office managing disclosures, patents, and licensing for one of the most prolific research institutions globally. Direct functional peer for UIRF's commercialization mandate, though at much larger scale.
- University of Michigan Office of Research: UMich's central research administration unit oversees sponsored research, internal funding programs, and core facilities at a peer Big Ten public R1, with similar grant development and researcher-support services to OVPR/RDO.
- Wisconsin Alumni Research Foundation (WARF): WARF is the University of Wisconsin–Madison's technology transfer and research commercialization office, managing patents, licensing, and equity in spinouts. It is the most direct analog to UIRF's stated IP/commercialization mission within a public R1 university.
Broad incumbents
- NORC at the University of Chicago: NORC is an independent research organization affiliated with UChicago that conducts large-scale social science survey research, program evaluation, and methodological consulting. Overlaps with CSSI's survey and community-research services but at far greater scale and scope.
Regional players
- Odum Institute (UNC Chapel Hill): UNC's Odum Institute is a social science research methods hub offering survey, statistical, and methodological consulting similar to CSSI. Comparable service mix, though regional rather than national in scope.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
University of Iowa Research Foundation social profiles
Digital presenceUniversity of Iowa Research Foundation financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
University of Iowa Research Foundation leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles10 records
University of Iowa Research Foundation funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
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University of Iowa Research Foundation M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
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Frequently asked questions about University of Iowa Research Foundation
What does University of Iowa Research Foundation do?
The University of Iowa Research Foundation (UIRF) operates as a unit within the university's Office of the Vice President for Research, providing intellectual property management, technology transfer, and commercialization services for University of Iowa inventions and discoveries. Its broader portfolio includes the Research Development Office (RDO) for grant proposal support, the Center for Social Science Innovation (CSSI) for social science research services, and training programs such as the NIH K Club+, NSF CAREER Club, and the Arts and Humanities Initiative. Most services are delivered free to UI faculty and researchers, with select fee-based workshops and seminars.
Is University of Iowa Research Foundation a public or private company?
University of Iowa Research Foundation is a private company. It is classified as state government owned and is currently operating.
When was University of Iowa Research Foundation founded?
University of Iowa Research Foundation was founded in 1975. It employs 1 to 10 people.
Where is University of Iowa Research Foundation based?
University of Iowa Research Foundation is headquartered in Iowa City, United States, in the North America region.
How does University of Iowa Research Foundation make money?
One revenue line is on record: sponsored Research Funding.
Who are University of Iowa Research Foundation's main competitors?
Hanover Research is listed as an emerging player. Direct peers are Grant Writers' Seminars & Workshops (GWSW), Purdue Research Foundation, MIT Technology Licensing Office, Penn Center for Innovation, Stanford Office of Technology Licensing (OTL), University of Michigan Office of Research and Wisconsin Alumni Research Foundation (WARF). NORC at the University of Chicago is listed as a broad incumbent. Odum Institute (UNC Chapel Hill) is listed as a regional player.
Does University of Iowa Research Foundation have an API?
No public API is recorded for University of Iowa Research Foundation.
What industry is University of Iowa Research Foundation in?
University of Iowa Research Foundation's product category is Research Administration and Technology Transfer Services. Its primary akta.pro industry code is EDAHAAAC, Public Research Universities with Academic Medical Centers (AMCs), with a secondary code of BPAIAAAK, Science, Technology & Innovation Administration (National R&D Policy). Its NAICS code is 611310 and its SIC code is 8200.