Summer is here, and the University of Michigan’s research enterprise continues to buzz with new innovations and opportunities for impact. As you will see below, the Innovation Partnerships team has been busy connecting with investors, entrepreneurs, and companies, forging new partnerships to help bring the benefits of U-M research discoveries to the world.

U of M Innovation Partnerships are already counting down the days until September 14 when they will host Celebrate Invention, their annual event honoring our brilliant U-M inventors. This is an incredible opportunity to connect with the U-M innovation ecosystem and it will be a highlight of Ann Arbor SPARK’s a2Tech360 week of programming – I hope to see you there!

Sincerely,

Kelly Sexton, Ph.D.
Associate Vice President for Research and Innovation Partnerships 

U-M President Santa J. Ono Highlights Innovation Partnerships and Dr. Kelly Sexton in June Monthly Message U-M Innovator Receives up to $1M to Support Photosynthesis Research Zetian Mi, U-M innovator and Professor of Electrical and Computer Engineering, recently was awarded a prestigious grant from the U.S. Department of Energy. The $1M research grant will support Mi and his team’s work on artificial photosynthesis.  Learn more about research led by Professor Mi.  Statewide Economic Impact Driven by University of Michigan Research, Innovation; Featuring U-M startup Genomenon.

MTRAC Life Sciences RFP for Mid-Stage Translational Funding Now Open The Michigan Translational Research and Commercialization (MTRAC) for Life Sciences Innovation Hub has opened its Request for Proposals (RFP) for mid-stage translational funding. This is a statewide program supporting translational research projects in life sciences with high-commercial potential, with the ultimate goal of positively impacting human health. Innovators from all schools, colleges, and units at U-M, other public and private institutions of higher education, nonprofit research centers, and hospital systems across Michigan are eligible to submit projects for funding consideration. Learn more and submit your proposal.  Bold Challenges Bold Challenges, an initiative of the Office of the Vice President for Research, leads events and programs to empower researchers to create dynamic teams, produce transformative discoveries, and improve the quality of life for our communities, state, nation, and world. Bold Challenges consists of two programs: Boost, for early-stage teams, and Accelerate, which is for teams that are mid-to-late-stage.  Learn more about Bold Challenges and its two programs. The Accelerate Blue Fund is an early-stage venture fund that exclusively invests in U-M licensed startups. Below are some highlights from Accelerate Blue’s two-year history: Celebrate Invention 2023 September 14 | 3 – 6 p.m. | Michigan Union Celebrate Invention is an annual event hosted by Innovation Partnerships that honors U-M inventors and the growing impact of their innovations. This year’s event will feature demonstrations from promising U-M startups and projects, in addition to the Distinguished University Innovator Award presentation ceremony.  Register for Celebrate Invention.  a2Tech360 September 14 – 22 | Ann Arbor, MI a2Tech360 is Ann Arbor SPARK’s annual, weeklong event designed to connect Ann Arbor-area entrepreneurs, researchers, investors, academic institutions, nonprofits, and the general public. Events are presented by a number of local institutions, and attendees can tailor their experience to their own interests. Learn more about a2Tech360.  Recent Startup Bell Ringing Innovation Partnerships recently welcomed MDI Therapeutics to celebrate its official launch by ringing the startup bell. MDI Therapeutics is developing serpin-based therapies for the treatment of fibrosis and fibroproliferative disorders. Using ChatGPT – What you need to know The Software Thought Leadership Series presented by the Licensing team at Innovation Partnerships recently hosted a discussion titled, “Using ChatGPT – What you need to know!” Led by Brian Doughty of the U-M Office of the Vice President and General Counsel and Randy Rueth of Marshall, Gerstein & Borun LLP, the discussion revolved around the implications of using ChatGPT and providing content to the service, as well as considerations associated with intellectual property rights when using the service.  Learn more & watch the ChatGPT Webinar.   Celebrating Two Years of the Accelerate Blue Fund In May, Innovation Partnerships hosted its annual Spring Celebration to recognize the positive impact made by the Accelerate Blue Fund, U-M’s evergreen venture fund that supports early-stage startups based on U-M research. The event was hosted at the Blue Llama Jazz Club in downtown Ann Arbor and provided the Accelerate Blue Fund’s supporters and beneficiaries with the opportunity to celebrate and connect on their shared success. Learn more about the Accelerate Blue Fund Spring Celebration.   Ann Arbor SPARK Annual Meeting Recap Ann Arbor SPARK recently held its Annual Meeting, an event that brings together and celebrates Ann Arbor-area business, government, and academic leaders who review the successes from the past year and look ahead to new, upcoming projects. U-M President Santa J. Ono was this year’s keynote speaker. Learn more about the Ann Arbor SPARK Annual Meeting.