Five research teams at the University of Iowa have been awarded funds in the first round of the Jumpstarting Tomorrow initiative, a pilot grant and community-building program supporting innovative and collaborative research. Each team received $150,000 to explore strategic research investments, made possible through funding from the UI utility public-private partnership. The projects cover a range of interdisciplinary topics such as addressing biases in AI healthcare models, positioning Iowa as an energy exporter, studying cultural artifacts using advanced imaging technologies, advancing quantum simulation, and assessing the role of public libraries in disaster resilience.