applying the keep it short and simple principle

matrix if internal to the institution; networking if with other networks - these are terms so often used by unis.

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Note added at 58 mins (2008-08-31 20:01:07 GMT)
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"AAC&U staff developed the Personal and Social Responsibility Institutional Matrix for the
Core Commitments initiative. It is designed to help campus leaders map where their
institution offers opportunities for students to learn about and practice ethical responsibility to
self and others."
http://www.aacu.org/meetings/annualmeeting/AM08/documents/Su...

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Note added at 1 hr (2008-08-31 20:05:44 GMT)
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"Matrix structure. Most universities teach many topics. The university world thus has a matrix structure, with university organizations on one axis and disciplines on the other. The wired university should resist the temptation to overcome geographical and organizational boundaries by collapsing this matrix into discipline-specific units. The matrix structure plays an important role in creating spaces for innovation. Disciplines are always threatened by the hegemony of particular dominant approaches, but minority approaches can colonize a few universities until they grow stronger or are shunned by a new generation of students. The matrix structure will be threatened with collapse, however, if new technology enables faculty to strengthen their disciplinary bonds at the expense of their ties to particular universities. Processes and incentives should be structured to maintain a balance between the two allegiances."
http://polaris.gseis.ucla.edu/pagre/newcastle.html

"2. Information technologies and inter-institutional collaboration
How infotec facilitates interdisciplinary research, intra- and inter-institutional relations, complementarity, cooperation, institutional networking and tele-education will be discussed, using case studies whenever convenient. Two interesting aspects to be considered are "virtual" universities (which may involve several "real" universities and are more than the traditional distance learning programs) and "virtual" laboratories (which complement, and even replace in some cases, "real" laboratories)."

http://www.icus.org/index.php?cat=conferences&top=conf21com1

It's not the research staff's *strengths* that are going to be enhanced; it's their visibility, prominence and influence. The metaphor (lines of force) invokes electromagnetic fields Heck, you could put "force field" if you want.