Mission & Pillars
OVERVIEW
Our mission and pillars define the core of our work, outlining both what we do and how we do it. The Strategic Pillars focus on funding research, fostering entrepreneurship, and creating spaces for collaboration, while the Enabling Pillars ensure we have the resources, talent, and communication strategies needed to make a lasting impact.
MISSION
Our Mission is to support the Michigan State University ecosystem with resources that increase the impact of research and innovation.
STRATEGIC PILLARS
Our Strategic Pillars are our core areas of focus. They define WHAT we do to carry out our mission and achieve our vision:
1. Discovery: We contribute over $15 million annually to Michigan State University through grants that support research across multiple disciplines, driving Spartan discoveries and advancements.
2. Innovation: We curate programming and investments that provide entrepreneurs with the resources and guidance needed to develop and scale their ventures.
3. Connection: We create environments for collaboration, including research parks, industry partnerships, and annual industry-specific summits, fostering connections among entrepreneurs, researchers, and businesses to collaborate and share expertise.
ENABLING PILLARS
Our Enabling Pillars are our core areas of expertise. They define HOW we carry out our mission and achieve our vision:
4. Practical Endowment Management: Our work is made possible through the stewardship of a flexible and sustainable endowment, nourished by over 50 years of licensing revenues and investment returns. Our practical management of this fund ensures long-term resources to support innovation, entrepreneurship, and research impact.
5. Talented Team and Positive Culture: Our success relies on a collaborative, innovative, and growth-driven team. We value partnerships, celebrate milestones, and embrace continuous learning to tackle challenges. By prioritizing results and measuring impact, we ensure that every effort contributes to achieving our mission and making a lasting difference in the world around us.
6. Consistent and Engaging Communication: We extend the impact of our work by communicating with clarity and purpose. Our approach is to be ENGAGING (ensuring the right people connect with our work and take meaningful action), CONSISTENT (maintaining a clear and credible voice across all touchpoints), and SUSTAINABLE (creating lasting momentum through a collaborative team approach).