Leinweber Foundation commits $50M to name engineering and digital innovation center

Michigan State University today announced a transformative $50 million commitment from the Leinweber Foundation to establish the Leinweber Center for Engineering and Digital Innovation, a landmark investment that will accelerate MSU’s leadership in education, research and workforce development across Michigan and beyond.

As the largest gift ever to a facility at MSU, this monumental investment propels the university’s vision for a state-of-the-art hub that unites digital learning, advanced research, entrepreneurship and industry. Naming of the Leinweber Center for Engineering and Digital Innovation is pending approval by the Michigan State University Board of Trustees at its February 6 meeting.

In partnership with the state of Michigan, the Leinweber Center for Engineering and Digital Innovation — a synergistic 265,000-square-foot facility — will:

• Serve as a convergence point for education, research and career readiness, including materials science, data science, artificial intelligence, cybersecurity, semiconductor research, space electronics, ultrafast science, entrepreneurship and esports.
• Support disciplines essential to Michigan’s economic future.
• Provide state-of-the-art laboratories for more than 75 principal investigators.
• Expand digital learning environments, student project studios, clean rooms and flexible modular research spaces.
• Enable the enrollment of 1,000 new engineering students and expand computational and digital literacy programs.

“We are profoundly grateful to the Leinweber Foundation for this extraordinary commitment,” said MSU President Kevin M. Guskiewicz, Ph.D. “It represents far more than an investment in a building — it is an investment in people, in opportunity and in Michigan’s future. This investment will help us educate the next generation of engineers, scientists and innovators whose work will define the future economy of the state of Michigan and beyond. We are honored by the Leinweber family’s belief in MSU and grateful for their partnership in advancing our mission as a leading global research university.”

“I truly believe in the power of education to change the trajectory of a person’s life, as I experienced as a college graduate from MSU,” said Leinweber Foundation Founder and President Larry D. Leinweber. “Moreover, I believe in the power of research, innovation and our Michigan State graduates to positively shape the future of our state through their contributions. Our Leinweber Software Scholars and Leinweber STEM Scholars programs provide scholarships to Michigan students studying computer science, computer engineering and other STEM fields. The new Leinweber Center is the next step in increasing the number of students able to study these fields at MSU, enhancing their educational experiences and preparing the next generation and the state for what the future holds.”

Vice President for University Advancement Kim Tobin noted, “We are deeply thankful to the entire Leinweber family for their generosity, partnership and trust. Their commitment reflects remarkable alignment and shared purpose in the power of education, opportunity and discovery. When donors and institutions dream boldly together, we can create opportunities that change lives and strengthen communities for generations.”

Leinweber Foundation Vice President Ashley Leinweber remarked that “The Leinweber Center will be a powerful example of how our three mission areas come together in one place. It will advance fundamental scientific research, expand educational opportunity for the next generation of innovators and deepen our enduring commitment to Michigan. This is exactly the kind of bold, long-term investment we believe can help people achieve their full potential and leave the world better than we found it.”

To embody the interdisciplinary initiative so critical for career success, the Leinweber Center for Engineering and Digital Innovation will be led by the College of Engineering and will include five partner colleges, including the College of Natural Science, Broad College of Business, College of Arts and Letters, College of Communication Arts and Sciences and the College of Social Science.

Construction on the new building began in early 2026, with substantial completion expected by December 2028.

“This intentionally interdisciplinary center will open doors for countless students and scholars, fostering discovery, collaboration and the kinds of hands-on learning that prepare graduates to lead in rapidly evolving STEM fields,” said MSU Provost Laura Lee McIntyre. “We are immensely grateful to the Leinweber Foundation for enabling this bold leap forward in support of our academic vision.”

“We extend our deepest thanks and gratitude to the Leinweber Foundation for believing in our faculty, our students and the future of engineering and digital innovation at MSU,” said College of Engineering Interim Dean John Papapolymerou. “This commitment empowers us to build a world-class environment that will attract top researchers and inspire the next generation of Spartan innovators who will lead the technological revolutions of the future.”

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