Innovation Center Archives - MSU Innovation Center

fellows

9 from MSU named fellows of prestigious science association

MSU Today

Nine Michigan State University researchers have been elected 2025 Fellows of the American Association for the Advancement of Science, or AAAS, one of the world’s largest and most respected scientific societies. Ann Austin, Gary Blanchard, Shi-you Ding, Dean Lee, Hui Li, Elena Litchman, James McCusker, Dohun Pyeon and Elise Zipkin are being recognized for their work in education, chemistry, cancer studies, biological and medical sciences, …

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potatoes

David Douches Breeds Better Potatoes and a Sustainable Path to the Field

By Keith Rouse

David Douches, a Michigan State University (MSU) Distinguished Professor in the Department of Plant, Soil, and Microbial Sciences, describes plant breeding as a career-long mission: “We are the scientists behind the scenes, creating potatoes that are better for the farmers, better for the industry, and ultimately better for the consumer.” For decades, he has focused …

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grid

Startup of the Year: Switched Source Helps Utilities Unlock Capacity on the Grid Without Costly Upgrades 

By Keith Rouse

The modern electrical grid faces unprecedented pressure. As the prevalence of electric vehicles, data centers, and electric heating grows, power demand surges. Yet the traditional solution remains costly, time-consuming “wire-and-pole” upgrades.  This year’s MSU Innovation Center Startup of the Year, Switched Source, offers a faster, more efficient solution. Using advanced power electronics to rebalance electricity flows in real time, it helps …

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drone

Student Startup of the Year: AG3 Labs Builds LowCost Drone Swarms for Realistic Training 

By Keith Rouse

AG3 Labs, a student-founded startup, develops low-cost, highly maneuverable drone systems for military and defense training. Designed to fly in coordinated swarms with repeatable flight patterns, these drones serve as realistic aerial targets, enabling teams to train against agile unmanned threats common in modern conflicts.  Unlike multipurpose drone platforms containing advanced sensors and computing systems, AG3 Labs …

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Aitor Aguirre is Revolutionizing Medicine by Creating “Mini Hearts” to Speed Drug Development and Improve Safety 

By Keith Rouse

For decades, the medical community has faced a frustrating dilemma: cardiovascular disease remains the leading cause of death worldwide, yet the pipeline for new treatments is a high-risk gamble that usually ends in failure. More than 92% of heart-related drugs that pass preclinical animal tests fail to receive FDA approval during human trials, and for complex cardiovascular conditions, success rates …

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harvest

Innovation of the Year: A Robotic Apple Harvester Built for Real Orchards 

By Keith Rouse

In fruit orchards, timing is critical. When labor is scarce or costly, fruit may remain unharvested, causing lost income and risking the relocation of specialty crop production from Michigan to regions with larger orchards and more workers.  “If we don’t automate critical tasks quickly, crops will remain on trees or rot. Industries will leave, and so will our domestic …

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Research Spotlight: Microrobots combat cancer and clots with pinpoint accuracy

College of Engineering

Clinicians treating cancer and blood clots must balance the risk of medical interventions with their life-saving benefits. Biopsies to collect tissue for testing, ablations to kill diseased cells, and surgery or catheters to remove blood clots are effective but they’re also invasive. New microrobots – smaller than the diameter of a human hair – could …

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crops

Research Spotlight: Helping crops talk back to stress and disease

College of Engineering

To help crops battle pests, disease, and environmental stress, farmers often turn to broad chemical sprays simply because plants have few natural defenses. Angela Chen, assistant professor in the Department of Chemical Engineering and Materials Science at Michigan State University, studies how microbes and plants naturally communicate. She then turns those insights into new ways for crops …

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AI

AI is a lab diamond’s best friend for semiconductors

MSU Today

Diamond is more than just a gemstone; it is the hardest natural substance on Earth with exceptional qualities for improving semiconductors — the materials used in electronics, electric vehicles and renewable energy technologies. Michigan State University has received a $3 million National Science Foundation grant as part of the NSF’s Future Manufacturing program in collaboration …

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BRCĒ

MSU student entrepreneurs land deal on ABC’s ‘Shark Tank’

MSU Today

Michigan State University student entrepreneurs Madhav Aggarwal and Tanvi Gadamsetti, co-founders of BRCĒ, secured a $300,000 investment during their appearance on ABC’s “Shark Tank,” which aired on March 4, 2026, bringing their student-built venture from campus to one of the largest stages for entrepreneurship. The deal came after the founders pitched their venture to the panel …

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