MSU Research Foundation Archives - MSU Innovation Center

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 …

Read More
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 …

Read More
mobility

Spartan science is making transportation safer

MSU Today

Every time you buckle up, there’s a good chance Michigan State University research is helping keep you safe. With more than 50 faculty across MSU Mobility and the College of Engineering, Spartan researchers are tackling transportation challenges from every angle, including safer roads, stronger vehicles, smarter infrastructure and secure autonomous systems. Using our campus as …

Read More
crops

Death Valley plant reveals blueprint for heat-resilient crops

MSU Today

In California’s Death Valley, where summer temperatures regularly soar above 120 degrees Fahrenheit, life seems almost impossible. Yet among the cracked earth and blinding sunlight, one native plant not only survives — it thrives. That plant, Tidestromia oblongifolia, has helped Michigan State University scientists uncover how life can flourish in extreme heat, revealing a potential …

Read More
Annual Report

Read the 2025 MSU Innovation Center Annual Report

Dear Innovators, Collaborators, and Friends of MSU,  Innovation is the driving force that shapes economies, elevates lives, and redefines the future. Thirteen years ago, the vision for the MSU Innovation Center was ambitious: to bring together brilliant minds, dedicated partners, and diverse communities to create an ecosystem where breakthrough ideas blossom into tangible solutions for …

Read More
plant

Decoding plants’ language of light

MSU Today

Researchers have revealed a previously unknown way plants shape their growth in response to light — a breakthrough that could better equip crops to handle environmental stress. In a first-of-its-kind finding, the team discovered how a compound that’s involved in plant metabolism can directly “reprogram” an unrelated light-sensing protein. This unexpected interaction, which was reported in the …

Read More
cisplatin

MSU’s cisplatin cancer drug wins national award

MSU Today

In 1965, a group of Michigan State University researchers accidentally discovered a new cancer-fighting drug: cisplatin. Since then, cisplatin has become the industry standard for cancer-fighting chemotherapy treatments. As announced today, MSU will receive a 2025 Golden Goose Award for the scientific success and global impact of cisplatin. The Golden Goose Award is meant to highlight the …

Read More
sciences

National Academy of Sciences elects 3 MSU faculty as new members

MSU Today

Three Michigan State University faculty members have been elected to the National Academy of Sciences this year. Christoph Benning, Jianguo “Jack” Liu and Philip Robertson are among the 120 members and 30 international members being recognized for their distinguished and continuing achievements in original research.  The National Academy of Sciences was established in 1863 by an Act of Congress, signed by President Abraham Lincoln, as a private, nongovernmental institution to advise the nation on issues related …

Read More
Ken Foster wearing a dark grey suit with a grey backdrop Technology Manager

Welcoming new Technology Manager Ken Foster to the Innovation Center

Ken Foster joined the Michigan State University Innovation Center as a Technology Manager in May of 2025, carrying with him over 25 years of product and technology platform development experience from industry leaders including Dow Chemical, GE, and GE legacy organizations. In his role, Ken helps manage intellectual property generated by MSU faculty, working to …

Read More
Back To Top