Research Universities for Michigan (RU4M), an alliance of Michigan State University, the University of Michigan and Wayne State University, today released a new series of analyses from the Institute for Research on Innovation and Science (IRIS) that highlight the significant economic impact and employment opportunities resulting from research conducted by RU4M universities, as well as their contributions to various sectors and communities within the state and across the nation.
On average from 2020 to 2023, RU4M universities employed over 27,000 people each year on federal and non-federal research grants — 42% of these individuals were students and 17% were faculty. In 2023, the majority of those employed — 24,900 people — were working on federally funded research grants.
RU4M universities’ federal and non-federal research generated over $1 billion in spending on research-related goods and services in Michigan during FY 2020 – 2023. Purchases from vendors in Washtenaw County exceeded $415.6 million, making it the top-ranking county in the state.
In 2022, RU4M universities spent $19.3 million with more than 500 small businesses, $10.4 million with woman-owned businesses, and $6.9 million with minority-owned businesses. More than 490 woman-owned or minority-owned businesses sold goods and services to the universities to support research.
“These numbers tell the story of how RU4M universities’ research activities are contributing to job creation and spending in the state and national economy,” said RU4M Executive Director Britany Affolter-Caine. “In addition to technological discoveries that lead to greater competitiveness of our industries and improvements to residents’ lives, RU4M research activities directly employ individuals, stimulate demand for goods and services, facilitate industry partnerships, develop advanced talent who launch careers in the state, and leverage federal funding to drive economic growth and innovation.”
“IRIS helps universities share the tangible ways their research work improves jobs, businesses, and careers in their states,” said IRIS Executive Director, Jason Owen-Smith. “Here in Michigan, research universities improve people’s lives in ways that can sometimes be hard to see, but information like this helps make those contributions more visible. Michiganders are fortunate to have three of the world’s best research universities in our backyard. We want to help everyone understand how that makes life better for all of us, not just through critical scientific advances but also by helping to drive everyday economic and social investments in every county in the state.”
The 2023 RU4M Economic Impact Report shows that for every dollar that the state has invested in RU4M institutions, the RU4M has put back $24 into the state economy through not only research but also its education and innovation activities, jobs created and in-state spending of its 152,000 students and 755,000 resident alumni. The three RU4M universities conduct $2.87 billion in research and development annually, much in areas of critical importance to Michigan residents and key industries.
RU4M universities graduate significantly more professionals into the medical field than any other university research cluster — more than its peers in Massachusetts, and northern and southern California. Last year, the RU4M granted more than 2,500 medical degrees for the fourth year in a row. The RU4M also leads the nation in several degree fields that are important for advanced manufacturing jobs, including electrical and computer engineering, and business administration management.