LANSING, Mich. – April 9, 2018 – Michigan’s Research Universities for Michigan (RU4M)—an alliance of Michigan State University, the University of Michigan and Wayne State University—released its 11th annual benchmark report, which cites the RU4M as the best in the nation for awarding advanced degrees in medicine and biological science. On an annual basis, the RU4M measures its performance against the nation’s top research clusters making contributions and critical breakthroughs that power the nation and serve their respective regions.The Benchmark Report reinforces the RU4M’s commitment to Michigan and its local stakeholders as a willingness to benchmark itself against well-known, competitive university innovation clusters, such as California’s Silicon Valley, Massachusetts’ Route 128 and North Carolina’s Research Triangle. This year, Michigan’s RU4M makes the top three out of eight research clusters in the innovation power ranking, an index of key metrics for research universities, including talent development, innovation activity in performing research and development (R&D), and technology transfer activity.

Talent is critical to continued economic growth and vitality in Michigan’s top industry sectors. The RU4M is particularly competitive among its peer university research clusters in developing top talent in high demand fields for both four-year and advanced degrees. The RU4M ranked first for awarding advanced degrees in medicine and biological science. Medical education is important in the state where 42 percent of the state’s practicing physicians attended a RU4M medical school (Public Sector Consultants, 2013). Among its peer clusters, the RU4M also ranks first in student enrollment with nearly 155,000 undergraduate and graduate students, and second in degrees awarded – more than 35,000. Of these degrees awarded in 2016, nearly 11,500 were awarded in high-demand fields (computer science, engineering and business), which ranks the RU4M third among its peer clusters and positions Michigan to be nationally competitive.

Michigan is a top 10 state for conducting total academic R&D and federally-funded academic R&D, bringing in resources from the nation to drive not only technological discoveries, but also the businesses and jobs in the state that support the university research enterprise. Michigan’s national competitiveness is due primarily to the scale of research conducted at the RU4M institutions, which account for 92 percent of all academic R&D and 94 percent of all federally-funded academic R&D. Michigan’s RU4M conducted $2.3 billion in R&D in 2016, an increase of 53.8 percent since 2007—a growth rate that surpasses the national average for research universities and the average among its peer clusters.

The RU4M continued to increase its technology transfer outcomes. In 2016, the RU4M surpassed its five-year averages for all measures for patent and licensing activity, except licensing revenue. It ranked fourth in average annual number of patent grants, and third in licenses and options issued among its peer clusters. Over the past several years, the RU4M has developed and expanded incubators, small business and start-up support services, and grant programs for different stages of business development. The RU4M produced 20 start-ups in 2016, more than the most recent five-year average. Since 2002, the RU4M has cultivated 230 start-up companies, 81 of which have formed within the past five years—launching on average more than one new company every month.

“While many top institutions in the state are competing, RU4M is proud to work collaboratively to improve quality of life for the Great Lakes region while advancing knowledge at a global level,” said Britany Affolter-Caine, interim executive director for Michigan’s RU4M. “This report is our annual effort to serve our stakeholders in identifying the areas in which the RU4M is competitive, leads and has the potential to grow.”