U News | The University of Arizona reported record number of inventions in FY25
The Polsky Center for Entrepreneurship and Innovation names a new Assistant Vice President for Technology Ventures.
From the University of South Carolina Aiken:
A new research center at the University of South Carolina Aiken (USC Aiken) boasts a mini data center for running artificial intelligence experiments, a two-stories-tall room for massive projects, and a biomaterials manufacturing lab. Soon, a fleet of robots will operate inside.
The 63,000-square-foot building, called the Advanced Manufacturing Collaborative, is designed to provide everything needed for the nation’s nuclear scientists and business leaders to work together on technological breakthroughs.
The project is a partnership between the federal energy and nuclear agency’s nearby Savannah River National Laboratory and the state’s largest college system. USC Aiken provided the property. The federal government footed the bill.
From the University of Arizona:
The University of Arizona (U of A) reported more inventions in fiscal year 2025 than ever before, making this its most inventive year for the second year in a row, according to Tech Launch Arizona (TLA), the university office that commercializes inventions stemming from university research and innovation. This past year saw the U of A community generate 324 invention disclosures, up from the 2024 record of 307.
“We measure the university’s inventiveness and engagement by invention disclosures,” said Doug Hockstad, TLA’s Associate Vice President. “Each time an employee – whether they’re a faculty member, researcher, graduate student, or other staff member – comes to our team with an invention, they fill out a simple form, and that’s when the commercialization process begins.”
Along with a record level of invention disclosures, TLA also had 94 patents issued and executed 86 licenses and options. Those licenses generate royalties that come back to the university each time a licensee sells a product. In fiscal year 2025, U of A inventions generated $12.1 million in royalties and other income, including from the acquisition of U of A start-up Neuro-ID by the global credit firm Experian.
TLA also helped launch 13 start-ups in the past year based on inventions ranging from cancer therapies to solar towers that dry food waste.
From Michigan State University:
Michigan State University (MSU) announced its latest partnership with Apple, the Apple Manufacturing Academy, that will open August 19 in Detroit’s First National Building.
“Michigan State University’s continued partnership with Apple brings about this next opportunity to help solve the world’s problems through innovative solutions and community outreach,” said MSU President Kevin M. Guskiewicz. “MSU’s expertise in supply chain, logistics, engineering, and packaging, coupled with our commitment to be an industry leader in artificial intelligence advancements, will bring much-needed support and skill development to this essential industry in the birthplace of American manufacturing.”
“We’re thrilled to welcome companies from across the country to the Apple Manufacturing Academy starting next month,” said Sabih Khan, Apple’s Chief Operating Officer. “Apple works with suppliers in all 50 states because we know advanced manufacturing is vital to American innovation and leadership. With this new programming, we’re thrilled to help even more businesses implement smart manufacturing so they can unlock amazing opportunities for their companies and our country.”
The new Apple Manufacturing Academy is open to companies nationwide. It is comprised of Apple engineers and experts from Michigan State University who will consult with small- and medium-sized businesses on how they can implement artificial intelligence and smart manufacturing techniques.
From Rowan University:
The New Jersey Economic Development Authority (NJEDA) announced it will partner with Rowan University to create a new multi-location Strategic Innovation Center (SIC) in Camden and Mullica Hill.
The SIC, operated by Plug and Play, will support the research, development and commercialization of novel medical technologies and devices, serving as an accelerator for South Jersey’s burgeoning medtech ecosystem. The SIC will have locations in Camden and at Rowan University’s West Campus in Mullica Hill, serving as a world-class accelerator for early-stage companies and promoting overall scientific collaboration in the region.
Cooper University Health Care will serve as the anchor commercial affiliate, and Garden State Venture Partners (GSVP) will invest in select participating accelerator companies. The SIC will support early stage ideas emerging from southern New Jersey labs and pull companies from across the region into the state, helping to provide specialized lab space to meet the needs of companies that might otherwise be forced to seek expansion outside New Jersey.
From Fordham University:
The New York City Economic Development Corporation (NYCEDC) announced that Fordham University is the inaugural awardee of the Greenlight Innovation Fund, a $50 million program that is driving development in the future-focused sectors of the life sciences, green economy, and advanced technology.
The Greenlight Innovation Fund supports projects which generate good-paying jobs, support commercialization of technologies in future-focused sectors, and catalyze an ecosystem of entrepreneurs with a focus on equity. Fordham will receive $3 million dollars from the Fund, as well as support from additional funds, including a $1.1 million grant from Councilman Oswald Feliz, to create the Bronx Green Job Center (BGJC), a first-of-its kind collaborative workforce development and entrepreneurship hub that will create an equitable green-job pipeline in the heart of the Bronx.
The Greenlight Innovation Fund advances New York City’s Green Economy Action Plan, launched in February of 2024, and aims to supercharge the economy, spark cutting-edge innovation, and support nearly 400,000 jobs by 2040. Additionally, the Greenlight Innovation Fund follows through on a commitment from the “New” New York Panel’s Making New York Work for Everyone Action Plan, to support and accelerate the equitable growth of future-focused sectors.
From Miami University of Ohio:
Miami University has been awarded a $1.5 million Workforce Safety Innovation Center (WSIC) grant from the Ohio Bureau of Workers’ Compensation to launch the Safety Immersion and Gamified Hazard Training (SIGHT) for Industry 5.0 Workers.
The Farmer School of Business at Miami University and the Advanced Manufacturing Workforce and Innovation Hub in Hamilton are collaborating to revolutionize safety training for Ohio’s manufacturing workers. The innovative project combines artificial intelligence (AI), virtual reality (VR), and augmented reality (AR) to reduce preventable workplace injuries across one of Ohio’s largest employment sectors.
The SIGHT initiative aims to transform safety training by creating personalized and continuously accessible gamified modules that adapt to each worker’s skill level and work environment. Starting this month, the two-year program will develop complementary VR and AR platforms designed to change how workers recognize and respond to workplace hazards as well as increase job readiness.
From the University of Chicago:
Heather Walsh recently joined the Polsky Center for Entrepreneurship and Innovation as the Assistant Vice President for Technology Ventures.
A seasoned leader in innovation and commercialization, she brings a wealth of experience across academia, industry, and the start-up ecosystem. Walsh joins the Polsky Center after spending several years in leadership roles at Astellas, mHUB, and Baxter, where she worked at the intersection of research, business development, and strategic partnerships to drive early-stage innovation.
She is also deeply familiar with the University of Chicago, having previously spent nearly a decade at the Polsky Center helping to build the University’s technology commercialization pipeline, launch new internship and funding programs, and deepen industry engagement. Walsh completed a Ph.D. in Neurobiology, Pharmacology, and Cell Physiology from the University.
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