Kalamazoo Times

Western Michigan University’s Biosciences Research and Commercialization Center (BRCC) has received a $5.3 million award from the Michigan Innovation Fund, as part of an initiative to support early-stage biotech startups and foster life science innovation in the state.

The Michigan Innovation Fund, created through bipartisan legislation in January, distributed a total of $60 million to eight venture funds across Michigan. The funding aims to strengthen high-tech startup development and promote economic growth.

“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,” said Gov. Gretchen Whitmer.

Steve Haakenson, executive director of the BRCC, emphasized the importance of this investment for the region’s economic strategy. “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,” he said.

Since its founding in 2003, BRCC has invested more than $20 million in 66 startups. These investments have attracted an additional $710 million from other investors for those companies. The center supports ventures ranging from medical devices and pharmaceuticals to healthcare information technology.

Dr. Remzi Seker, vice president for research and innovation at Western Michigan University, highlighted BRCC’s ongoing impact: “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.”

According to the Michigan Economic Development Corporation, this round of funding is expected to be just the beginning in efforts to expand entrepreneurial activity statewide.

Seker also noted Southwest Michigan's longstanding reputation for bioscience innovation: “Southwest Michigan has been a hub for bioscience innovation for decades—home to industry giants like Upjohn, Stryker and Pfizer. 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.”

More information about WMU news can be found at WMU News online.