For more than 50 years, the Michigan State University Research Foundation has empowered groundbreaking research and entrepreneurship at MSU, creating an ecosystem of innovation and discovery that drives economic growth across Michigan and beyond.

The 501(c)(3) corporation, which is co-located within the MSU Innovation Center, was established in 1973 by the late MSU President Clifton Wharton Jr. as a nonprofit to “bring into being a strong, viable instrument to help serve the university.” The foundation remains a catalyst for turning ideas into real-world solutions.

“Much of our activities are centered around driving economic development through startup creation, job creation and regional partnerships,” said David Washburn, chief executive officer of the MSU Research Foundation.

The foundation partners with MSU Technologies, the tech transfer office of the university, and MSU Business Connect to deliver a vision that has translated into transformative accomplishments over the past year, demonstrating the foundation’s role in strengthening communities, championing discovery and supporting industry-changing breakthroughs.

Investing to strengthen research at MSU

Awarding $11.8 million in grants in 2023–24 — contributing nearly $400 million since its inception — the foundation has helped position MSU as a leading global public research university on the rise.

Working closely with the vice president of research and innovation as well as the provost, the foundation grants ensure MSU researchers have the resources to address pressing challenges the world faces. The foundation is a unique asset to the university, providing resources that help recruit and retain faculty, support student fellowships, build new facilities and acquire equipment and advance the arts.

“When you build solutions in silos, sometimes the parts don’t fit together,” says Judd Herzer, who became the director of MSU Mobility in August. “By having the ability to do it all at Michigan State, we believe we can solve problems differently and solve them better.”

There are more than a dozen Spartan faculty collaborating on this project to explore and drive innovations in battery chemistry, electrical systems, the materials that make a car and more.

Spartan graduate and undergraduate students will also play a critical role in the projects, helping develop these advances and determining how to implement them on real vehicles.

More than 60 faculty members have been named MSU Research Foundation Professors since the recognition was established in 2014. Photo courtesy of the College of Natural Science.

Helping attract and keep top talent

The MSU Research Foundation has built an extensive system of resources to help drive the development of a high-tech entrepreneurial ecosystem. The Entrepreneur-In-Residence program supports workforce development and new venture creation that helps create and retain top professional talent in the high-tech, high-growth workspace.

The MSU Research Foundation has built an extensive system of resources to help drive the development of a high-tech entrepreneurial ecosystem. The Entrepreneur-In-Residence program supports workforce development and new venture creation that helps create and retain top professional talent in the high-tech, high-growth workspace.

Transformative Work: Tech Hubs & MARS

One notable example of the foundation’s transformative work is related to the Tech Hubs initiative of the U.S. Economic Development Administration, or EDA. The foundation’s proposal, the Materials Advancement and Research Solutions (MARS), is focused on advanced materials that are critical to industries like semiconductor manufacturing, defense electronics and quantum computing.

Working with the MSU College of Engineering and Fraunhofer USA, the foundation is leading the development of this program and recently won a $500,000 Strategy Development Grant from the EDA. By leveraging MSU’s expertise in synthetic diamonds and rare isotopes, MARS aims to create jobs and drive economic growth in Michigan. It is expected that in 2025, the EDA will make a call for proposals from Development Grant awardees to compete for up to $80 million in funding.

Sustainable Packaging Innovation: SHAPE Initiative

Similarly, the foundation is leading the development of the Sustainability Hub for an Alternative Packaging Ecosystem (SHAPE) initiative. Funded by a $1 million National Science Foundation Regional Engines planning grant, SHAPE is reimagining how packaging materials are recycled and reused. By collaborating with regional and national partners, the initiative is positioning the Great Lakes region as a global leader in sustainable packaging.

The MSU Research Foundation is the only organization in the state of Michigan to have won a planning grant for both the NSF Regional Engines and EDA Tech Hubs programs.

Powering startup success stories

The foundation’s commitment to entrepreneurship is filling a gap in the mid-Michigan region and supporting startups and emerging technologies in diverse industries. It is a long-time funder of the Burgess Institute for Entrepreneurship and Innovation at MSU, which Princeton Review recently ranked No. 11 nationally among university entrepreneurship programs.

“When you build solutions in silos, sometimes the parts don’t fit together,” says Judd Herzer, who became the director of MSU Mobility in August. “By having the ability to do it all at Michigan State, we believe we can solve problems differently and solve them better.”

There are more than a dozen Spartan faculty collaborating on this project to explore and drive innovations in battery chemistry, electrical systems, the materials that make a car and more.

Spartan graduate and undergraduate students will also play a critical role in the projects, helping develop these advances and determining how to implement them on real vehicles.

More than 60 faculty members have been named MSU Research Foundation Professors since the recognition was established in 2014. Photo courtesy of the College of Natural Science.

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For generations, Spartans have been changing the world through research. Federal funding helps power many of the discoveries that improve lives and keep America at the forefront of innovation and competitiveness. From lifesaving cancer treatments to solutions that advance technology, agriculture, energy and more, MSU researchers work every day to shape a better future for the people of Michigan and beyond. Learn more about MSU’s research impact powered by partnership with the federal government.

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