Partners in Research

UC Santa Cruz professors, scientists, and researchers pursue research that intersects with Silicon Valley companies and innovators.

Computer scientists are working with industry partners to tackle the growing challenge of storing and managing massive amounts of electronic data. Linguists who understand the complexity of language are making digital personal assistants more intelligent. Researchers are developing assistive robotics, autonomous vehicles, and cybersecurity insights that will help us navigate the future. Psychologists studying how technology is affecting fundamental aspects of our everyday lives are designing digital tools that promise to empower us. And game designers are understanding how interactive scenarios can let us see the world differently—and influence how we feel.

Many research programs within the Jack Baskin School of Engineering have strong ties with Silicon Valley industry.

The Genomics Institute brings genomics, data sharing, biotechnology, and massive computing power together in efforts to change the limits in medicine and conservation science. Our software and technologies are used by researchers all over the world to push the boundaries of genomic science.

The Center for Information Technology Research in the Interest of Society (CITRIS) is a multi-campus initiative leveraging the interdisciplinary research strengths of UC Santa Cruz, Berkeley, Davis and Merced to shorten the pipeline between world-class laboratory research and the creation of start-ups, larger companies, and whole industries. 

The Center for Research in Open source software (CROSS) was created to assist students with their research prototypes and to collaborate with open source communities and companies by providing funding to work on innovative projects after graduation.

The Storage Systems Research Center is working to improve the performance and profitability of the data storage industry through a strong focus on the software and systems aspects of data storage.

The Center for Research in Storage Systems (CRSS) is a partnership between academia and industry to explore and develop new technologies and techniques to improve the manageability, scalability, security, reliability, longevity, and performance of storage systems.

The Center for Computational Experience is an interdisciplinary research center focused on human computer interaction and technology for games and play. Our world-class research faculty combine expertise in engineering, social science, arts, humanities, and design. 

The California Institute for Quantitative Biosciences (QB3) is a multi-disciplinary research institute that unites quantitative, biological, and structural scientists at three UC campuses—Berkeley, San Francisco, and Santa Cruz—with private industry collaborators to address problems concerning human health and the environment. 

The Institute for the Biology of Stem Cells (IBSC) supports stem cell research by promoting interdisciplinary discoveries in biology, engineering, and information science by providing research, training, and facilities focused on the basic biological systems operating in the processes of self-renewal and differentiation of stem cells.