The Center for Information Technology Research in the Interest of Society (CITRIS) was formed in 2001, when researchers within the UC system realized that the real opportunities lay not just in developing new innovative technologies, but in applying them. CITRIS provides a model for revolutionizing university research and expanding its effects on society.
CITRIS sparks innovation by bringing together leading technology researchers from our four partner campuses (Berkeley, Davis, Merced and Santa Cruz) to create unique opportunities for interdisciplinary collaboration. We create information technology solutions for many of the most pressing environmental, social and health care problems. Together, CITRIS researchers and activities form an essential hub in the innovation ecosystem of California and the nation.
CITRIS research focuses on four main areas: health care, energy, infrastructure, and data and democracy. The CITRIS Health Care Initiative - delivering "Quality Health Care Everywhere" for Californians - uses information technology to improve access and reduce disparities and costs in health care across the state by developing and integrating advances in telehealth, sensors, services and gaming. The CITRIS Energy Initiative, i4Energy, focuses on two fundamental areas that offer great promise to produce stable and sustainable energy for California - sensors and system integration.
The Intelligent Initiative (Water, Transport, Cities) develops and deploys intelligent "cyber-physical" systems to better manage scarce resources and promote sustainability. The Data and Democracy Initiative creates tools to foster public engagement for the people of California and around the world. Platforms for this engagement include interactive media, video applications, online education, and new media and creative expression.
With more than 1,600 affiliated researchers, faculty members and students across the four campuses, CITRIS produces results that are more than the sum of its parts.
The UC Office of the President typically allocates $4 million to $5 million, which is leveraged into $70 million to $80 million in outside research funding. This equates to a 1,600 percent return on investment.
Since 2008, CITRIS has received $6.2 million in seed grants and $37 million in subsequent funding (a 600 percent return on investment). These grants and awards not only support cutting-edge research but also represent investment in the long-term sustainability of the university. Thirty-five startup companies have been created.
