Since 2016, MIDAS has been offering Propelling Original Data Science (PODS) grants to U-M faculty to enable groundbreaking disciplinary and interdisciplinary research through data science and AI, making it possible for research teams to form many new collaborations, formulate groundbreaking ideas, and secure external funding to expand their work.
As of 2025, MIDAS has already supported 113 “high-risk, high-return” teams with more than $13 million in funding to jumpstart their projects, form new collaborations, and secure external funding to expand upon their work. Seeded projects have since garnered more than $239 million in external funding. A list of MIDAS-funded projects can be found here.
“MIDAS is committed to supporting U-M faculty and their cutting-edge research,” said MIDAS Director H.V. Jagadish. “Through the PODS grants, we aim to enable innovative uses of data science and AI, foster new collaborations, and help researchers secure major external funding.”