Key Industry
Industry profile: Sustainability
“Sustainability” is more than a buzzword. It means finding ways to meet today’s economic and health needs while protecting our environmental future. It means decarbonizing our energy system, reducing waste and pollution, and managing our natural resources to ensure that future generations can live and thrive on a healthy planet. These are significant challenges—but the myriad technologies and talents required to build a sustainable future represent significant economic opportunity for present-day innovators.
Contact us
Email: info@urcmich.org
Phone: (517) 999-4007
How we are addressing sustainability for our industry partners and Michigan's economy:
Harnessing the sun
A clean energy revolution
"By taking action, we're making Michigan a national leader in clean energy."
- Gov. Gretchen Whitmer
Metrics
Top talent
URC schools graduated 1,000 students in sustainability-related majors8 during the 2021-2022 school year.9 10 11
Wayne State designated a United Nations Regional Centre of Expertise (RCE) on Sustainable Development in partnership with the University of Windsor. Just one of 11 in the U.S. and 188 globally, this unique international alliance will uphold and expand upon the principles championed in Wayne State’s Transformative Research in Sustainability Training, a multidisciplinary graduate program that connects students with local communities, businesses, industries, scientists and policymakers to understand and address challenges in urban sustainability.
The University of Michigan and Michigan State University rank among the Top 50 universities in the world for environment/ecology studies, according to U.S. News and World Report.
Keep Exploring:
The University of Michigan School of Environment and Sustainability (SEAS) has more than 12,600 alumni
The University of Michigan School of Environment and Sustainability (SEAS) has more than 12,600 alumni, the largest graduate population of any environmental degree program in the United States.
30 Years of MSU’s Knight Center for Environmental Journalism
MSU’s Knight Center for Environmental Journalism was founded in 1994 through the creation of the nation’s first endowed chair in environmental journalism. For 30 years, the Knight Center has taught thousands of undergraduate and graduate students how to better report on environmental issues.14
Wayne State and Great Lakes Water Authority to create workforce and laboratory center of the future:
Wayne State and Great Lakes Water Authority to create workforce and laboratory center of the future: A three-year long project will focus on developing the existing Waterworks Park Pilot Plant facility (a 12,000 to 1 scale model of the full treatment system) to perform applied research, testing and evaluation, and workforce development for new and emerging technologies.12
Sustainability is the fastest growing area of concentration at the MSU School of Packaging
Sustainability is the fastest growing area of concentration at the MSU School of Packaging, the number one packaging programs in the United States according to www.universities.com
Impactful research
MSU Department of Supply Chain Management (SCM) is the number one SCM program in the United States, according to US News and World Report. It also produces the most publications in empirically focused journals, according to the Supply Chain Management Journal List. One of the school’s primary research areas is supply chain sustainability.
U-M’s Electric Vehicle Center – Driving EV Tech & Talent through education, innovation and engagement. Fueled by a $130 million investment from the state of Michigan’s Department of Labor and Economic Opportunity (LEO), we drive EV tech and talent by uniting researchers, educators and industry leaders to tackle challenges and expand opportunities in transitioning to vehicle electrification.16
VentureWell and Wayne State TechTown’s Ascend program receives $500,000 grant from the U.S. DOE to support energy entrepreneurship. The program was one of four incubators to win the grant during the second round of the Energy Program for Innovation Clusters (EPIC) Prize program. It trained its first class of 10 startup teams in 2023.25
Keep Exploring:
U-M Center for Complex Particle Systems (COMPASS)
MSU W.K. Kellogg Biological Station (KBC)
Wayne State Healthy Urban Waters Program
U-M Global CO2 Initiative
U-M Global CO2 Initiative is at the forefront of research, development, market introduction, and broad-scale deployment of carbon capture and conversion technologies.18
MSU AgBioResearch
Wayne State Center for Leadership in Environments Awareness and Research
Wayne State University is home to the Center for Leadership in Environmental Awareness and Research (CLEAR), a National Institutes of Health-funded Superfund Research Program dedicated to understanding and mitigating adverse birth outcomes and serious developmental health problems that have been associated with exposure to volatile organic chemicals, especially in post-industrial cities like Detroit. CLEAR provides new methods for assessment, testing and mitigation to help reduce toxic exposures and improve health outcomes.23
Researchers at the U-M Center for Sustainable Systems (CSS)
Researchers at the U-M Center for Sustainable Systems (CSS) have conducted 300 research projects generating over 900 publications. The CSS Sustainability Factsheet Collection has over half a million visits a year and includes 32 factsheets spanning from wind energy to food systems.17
MSU Department of Supply Chain Management (SCM)
MSU Department of Supply Chain Management (SCM) is the number one SCM program in the United States, according to US News and World Report. It also produces the most publications in empirically focused journals, according to the Supply Chain Management Journal List. One of the school’s primary research areas is supply chain sustainability.
Wayne State Center for Urban Reposonse to Environmental Stressors
Wayne State University Center for Urban Response to Environmental Stressors (CURES) is one of a few select environmental health sciences core centers in the nation funded by the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences. CURES works to understand how human exposures to chemical and non-chemical stressors in the urban environment can influence the development of environmentally linked disease.24
The MSU Water Alliance brings together experts across the University to push the boundaries of discovery and find solutions to water-related challenges
The MSU Water Alliance brings together experts across the University to push the boundaries of discovery and find solutions to water-related challenges through research, education, and engagement with communities and industries. It is led by MSU’s Office of Research and Innovation in partnership with MSU AgBioResearch, MSU Extension, and the Homer Nowlin Endowment.26
Wayne State to collaborate on $75 million DOE award
The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) and the State of Michigan announced a collective award of cash incentives and grants totaling $75 million to build workforce development for Nel Hydrogen’s new factory to be built in Plymouth, Michigan, that will enable the creation of more than 500 high-tech jobs. The electrolyser production facility will make a significant contribution to energy transition that will stimulate a clean energy economy. Wayne State’s College of Engineering will play a major role by providing hands-on experiences to high school students and establishing robust workforce training in hydrogen and fuel cell technologies.15
Successful commercialization
Licensing/options27
Licensing Revenue 27
Start-Ups 27
Patents awarded 27
Invention disclosures 27
Keep Exploring:
The Accelerate Blue Fund (ABF) at U-M is an early-stage venture fund investing in U-M licensed startups
The Accelerate Blue Fund (ABF) at U-M is an early-stage venture fund investing in U-M licensed startups. In fiscal year 2023, ABF invested in 9 new portfolio companies, bringing the portfolio to 14 U-M startups and $15.1M under management. ABF funds companies like NX Fuels, which provides cost-effective solutions for production of green fuels from CO2 and water using only renewable solar energy, and Zakuro, an energy storage company developing energy-dense solid-state batteries for Li-ion replacement.29
MSU Research Foundation, through its early-stage venture investment organization Red Cedar Ventures, supports high-tech startups at MSU and beyond
MSU Research Foundation, through its early-stage venture investment organization Red Cedar Ventures, supports high-tech startups at MSU and beyond. Since 2014, RCV has deployed nearly $30 million in funds, attracted $1 billion in co-investment, and resulted in 159 active companies and 22 exits. RCV has funded companies like Accelerated Filtration, which provides water recovery technology to reduce water scarcity, and JustAir, which provides local air pollution monitoring solutions to cities to bring greater transparency to the disparities of air quality between communities.28
The James and Patricia Anderson Engineering Ventures Institute was established with a $25 million gift in 2014 to support innovation and entrepreneurship.
The James and Patricia Anderson Engineering Ventures Institute was established with a $25 million gift in 2014 to support innovation and entrepreneurship. Embedded within the college, the institute fosters a culture of entrepreneurship among the faculty envisioning commercial applications for new technology, securing patents and establishing start-up companies while providing opportunities for students to learn best practices in applied research, technology commercialization and business creation.30
The University of Michigan’s Innovation Partnerships was awarded $5 million dollars by MEDC to establish the Michigan University Innovation Capital Fund
The University of Michigan’s Innovation Partnerships was awarded $5 million dollars by MEDC to establish the Michigan University Innovation Capital Fund and the Michigan University Innovation Capital Consortium. This is a partnership among U-M, Michigan State University, Michigan State University Research Foundation, Wayne State University, Western Michigan University and Michigan Technological University.
27Source: 2023 URC Benchmark Report
28Source: msufoundation.org
29Source: acceleratebluefund.com
30Source: engineering.wayne.edu
Powerful partnerships
Partnership highlights
URC universities are key participants in the federally funded Global Epicenter for Mobility’s (GEM’s) Mobility Acceleration Innovation Network (MAIN).
URC universities are key participants in the federally funded Global Epicenter for Mobility’s (GEM’s) Mobility Acceleration Innovation Network (MAIN). GEM is designed to create a smart, secure, sustainable and inclusive advanced mobility industry in Southeast Michigan, made possible by a four-year U.S. Economic Development Administration Build Back Better Regional Challenge grant award. MSU Research Foundation, U-M Innovation Partnerships and Wayne State’s TechTown are engaged in MAIN to accelerate the growth of mobility startups that drive innovation and fill gaps in the mobility value chain.
Wayne State and U-M are members of Great Lakes ReNEW, a consortium of Great Lakes-area universities and tech companies developing ways to extract harmful substances from wastewater.
U-M and WSU are members of Great Lakes ReNEW, a consortium of Great Lakes-area universities and tech companies developing ways to extract harmful substances from wastewater. In January 2024, the consortium received a $15 million Innovation Engine grant from the National Science Foundation under the CHIPS and Science Act of 2022.
MSU and U-M collaborate on programs like Michigan Sea Grants to generate $1.36 million dollars in economic benefits
MSU and U-M collaborate on programs like Michigan Sea Grants to generate $1.36 million dollars in economic benefits. The program also created or sustained 170 Michigan businesses from its activities.31
31Source: michiganseagrant.org
Rationale
The state of Michigan is a leader in sustainability
Favorable policies
1Source: nytimes.com
2Source: siteselection.com
Vibrant and growing workforce
Culture of innovation
Climate resilience
Strategic location and strong infrastructure
“Our work is to bring together community partners, address activities related to sustainable development challenges, [and] work toward enhancing the economy to meet the sustainable era.”
- Prof. Donna Kashian, Wayne State University
Working Together
For Michigan’s furture
Success Stories
URC Newsletter: A Year in Review
In 2024, Michigan’s University Research Corridor (URC) has taken its collaboration to new heights, advancing groundbreaking research, fostering innovation, and...
New reports show employment and economic impact of research at URC universities
Michigan’s University Research Corridor (URC), an alliance of Michigan State University, the University of Michigan and Wayne State University, today...
Michigan’s Can-Do Culture Is Attracting Talent and Businesses to the Region
A diverse population and robust educational system are just some of the reasons why companies are finding success in the...
Michigan’s Competitive Advantage: Harnessing the Power of the University Research Corridor
Presidents Kevin Guskiewicz (MSU), Santa Ono (U-M) and Kimberly Andrews Espy (WSU) joined the Detroit Economic Club for a panel...
Crain’s Detroit Business: UM-MSU-Wayne State alliance rolling out welcome mat for businesses
From Crain’s Detroit Business: Leaders of the University of Michigan, Michigan State University and Wayne State University, which founded URC...
WJR: Leading Michigan University Leaders Speak to the Detroit Economic Club
URC presidents on air with WJR’s Paul W. Smith: At a speech for the Detroit Economic Club, leaders at Michigan‘s...
