Building a Community of Discovery

When Vice Chancellor for Research Simon Atkinson reflects on his new role as chair of the UC Noyce Initiative executive committee, he envisions more than a collection of projects or programs. He imagines a unique network of researchers, working dynamically across five University of California campuses, united by common goals of curiosity, collaboration and a drive to tackle the next great scientific revolution.

“What I’d like to see is the Noyce Initiative truly become a community of researchers,” Atkinson said. “That’s what it will take for the Initiative to achieve the kind of international prominence that a gift like this deserves.”

The UC Noyce Initiative, a five-campus consortium spanning UC Berkeley, UC Davis, UC Irvine, UC San Francisco and UC Santa Barbara, was created to advance research in areas that honor the legacies of Silicon Valley pioneer, the late Robert N. Noyce, and his late wife Ann S. Bowers. For Atkinson, that legacy is rooted in innovation that transforms lives.

“We all asked ourselves, ‘What would Robert Noyce be working on if he were alive today?’” Atkinson said. “He saw the potential of new technologies to create devices and ways of doing things that were scarcely imaginable before his work. If he were around now, he’d be looking for the next big innovation — very likely in the realm of digital technology.

A Pivotal Moment for Innovation

Atkinson believes the Noyce Initiative is uniquely positioned to address some of the most transformative — and challenging — technological frontiers of our time.

“We’re well into a revolution brought about by generative AI,” he said. “It’s impacting every aspect of society and research: health care, decision-making, communication. There’s a need to apply these new approaches thoughtfully, for the betterment of the human condition.”

He also notes, acknowledging the Spider-Man reference, that with great power comes great responsibility. Artificial intelligence and digital technologies bring not only opportunities but also risks, from cybersecurity threats to misinformation and compromised decision-making. According to Atkinson, universities have a unique responsibility in this era of rapid innovation. With their dual mission of discovery and public service, they are positioned to ensure that new technologies advance knowledge while also serving the greater good.

“We need to understand those risks and explore how AI itself can be used to mitigate them,” Atkinson explained. “At the same time, we’re on the edge of a quantum revolution. It’s not here yet. There’s still a lot of work to be done. But, if Robert Noyce were alive today, he’d be deeply engaged in quantum information science and its potential to transform computing.”

The Power of Five

One of UC Noyce’s greatest strengths, Atkinson says, is the diversity of expertise across the five UC campuses. UC San Francisco advances world-class health and biomedical research, and UC Davis brings a land-grant commitment to applying innovation in health, engineering, quantum and cybersecurity. UC Berkeley and UC Santa Barbara are recognized leaders in quantum science, pushing the limits of what’s possible in computing and materials research, while UC Irvine contributes distinctive expertise in cybersecurity and digital technologies. This constellation of talent and perspective makes the UC Noyce Initiative uniquely positioned to tackle complex, interconnected challenges.

“It’s not just the power of five great universities — it’s the power of five different universities,” he said. “Together, that creates a comprehensive approach to some of the world’s most complex problems.”

The goal now, he says, is to deepen these connections not only among faculty, but also among students and emerging scholars.

“One of the things we’re thinking about a lot is how to bring graduate and other researchers together so they can share ideas and come up with new approaches,” Atkinson said. “Those kinds of interactions often spark bottom-up, collaborative ideas that strengthen the Initiative as a cohesive, forward-looking research community.”

Strategic Growth and Values-Based Innovation

Under Atkinson’s leadership, the UC Noyce’s will continue to support computational health (AI and wellness), cybersecurity and quantum science. He emphasizes that the Initiative must remain nimble, ready to take on new challenges that align with the legacies of Noyce and Bowers.

“We don’t want to get frozen in today’s priorities,” Atkinson said. “We need to be able to evolve and grow as new challenges emerge.”

He also stresses that ethical innovation must remain at the heart of the Initiative’s work.

“Digital innovation for public good is really important,” he said. “In our RFPs, especially around AI and cybersecurity, we’ve emphasized the need for a values-based approach. The imperative to innovate must always be guided by an ethical compass.”

Catalyzing Discovery Through Philanthropy

Atkinson underscores the vital role of philanthropic support in advancing early-stage, high-risk research, helping to support projects that often can be too nascent for federal funding.

“Philanthropy gives us the flexibility to explore new ideas that may be too early for government investment,” he said. “It allows us to test concepts, develop them and see where they might lead. That early support can catalyze discoveries that federal and industry funding can later take further.”

Honoring a Legacy, Inspiring the Future

Atkinson also expressed deep admiration for Bowers, whose vision and generosity helped make the UC Noyce Initiative possible. Since Noyce’s passing in 1990, it was Bowers’ vision that guided the Robert Noyce Trust that, in turn, created the UC Noyce Initiative.

“Ann’s role in making this gift possible is remarkable,” he said. “She built a successful career in what was then a male-dominated field, and she did so with a spirit of innovation and purpose that continues to inspire this work today."

As chair, Atkinson’s focus is clear: to nurture a thriving ecosystem of discovery that reflects both the pioneering spirits of Noyce and Bowers, and the forward-looking vision of the University of California.

“The community we build now will define the future of the Initiative,” he said. “And that future, I believe, can be extraordinary.”