Partnership between two of Michigan’s R1 research universities targets innovations that serve national security and strengthen communities

LANSING, Mich. — Michigan State University (MSU) and Michigan Technological University have entered into a new agreement to advance research in dual-use technologies — innovations developed to address national security challenges that also create broad benefits for society. Both universities are members of Research Universities for Michigan (RU4M), an alliance of Michigan’s four R1 public research universities that also includes the University of Michigan and Wayne State University.

“Some of the technologies we rely on every day began as solutions to national security challenges. The internet, GPS, broadband wireless communications, advanced semiconductor technologies, memory foam, and autonomous systems are all examples of innovations that have improved lives far beyond their original applications,” said Andrew Barnard, vice president for research at Michigan Tech. “Through this agreement, Michigan Tech and Michigan State are creating new opportunities to advance the next generation of dual-use technologies.”

“No single institution can address today’s most complex national security challenges alone,” said Shashank Priya, vice president for research and innovation at MSU. “By combining the strengths of Michigan State and Michigan Tech, we can accelerate the development of dual-use technologies with applications that extend from national security to health, energy, manufacturing, and other sectors that shape daily life. This collaboration aligns closely with Michigan State’s National Security Initiative and our commitment to advancing research that serves both the nation and the public good.”

Both universities bring deep experience turning federally funded research into real-world benefits. Between 2021 and 2025, RU4M universities received more than $390 million in defense-funded research awards spanning not only engineering and computing but also medicine, agriculture, natural resources, and the natural and social sciences. Recent examples from MSU and Michigan Tech include:

  • Stronger, lighter building materials: With funding from the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) Waste Upcycling for Defense program, Michigan Tech researchers are using wood-decay fungi to turn leftover wood waste into a lightweight material about as strong as steel. The material could offer a renewable alternative to steel and concrete in construction.
  • Longer-lasting ocean sensors: Through DARPA’s BioLogical Undersea Energy (BLUE) program, Michigan Tech researchers are developing a self-refueling power supply that uses microbes in seawater to generate electricity. The technology could keep environmental sensors tracking ocean ecology and wildlife in the water longer, with fewer battery replacements.
  • Autonomous mobility: Through a long-standing partnership with the U.S. Army Ground Vehicle Systems Center, MSU is conducting a five-year mobility research initiative, launched in 2023, to develop lightweight, all-terrain autonomous vehicles. The research also has civilian applications, including passenger vehicles, advanced batteries and structural health monitoring systems.
  • Diamond-based electronics: A new $20 million National Science Foundation grant will support MSU’s Integrated Diamond and Carbon Research in Space Applications (IDiCaRS) facility, which will test semiconductor technologies built to withstand the extreme conditions of space as part of a long-running on-campus collaboration with the Fraunhofer USA Center for Coatings and Diamond Technologies. Great Lakes Crystal Technologies, an MSU faculty startup, is also developing synthetic diamond materials for next-generation semiconductors used in both commercial electronics and government applications.

 

The agreement reflects a broader push across RU4M to expand collaboration among Michigan’s public research universities, whose impact already reaches every part of the state.

According to an independent analysis by Anderson Economic Group, RU4M universities generated $35.8 billion in net new economic activity statewide in fiscal year 2024 — more than 35 times the state’s annual appropriation to the universities — and supported more than 100,000 jobs. That total includes $3.46 billion in academic research activity largely funded by federal and industry sources outside Michigan. Research funding at RU4M universities supported 28,663 students, faculty, post-graduate researchers and staff in fiscal year 2024, building the talent pipeline Michigan employers depend on.

“Michigan’s research universities are solving problems that matter to people across our state,” said Britany Affolter-Caine, executive director of RU4M. “When our universities work together, Michigan taxpayers get more from every research dollar, and our state becomes a stronger competitor for the federal and industry investment that creates jobs here at home.”