If you work in academia but are itching to put your knowledge to practical use, here's your chance. Lift truck manufacturer Toyota Material Handling North America (TMHNA) is looking for innovative ideas and is making research funding available for projects that drive new technology or new approaches to supply chain, logistics, or material handling operations.

Through the TMHNA University Research Program, the company is seeking research proposals from full-time professors or researchers at North American universities. The program's mission is to encourage and support professors and researchers in applying their knowledge of engineering and technical fields to the supply chain, logistics, and material handling fields. To participate, submit your idea to the TMHNA University Research Program by Aug. 31 and show how your engineering application can drive the next generation of logistics technology. Proposals will be evaluated on their impact on the future of supply chain, logistics, or material handling operations, as well as the planning and feasibility of the timeline and budget.

The program seeks to improve collaboration between collegiate researchers and TMHNA, in the name of delivering more efficient solutions to Toyota's customers, TMHNA President and CEO Brett Wood said in a release. TMHNA will choose multiple proposals as finalists, notify winning researchers by Oct. 1, and launch the projects in November.