Engineering research at Michigan State University prioritizes areas bolstering Michigan’s economy and advancing the state’s engineering and digital innovation professions.
MSU reached a record $844 million in total research and development expenditures in 2023 — an 11% increase over 2022. MSU-formulated knowledge and discovery directly and profoundly pushes the state forward, generating an economic impact to Michigan totaling $6.8 billion.
Michigan has long been one of the global epicenters of automotive innovation and, today, Spartan engineers are keeping it at the forefront by developing and enhancing next-generation vehicles and technology through MSU Mobility. MSU chemical engineers are supercharging the performance of electric vehicle batteries; computer scientists as well as electrical and computer engineers are amplifying the communications systems and sensor-based data fusion architectures of autonomous vehicles for safe operation; and materials scientists are formulating lightweight composites to improve efficiency.
Beyond automotive, MSU engineering researchers are leading discoveries in other exciting areas, from creating robotics that could streamline surgical procedures in Michigan hospitals to developing smart barriers to control the movement of invasive species into the Great Lakes.
“By sharing our knowledge and innovation with statewide partners and collaborating on novel projects, we’re supporting Michigan now and into the future,” says John Papapolymerou, an MSU Research Foundation Professor and interim dean of MSU’s College of Engineering.
Looking toward that future, MSU has made addressing national priorities for semiconductor and microelectronics research, education and workforce development a priority, partnering with 11 other Midwestern colleges and universities.
A building block of the digital world, semiconductors exist in nearly every modern electronic and advance technology in everything from health care to transportation. Through groundbreaking research, including investigating semiconductors in energy generation, storage and conversion as well as in extreme environments like space, MSU is positioning Michigan to be an attractive hub in the semiconductor and microelectronics supply chain.
MSU is also planning the Engineering and Digital Innovation Center, which will further support researchers, students and industry in advancing Michigan’s technology sector. The state-of-the-art facility will provide space for more than 50 research teams and propel innovation in high-growth and emerging areas such as semiconductors, artificial intelligence, data science, quantum computing and advanced manufacturing.
See the entire research impact story by Daniel P. Smith and Deon Foster on MSUToday.
MSU College of Engineering Media and Public Relations page