CMU boosts research efforts with industry partnerships

Central Michigan University is launching an effort to use partnerships between researchers and industry to support scientific research. The initiative, called a Translational Accelerator, is designed to benefit faculty research, prepare students to be workforce-ready and advance economic growth.

Administered by the CMU Research Corporation, the Translational Accelerator aims to forge partnerships with industries to spawn innovations through research while creating a strong economic engine for the region.

The accelerator also helps address challenges resulting from shifts in federal funding that could limit student and faculty research.

By partnering with business leaders, CMU provides experiential learning opportunities while creating a new revenue stream through service contracts. These partnerships go beyond traditional internships or senior projects, offering students working in faculty labs problem-solving experience that prepares them for success.

“This initiative creates opportunities for researchers and businesses to work together on real-world challenges,” CMURC President and CEO Erin Strang said. “By aligning academic capabilities with industry needs, we’re not only driving strategic research but also delivering real economic value to our region and preparing students for high-impact careers.”

CMU President Neil MacKinnon is excited to launch the Translational Accelerator, expecting it will help build a future-ready workforce by tapping into CMU’s advanced research and development capabilities to move academic discoveries more quickly from the lab to the marketplace.

“Central Michigan University is committed to reimagining what public research institutions can do for society,”  MacKinnon said. “The Translational Accelerator strengthens our mission by creating more hands-on learning opportunities for students, supporting our faculty in their innovative pursuits, and ensuring that CMU research continues to make an impact well beyond campus.”

CMU’s Translational Accelerator is the result of the highly collaborative work of an action team that helped shape the initiative. It includes representatives from CMURC, the University Transformation Office, Innovation and Online, Government Relations and the Office of General Council.

Supporting the accelerator’s work is a group of Innovation Ambassadors consisting of faculty representing a wide variety of disciplines. The inaugural group of 18 ambassadors is charged with driving a mindset shift across campus to promote entrepreneurial thinking and real-world uses for research.

College of Science and Engineering faculty member Anthony Chappaz will lead the Innovation Ambassadors and serve as Chief Scientific Officer for CMURC. The role creates an entry point for the private sector to engage with CMU faculty and develop partnerships.

Along with generating a funding source for research, Chappaz said the Translational Accelerator will contribute greatly to student success.

“CMU students will have the opportunity to join a research group working on solving a societal need, interact with industrial partners, acquire new skills not necessarily taught in classrooms, and ultimately increase their chance to secure their professional dream job.”