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Researchers and educators at the University of Michigan disclosed more novel inventions and facilitated additional commercialization agreements with enterprises than ever recorded in the last fiscal year.
In fiscal year 2025, U-M researchers and faculty produced 673 invention disclosures, surpassing the prior high of 615. They also finalized 326 licensing and option agreements, reflecting an increase of over 50 new agreements compared to the previous year.
Along with the rise in novel inventions, 31 startup companies were established to promote the commercialization of U-M’s research innovations. This marks the second occasion in U-M’s history that over 30 startups were created within a single year. Covering a range of fields, these enterprises are formulating advanced solutions in domains such as diabetes care, digital safety, athletic performance, and early childhood education.
Innovation Partnerships, the university’s core for research commercialization efforts, recently disclosed its data for the fiscal year concluding on June 30. These figures offer crucial insights into the extent and richness of U-M’s innovation ecosystem and will be featured at this year’s Celebrate Invention celebration on September 24.
“Researchers and educators at the University of Michigan are among the finest in the nation, consistently creating pioneering solutions to address some of today’s most pressing challenges,” stated Arthur Lupia, U-M vice president for research and innovation.
“The team at Innovation Partnerships is committed to assisting our researchers in transforming their findings into products and services that benefit individuals beyond our campus. I’ve witnessed the team’s operation firsthand, continuously adapting to address the needs of university researchers and striving to make a meaningful impact in people’s lives.”
U-M faculty also experienced a robust year in corporate collaboration. The newly enhanced Corporate and Foundation Research Alliances team within Innovation Partnerships provided direct relationship and negotiation support for 135 new corporate-sponsored research agreements conducted on campus, amounting to $32.9 million—a substantial contribution to the $170.6 million in new corporate research grants documented across the university’s research initiatives.
In May, Innovation Partnerships announced the expansion of the Corporate Research Alliances team into the Corporate and Foundation Research Alliances team. This change was made as part of a commitment to bolster U-M’s competitiveness in obtaining external research funding.
U-M startups garnered over $663 million in capital fundraising and liquidity events during fiscal 2025 as they progressed in advancing their technologies for widespread societal application. This includes three initial public offerings (IPOs), the largest being the IPO of Ascentage Biopharma on the NASDAQ in January, which raised over $126 million.
Innovation Partnerships also offered support to U-M innovators through the Accelerate Blue Fund, a perpetual venture fund managed by the team. The scope of the AB Fund grew during the past fiscal year, with investments in nine new companies, elevating its portfolio to 30 U-M startups. With the assistance of donors and U-M, the Accelerate Blue Fund now manages $16.1 million in assets.
“Every invention disclosure we receive and each startup we establish represents a vital milestone in converting publicly funded research into tangible outcomes that enhance and even save lives,” remarked Kelly Sexton, associate vice president for research-innovation partnerships and economic impact.
“The record-setting achievements of FY 2025 are a reflection of the extraordinary talent within our U-M research community, along with the industry partners, investors, and entrepreneurs who collaborate with us to transform these innovations into products, services, and enterprises that are shaping a brighter future for Michigan and beyond.”
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