Research and Innovation

As the premiere regional university in southeastern North Carolina and the sate's only coastal university, UNCW is uniquely poised to address community needs locally, which also have a global impact!

UNCW research is changing our world for the better. Faculty, students, and staff investigators build on established strengths in fields like coastal and marine science, forge new areas of expertise in technology, arts, and the sciences, and turn promising discoveries into new business ventures. Research and innovation efforts generated at UNCW have a community impact that enhances lives, strengthens business and industry, contributes to workforce development, and promotes economic growth. Furthermore, research and innovation enhance the student experience through high-impact learning opportunities.

Your gifts during Seahawks Give provide aid to the:

Research Excellence Fund – This fund is used to encourage and support research excellence at UNCW, including the Research Achievement Awards that recognize faculty who are generating a substantial volume of high-quality research, innovation, scholarship as well as creative work and who are emerging as leaders in their fields (meet recent awardees).

Center for Innovation and Entrepreneurship (CIE) – Giving to the CIE supports its work to nurture high-impact startups with education, connections, incubation and collision space and to accelerate the entrepreneurial ecosystem in southeastern North Carolina as a vibrant innovation hub.

Center for Marine Science (CMS) – As North Carolina’s coastal university, UNCW faculty and students have unparalleled access to numerous ecosystems where the major scientific questions and challenges of the 21st century persist, including climate change, sustainable seafood and resources, conservation and policy, flooding, toxins and hazards, and coastal resilience to support safe and healthy coasts.

Innovation and Commercialization Fund – This fund helps provide services that deliver discoveries to market. The Office of Innovation and Commercialization guides UNCW researchers – faculty, staff and students – through the commercialization process by identifying commercial potential, pursuing patents and licensing, and building business partnerships.

Swain Center for Business and Economic Services – Giving to the Swain Center supports its work to enhance the effectiveness of organizations through economic services, executive education and leadership development. The Center’s activities benefit the Cameron School of Business by building strong industry-university connections.