University Research Corridor

Michigan’s University Research Corridor (URC) is one of the nation’s top academic research clusters and the leading engine for innovation in Michigan and the Great Lakes region. An alliance of Michigan State University, the University of Michigan and Wayne State University, the URC focuses on increasing economic prosperity and connecting Michigan to the world. In 2015, the three URC universities produced $2.15 billion on research and development, granted degrees to more than 34,500 graduates and contributed $16.5 billion to Michigan’s economy. The URC has also cultivated 210 startup companies since 2002. Among the top eight United States academic research clusters to which the URC benchmarks itself each year, the URC ranked second in the Innovation Power Ranking, an index of R&D, talent, and technology transfer metrics. For the second year in a row, the URC has outperformed university innovation clusters in well-known regions such as North Carolina’s Research Triangle, California’s Silicon Valley, and Massachusetts’ Route 128 Corridor. The alliance makes Michigan attractive to business and talent by training the next generation of highly skilled, in demand workers, finding solutions through innovative research, and fostering an array of international business and academic partnerships.