WMU secures $5.3M to boost Michigan innovation and biotech growth

Contact: Erin Flynn

July 30, 2025

Scientific test tubes filled with blue liquid stand up in the foreground while a scientist looks into a microscope in the background. — Western's Biosciences Research and Commercialization Center has played a vital role for more than two decades in supporting early-stage biotech startups and advancing life science discovery across the state.

KALAMAZOO, Mich.—Michigan is ramping up investments in growing the economy, and Western Michigan University is among those leading the charge. WMU’s Biosciences Research and Commercialization Center (BRCC) earned a $5.3 million award as part of the inaugural cohort of the Michigan Innovation Fund.

“Michigan is a state of makers and doers, and we established the bipartisan Michigan Innovation Fund to unleash their entrepreneurial energy and keep growing our economy,” says Gov. Gretchen Whitmer.

Established by a series of bipartisan bills in January, the Michigan Innovation Fund allocated a total of $60 million to eight early-stage and emerging venture funds across the state. This investment in the BRCC strengthens WMU’s commitment to supporting high-tech startups, advancing life sciences and fueling economic growth across the state.

“The creation of, and funding from, the Michigan Innovation Fund is an essential element of an economic growth strategy that invites the best, most creative minds to learn and grow in Michigan as well as stay here and scale while minimizing costs and maximizing efficiency,” says Steve Haakenson, executive director of the BRCC.

Since its establishment in 2003, the BRCC has invested over $20 million in 66 startups, leveraging an additional $710 million from other investors for those companies. The center’s portfolio includes everything from medical device and pharmaceutical startups to health care information technology and service operations.

“Western Michigan University’s Biosciences Research and Commercialization Center has been playing a vital role in advancing Michigan’s economic ecosystem and helping our entrepreneurs thrive for more than two decades, taking a proactive approach to industry partnerships and encouraging collaboration to enrich our community," says Dr. Remzi Seker, vice president for research and innovation at Western.

The Michigan Economic Development Corporation says it hopes this inaugural Michigan Innovation Fund investment will be the first of many to grow the state’s entrepreneurial potential.

“Southwest Michigan has been a hub for bioscience innovation for decades—home to industry giants like Upjohn, Stryker and Pfizer," Seker says. “We have an amazing opportunity at Western to invest in the next generation of promising entrepreneurs while also connecting them with our world-class faculty and a pipeline of talented students ready for hands-on, impactful research experiences.”

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