About the MSU Research Foundation
50 Years of Impact
and we’re just getting started
Our work has facilitated the creation of University programs, centers, and institutes, spanning from the arts to the sciences, touching every corner of campus. But our commitment doesn’t end there…
Annual Report
This special edition of the MSU Research Foundation Annual Report honors the remarkable legacy of trailblazers who have shaped our 50-year history, and highlights some of our most important achievements from fiscal year 2022-2023.
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Vision
Provide for and partner with Michigan State University to help it achieve preeminence through its MSU 2030 Empowering Excellence, Advancing Equity and Expanding Impact strategic plan.
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Mission
To enhance research, encourage innovation, and facilitate all relevant aspects of economic development through modern commercialization practices, venture creation activity and innovation partnerships.
The Michigan State University Research Foundation is a non-profit research foundation associated with Michigan State University, the premier land grant university in the nation.
Founded in 1973 by Dr. Clifton Wharton, Jr.
The Research Foundation was formed in 1973 as an independent foundation chartered to promote, encourage, and aid scientific investigation and research at the university; assist with patent matters and perform trust functions for the university’s fundraising organization.
Today, the MSU Research Foundation is focused on helping Michigan State University achieve its objectives around economic development through the technology transfer and commercialization of intellectual property created by its faculty, staff, and students. Michigan State University is among the top 100 research institutes in the world with expenditures exceeding $840M annually.
The MSU Research Foundation manages an endowment built from decades of licensing revenue. In addition to providing over $10 million in research funding to MSU annually, the MSU Research Foundation is focused on technology commercialization, economic development and placemaking. Through our subsidiary organizations - Spartan Innovations (SI), Red Cedar Ventures (RCV), Michigan Rise Pre-Seed Fund III (MR), and Research Parks – the MSU Research Foundation is a key partner in the Michigan State University innovation ecosystem along with MSU Business Connect and MSU Technologies.
Our role at Michigan State University
Trust Functions
The MSU Research Foundation assists Michigan State University in its fundraising endeavors by helping the University steward non-traditional gifts such as real estate, life insurance, contract gift annuities and other non-cash gifts.
Investment Management
The MSU Research Foundation manages a small endowment built from decades of licensing revenue from intellectual property developed and commercialized at Michigan State University. We do not manage the main endowment for the University.
Grant Program
In 1974 the MSU Research Foundation established a direct grant program to Michigan State University and has, to date, provided over $350M in grants to help support research, faculty, humanities, intellectual property development and entrepreneurship at Michigan State University.
Tech Transfer & Venture Development
Our Spartan Innovations subsidiary works closely with MSU Technologies to identify new intellectual property that could be the basis of a new startup company. Our venture studio model helps innovators take ideas to market through our programs.
Early Stage Investments
We provide early stage investments to new companies emerging from our venture development programs. Our Red Cedar Ventures and Michigan Rise subsidiaries are some of the most active early stage investors in the State of Michigan.
Research Parks
We own and manage select real estate holdings in and around the Michigan State University campus that provide spaces for our startup companies as well as corporation innovations partners at Michigan State University.