Michigan State University Salutes Breakthroughs in Innovation and Entrepreneurship at 2025 Innovation Celebration
EAST LANSING, Mich.— Michigan State University’s Innovation Center hosted the highly anticipated 2025 Innovation Celebration on April 1 at the Kellogg Center, honoring the trailblazers advancing research, entrepreneurship, and economic development in the region and beyond.
With more than 460 attendees, the annual event showcased 31 exhibits highlighting cutting-edge research, transformative technologies, and bold startup ventures developed by MSU faculty, students, and partners. Attendees explored a diverse array of innovations—from AI-driven genomics platforms and sustainable agriculture models to next-generation battery research and quantum computing hardware.
Charles Hasemann, Associate Vice President for Innovation and Economic Development at MSU, opened the evening with remarks that emphasized the university’s dedication to fueling discovery and impact through cross-disciplinary collaboration and real-world application.
“This celebration is more than an awards night,” Hasemann said. “It’s an opportunity to recognize the entire community of partners that it takes to translate raw university innovations into new products or services that impact the residents of Michigan and the world. It’s a glimpse into the future we’re building together—where research drives change, and innovation empowers communities.”
The event’s highlight was the awards ceremony, honoring standout contributors in MSU’s innovation ecosystem:
- Innovation of the Year: Tamara Reid Bush and Justin Scott for Sit Sense, a patented repositioning chair designed to combat hospital-acquired pressure sores.
- Innovator of the Year: André Bachmann for advancing treatment of rare genetic disorders and pediatric cancer through repurposed therapeutics like DFMO.
- Technology Transfer Achievement Award: Bruno Basso for his GeoYields technology powering sustainable farming practices through the startup CIBO Technologies.
- Corporate Connector of the Year: Chengcheng Fang for pioneering partnerships with GM and Ford to develop the next generation of EV battery technologies.
- Startup of the Year: EeroQ, an MSU startup redefining quantum computing using electrons on superfluid helium.
- Student Startup of the Year: BRCĒ, founded by MSU students Madhav Aggarwal and Tanvi Gadamsetti, whose innovative performance shoelaces and braces are gaining national recognition.
Guests also enjoyed networking, refreshments, and hands-on interaction with innovative demonstrations from faculty researchers, student entrepreneurs, and university partners, including the MSU Science Festival, MSU Research Foundation, and the Lansing Economic Area Partnership.
This year’s Innovation Celebration was held as part of the inaugural 517 Entrepreneurship & Innovation Week—a regional collaboration celebrating the entrepreneurial spirit and groundbreaking innovation across the Lansing area. The weeklong initiative brought together universities, startups, industry leaders, and community organizations to spotlight local talent, support new ventures, and cultivate a thriving innovation ecosystem in mid-Michigan. MSU’s celebration served as a cornerstone event, highlighting the university’s pivotal role in driving economic development and discovery in the region.
Innovation of the Year | Sit Sense: Saving Lives, One Seat at a Time
Meet Sit Sense, the award-winning smart seating technology developed by MSU’s Dr. Tamara Bush and Dr. Justin Scott—designed to prevent painful and costly pressure sores in hospital and long-term care patients.
With rising healthcare challenges and caregiver shortages, Sit Sense steps in as a breakthrough solution. Using patented tech, it detects high-pressure areas on the body and automatically repositions patients, reducing risk and giving caregivers back precious time.
Backed by years of research, expert mentorship, and MSU’s innovation ecosystem, Sit Sense is on track to transform patient care across hospitals, nursing homes, and beyond.
See how this life-changing invention is making its way from lab to market—and potentially changing the future of healthcare.
Meet Dr. André Bachmann, MSU’s 2025 Innovator of the Year
When a chance meeting at a seminar connected Dr. Bachmann with a physician treating a mysterious case, it led to a breakthrough: Bachmann-Bupp Syndrome (BABS), a newly identified genetic disorder linked to the ODC1 gene. Thanks to Dr. Bachmann’s 30 years of research and a repurposed FDA-approved drug—DFMO—patients with BABS are now seeing real, transformative results.
Backed by patents co-owned with Corewell Health and licensed to Orbus Therapeutics, DFMO is not only helping children with BABS but also showing promise in treating neuroblastoma, a deadly pediatric cancer. His work has led to the creation of the International Center for Polyamine Disorders, the first of its kind in the world.
Learn how one scientist’s persistence, passion, and a bit of serendipity are changing lives—and why collaboration is the key to unlocking the next medical breakthrough.
Tech Transfer Achievement | Dr. Bruno Basso: Revolutionizing Sustainable Agriculture with GeoYields
As climate change intensifies and sustainability becomes non-negotiable, farmers face growing pressure to produce more with less. Enter Dr. Bruno Basso, a trailblazer in agricultural science and this year’s recipient of MSU’s Tech Transfer Achievement Award.
Dr. Basso’s breakthrough came through GeoYields—a cutting-edge crop modeling system that digitally simulates plant growth and field conditions. This “digital twin” technology helps farmers make smarter decisions around irrigation, fertilization, and land management. Backed by over two decades of research at Michigan State University and commercialized through the MSU startup CIBO Technologies, GeoYields is transforming farms across the U.S. and Europe.
Read how digital agriculture, powered by science and passion, is helping build a more sustainable, food-secure future.
Corporate Connector Award | Dr. Chengcheng Fang: Powering the Future of EV Batteries
Electric vehicles are the future—but their batteries still need to catch up. Enter Dr. Chengcheng Fang, a rising star at Michigan State University and this year’s Corporate Connector Award winner, recognized for her groundbreaking battery research and game-changing collaborations with industry leaders like General Motors and Ford.
As an MSU Assistant Professor of Chemical Engineering and Materials Science, Dr. Fang is tackling EV battery challenges head-on—from improving energy density and cold weather performance to boosting fast-charging capabilities. Her goal? EVs that can drive 800 miles on a single charge and handle extreme climates with ease.
What sets her apart? A unique approach that blends fundamental research with real-world application. Whether it’s lithium-ion advancements or next-gen sodium-ion alternatives, Dr. Fang’s work is shaping the future of transportation and grid storage alike. And thanks to MSU Business Connect, her lab-to-market pipeline is stronger than ever.
Discover how MSU innovation is fueling cleaner, smarter, and more efficient energy solutions for tomorrow.
Startup of the Year | EeroQ Quantum Hardware: A New Era of Computing Begins
Meet EeroQ, the MSU-born startup that’s redefining quantum computing—and the winner of this year’s Startup of the Year award.
Founded by MSU physics professor Johannes Pollanen and led by CEO Nicholas Farina, EeroQ is taking an unconventional yet powerful path to quantum computing: using electrons floating on superfluid helium. This novel approach allows for millions of qubits on a single chip, promising faster, more scalable quantum solutions than ever before.
From napkin sketches to $13.5M+ in venture funding, EeroQ’s journey has been powered by MSU’s robust innovation ecosystem—including early-stage funding, mentorship, lab space, and commercialization support from the MSU Research Foundation and Red Cedar Ventures.
Watch to discover how EeroQ’s game-changing tech could revolutionize industries from healthcare to climate science—and what’s next for the future of computing.
From Server to Startup Stars | BRCĒ Wins Student Startup of the Year!
Just two years ago, Madhav Aggarwal was serving food at the MSU Innovation Celebration. Today, he and co-founder Tanvi Gadamsetti are on stage receiving Student Startup of the Year for their company, BRCĒ—a groundbreaking material-tech startup revolutionizing shoelaces and athletic gear.
Born out of a 36-hour pitch competition and fueled by relentless determination, BRCĒ has grown from a $200 idea to a rising force in the athletic tech space. With support from MSU’s Burgess Institute, they’ve launched products for athletes, kids, and sports of all kinds—earning national attention and even a shot at Shark Tank.
Watch the inspiring journey of how two student entrepreneurs went from their first pitch to the forefront of innovation.
