Dear Alumni and Friends,

We’ve begun a new academic year at the University of Michigan, full of anticipation and excitement for the future. I had the pleasure of experiencing that future in person earlier this month when I attended Celebrate Invention, an event honoring our university’s inventors and the growing impact of our innovations. The technologies on display were a reminder of the breadth of talent and expertise on our campus, as well as of our mission as a public research university to serve the people of Michigan and the world.

Consider HistoSonics, a healthcare technology startup based on the notion that “minimally invasive isn’t minimal enough.” The startup is developing a non-invasive therapy platform that uses sound waves to break down diseased tissue. The science of histotripsy ­– the term coined for this new technique – was developed by leading ultrasound scientists at U-M.

Then there was TRAILS, or Transforming Research into Action to Improve the Lives of Students, a clinical mental-health training program for school professionals. U-M’s Youth Policy Lab will evaluate the TRAILS program’s impact on student mental health and academic outcomes as the program is rolled out in Detroit’s public schools, 56 Michigan intermediate school districts across the state and three Colorado school districts.

The startup iGYM, made up of an interdisciplinary team of U-M designers, engineers, and human-computer interaction researchers, is developing an augmented reality game system that provides an inclusive and accessible play environment for children. The technology allows people with motor disabilities and their non-disabled peers to play and exercise together.

These impressive examples were just a few among so many others. In 2022, U-M ranked among the top 10 universities in the country for utility patents granted, according to the National Academy of Inventors. Our output in high-quality published research placed us fourth in the nation in the Nature Index 2023 rankings – behind only Harvard, Stanford and MIT. U-M ranked 10th in the world in the NTU Rankings, which evaluate research universities’ achievements in scientific research, and ranked fourth in the social sciences field. 

Innovation Partnerships a unit based in the Office of the Vice President for Research, was established to serve as the primary gateway for researchers seeking to increase the impact of their work through commercialization. Their team recently closed a record-breaking fiscal year, in which the university saw 580 invention disclosures and 25 new startups launched. 

The true value of these efforts goes beyond creating new knowledge or developing new products, important as they are – it’s about opening opportunities, lifting communities, and transforming lives. It’s about honoring our mission, for people of Michigan and the world. And, I cannot wait to share even more as we continue to promote economic development in our region and state. The best is yet to come.

Sincerely,