The University of Michigan achieved its strongest year on record for research commercialization in fiscal year 2025, reporting sharp increases in invention disclosures, licensing activity, startup creation, and capital fundraising. The results reflect the continued expansion of U-M’s innovation ecosystem, driven by researchers, faculty, and the university’s Innovation Partnerships office.
U-M researchers generated 673 invention reports during the fiscal year that ended June 30, surpassing the previous record of 615. They also executed 326 license and option agreements with industry, an increase of more than 50 agreements from the year before and the highest total in the university’s history.
The pace of startup formation also accelerated. Thirty-one new companies were launched to advance U-M technologies into society, marking only the second time the university has exceeded 30 launches in a single year. These startups represent a broad mix of sectors, including diabetes management, digital security, athletic performance, and early childhood education.
Innovation Partnerships, the central office supporting research commercialization, announced the full-year results ahead of the annual Celebrate Invention event scheduled for September 24. The organization highlighted the data as evidence of both scale and momentum across U-M’s research and innovation landscape.
Industry collaboration remained an essential driver of growth. The Corporate and Foundation Research Alliances unit, which recently expanded its scope, provided relationship development and negotiation support for 135 new corporate-sponsored research agreements. These agreements totaled $32.9 million and formed a meaningful portion of the $170.6 million in corporate research awards received across the broader U-M research enterprise. The unit’s structural expansion earlier in the year was designed to strengthen U-M’s competitiveness in securing external funding from corporate and philanthropic partners.
U-M startups recorded significant progress in attracting outside capital, raising more than $663 million across fundraising rounds and liquidity events. Three companies completed IPOs or related offerings, including Ascentage Biopharma, which in January conducted the largest transaction with a NASDAQ listing, raising more than $126 million.
Innovation Partnerships also continued to support U-M entrepreneurs through the Accelerate Blue Fund, the university’s evergreen venture fund. The AB Fund expanded its portfolio to 30 companies during the year following investments in nine new U-M startups. Backed by donor contributions and university support, the fund now manages $16.1 million in assets to advance early-stage technologies toward market readiness.
The university described each invention report, startup formation, and funding milestone as a step toward translating research into solutions that improve lives, strengthen Michigan’s innovation economy, and contribute to global scientific and technological advancement.
KEY QUOTES:
“University of Michigan researchers and faculty are some of the best in the country and are continually developing innovative ways to solve some of today’s greatest problems.”
“The team at Innovation Partnerships is dedicated to helping our researchers leverage their discoveries into products and services that help people outside our campus walls. I’ve seen how the team operates firsthand, constantly evolving to meet the needs of university researchers and working to make a positive difference in people’s lives.”
Arthur Lupia, U-M Vice President For Research And Innovation
“Each invention report we receive and every startup we launch represents a critical step in transforming publicly funded research into real-world impact that improves and even saves lives.”
“The record-breaking results from FY 2025 are a testament to the exceptional talent of our U-M research community and to the industry partners, investors and entrepreneurs who collaborate with us to turn these innovations into products, services and companies that are shaping a better future for Michigan and beyond.”
Kelly Sexton, Associate Vice President For Research-Innovation Partnerships And Economic Impact
