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Google's Public Sector Rapid Innovation Team (RIT) is reaching out to the Internet2 NET+ GCP community for innovative project ideas. Introduced during the recent GCP Strat Call on August 20 by Google’s Chris Daugherty (recording and assets), this initiative aims to help develop prototype game-changing solutions for higher education challenges.

The Opportunity: Collaborating with Google's RIT

The RIT offers a unique opportunity to work in 6-week sprints with teams from subscribing institutions to build functional prototypes of software applications addressing real-world challenges in the research and education community. The applications built could enhance research capabilities or efficiency, improve student engagement, or streamline administrative processes.

Examples of RIT Success Stories

The team shared examples of prototypes they've already built:

  1. Grant AI: Assisting with grant-related tasks
  2. Podcast Generator: Creating dialogues about academic papers
  3. Transcript Capture: Processing academic transcripts
  4. Personalized Learning System: Building custom learning paths for subjects like Anatomy

What the RIT is Looking For

Project ideas should meet the following criteria:

  • Software-based applications
  • Clear outcome and strategic value
  • Repeatable and scalable
  • Unique in the market
  • Potential for prototype creation within 6 weeks on Google Cloud

Chris Daugherty emphasized, "We're looking for prototypes that can be used by everyone within the community."

From Ideation to Pitch

During the August Strat Call, participants have been developing their ideas. A couple ideas put out during the call were:

  • A tool for students to ingest all their syllabi and class calendars to develop a day-to-day personal work plan
  • A tool for data science departments to use to spin up Jupyter Notebooks, using their preferred tools with Colab for data analysis.

As requested during the call, a one-pager summarizing the RIT initiative and project requirements has been created and added to the meeting resources to help socialize the program around your institution.

Individuals and institutions have a month to put together ideas to present. The next step is a session on September 24 to pitch the ideas to the NET+ GCP Service Advisory Board (SAB) and Chris Daugherty from Google. Presenters will outline their project's objectives, potential impact, and alignment with RIT's goals.

Possible proposals include:

  1. AI-driven solutions for academic processes
  2. Advanced data management tools for research
  3. Innovative advising systems
  4. Collaborative platforms for controlled unclassified information
  5. Tools to streamline financial aid processes

Next Steps: Selection and Presentation

The engagement timeline is as follows:

  1. Office Hours: September 10, 3pm EDT
  2. Pitch Session: September 24, 3pm EDT (replacing the usual Tech Jam)
  3. Selection of Finalists by SAB: Post-pitch session
  4. SAB presentation to RIT Leadership: October 10 at Google's NYC offices

After the pitch session, the SAB and Chris will vote to select the top three projects. These finalists will have the opportunity to present their ideas to the RIT at the face-to-face SAB meeting in October.

The Bigger Picture

This initiative represents more than just individual projects; it's about fostering a culture of innovation within higher education. By leveraging Google Cloud technology and developer expertise, selected projects have the potential to create significant impact across campuses and potentially transform how universities approach challenges in research, teaching, and administration.

The pitch session is a pivotal moment for participants to showcase their innovative ideas and potentially see them realized through RIT's collaborative engagement. It's an unparalleled opportunity for higher education institutions to drive technological advancements in their field with the support of Google's expertise and resources.

Stay tuned for updates on this exciting initiative, and for those participating, best of luck with your pitches!

You can always find details and recordings of the NET+ GCP quarterly calls on the Cloud Infrastructure Community Program (CICP) calendar. Also, be sure to check out other blog posts we've written. As always, feel free to send any feedback to tmanik[at]internet2[dot]edu.