Opportunities for Industry

Join the Urban Freight Lab ($15,000 annually; $10,000 annually for startups)

The SCTL Center's Urban Freight Lab (UFL) is a research partnership between private companies (shippers, carriers, retailers, technology providers, property owners, and manufacturers), academia, and public agencies (Seattle and Bellevue Departments of Transportation) working collaboratively to identify urban freight management problems and design and test solutions that make industry more efficient and cities more sustainable and livable.

Membership is on an annual basis. 

As a UFL member, you'll:

• join a network of like-minded companies and individuals
• connect at quarterly meetings
• influence the UFL's annual research agenda
• develop data-based knowledge and insight into new policies before broad implementation
• participate in pilot tests of the most promising low-cost and high-level strategies on the ground
• gain from the UFL research team's deep expertise in supply chain, transportation, logistics, and process flow implementation methods to analyze and explore current and desired performance alternatives
• stay up-to-date on the latest logistics thought leadership and industry concepts from across the globe.

Make a Gift ($25,000+)

Philanthropic funding is a way for companies to build and strengthen areas of research of mutual interest and build relationships with faculty and graduate students. Because these are philanthropic gifts, there are no deliverables or intellectual property access.

Sponsor Research ($125,000+)

Companies can tap SCTL research expertise, explore new areas, tackle complex issues by sponsoring research projects. Industry sponsors work directly with faculty to design projects that align with their needs and interests and define project milestones, deliverables, and intellectual property. The total cost for a one-year project typically starts at $125,000, though researchers may elect to take on a smaller project.

Invest in Students (Varies)

Supporting master's and Ph.D. students through named graduate fellowships is an effective way to build a relationship with SCTL, invest in research, and support talent acquisition.

• Short-Term Fellowship ($100,000 annually for three years): This is a short-term commitment that can be renewed. Supporting a Ph.D. student requires a three- to five- year commitment. Supporting a master's student requires a three-year commitment.

• Endowed Fellowship ($250,000 one-time gift): This is permanent funding that will live on in perpetuity and can be designated to support master's or Ph.D. students.

Invest in Faculty (Varies)

Named professorships offer additional resources to fuel research and educational activities and offer prestige for the recipients. Professorships are a way for companies to build relationships with faculty working in areas of interest and to help the Center recruit and retain top talent.

• Short-Term ($40,000 annually for three years): This is a short-term commitment that can be renewed.

• Endowed Professorship ($1M): This is a permanent fund that will live on in perpetuity.

Engage in Tech Day ($2,000 - $3,000)

The Urban Freight Lab's annual Tech Day event is a pitch competition for innovators designing solutions for the last mile of the urban goods delivery system. Each semi-finalist presents their solution to a panel of judges, with one winner selected based on technical feasibility, business application, market potential, and quality of presentation. 

We are recruiting for named sponsors; sponsors are invited to serve on the panel of judges and reviewers.

Opportunities for Cities & Agencies

Apply for our Technical Assistance Program

We invite cities, government agencies, and nonprofit organizations who share our passion and vision for urban freight solutions to apply for six months of technical assistance in the broad field of urban freight and logistics through our Urban Freight Lab Technical Assistance Program (TAP). Applications may request any type of assistance, though UFL is particularly interested in supporting cities in developing collaborative partnerships with private sector freight, building more data-driven urban freight programs to accurately understand commercial activities, developing robust data collection plans, reviewing and critiquing urban freight practices, and charting a pathway to zero-emissions urban freight. UFL will contribute by providing 1:1 match funds in terms of staff and/or research assistant time.

Opportunities for Community Organizations and Nonprofits

Pro Bono Research

In addition to funded research projects, the Supply Chain Transportation & Logistics Center takes on pro bono community research projects for nonprofit organizations. These nonprofit partners have a research problem but lack resources to address the question. SCTL Center students take on projects in an educational context and develop professional skills and apply newly learned methods for mutual benefit. 

More about us
More about our research

Contact:
Kelly Rula
Director of Policy and Partnerships, Urban Freight Lab
krula@uw.edu