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MICHIGAN STATE UNIVERSITY RESEARCH FOUNDATION
        50 YEARS OF IMPACT AND PARTNERSHIPS

        enabled GLCT to set up an office – an important part for   The Research Foundation’s venture team is geared
        winning federal grant support. Later, Red Cedar Ventures   towards providing support to startups at all stages of their
        and Michigan Rise participated in a very significant    development. Spartan Innovations works with faculty and
        way in GLCT’s second and third round of financing       students with an idea by providing programming and
        which enabled GLCT to set up their R&D laboratory at    consulting services as well as smaller amounts of funding.
        the Van Camp Incubator and to set up their Prototype    Once a startup has demonstrated it is ready to advance
        Manufacturing Plant in the Alliance Building, both      to the next level, Red Cedar Ventures can potentially
        properties owned by the Foundation.                     invest larger amounts of funding. Michigan Rise provides
                                                                additional funding options using funds from both the
        “We have a growing footprint in Michigan, and it has all   Foundation and MEDC.
        been enabled by MSU Research Foundation and support
        from others,” said Dr. Evans.                          “Every piece of it seems to feed into the other piece,” said
                                                                Cowen. “We now have many more angel funds we can
        Dr. Evans says the deep support provided by the MSU     tap into. We give them ideas. They give us ideas. It really
        Research Foundation goes well beyond the financing.     has grown into a supportive ecosystem that spreads
        They brought in consultants and introduced the GLCT     across those three entities.”
        team to key people. They also give regular seminars.
                                                                FOUNDATION REAL ESTATE
        “They helped us understand all the state and local vehicles   SPURS GROWTH
        for support,” said Dr. Evans. “Some would bring in funds   The Foundation owns and manages real estate holdings
        straight into the company and some would bring in       in and around the Michigan State University campus that
        funds through third parties. They continue to be a great   provide spaces for their startup companies and corporation
        supporter with regular calls and introductions to all sorts   innovations partners at Michigan State University. In the late
        of potential investors and business partners.”          1980s, the Research Foundation was charged with building




        MSU Research Foundation OVER THE YEARS

              1973: Board of Directors holds inaugural meeting at the Kellogg Center in East Lansing, establishing fundraising and support for
              faculty research projects as its primary focus. Foundation establishes banking with American Bank and Trust Company in Lansing
              and engages Ann Arbor Trust Company to oversee asset management.

                     1974: Introduction of Planned Giving provides a path for various donation methods including bequests, trusts, and
                     appreciated securities. Funding allocation is directed towards scientific research, exploration, and an artist-in-residence
                     program featuring the Julliard Quartet.
                                                1979: Foundation        1983: $114,000         1989: Neogen,
                                                receives its first royalty   Foundation grant   goes public on the
                                                check from Cisplatin,   results in the         Nasdaq exchange,
                                                a life-saving cancer    establishment of the   increasing value
                                                drug developed by       Center for Composite   of Foundation
                                                Barnett Rosenberg       Materials and          investment.
                                                and Loretta VanCamp.    Structures.






          1977: Dr. Wharton             1978: Foundation-         1982:                 1988:             1991:
         introduces the Capital         sponsored “Atlas of       Foundation makes      MSU               Himont
        Enrichment Campaign,            Michigan” publication     initial investment in   Board of        Advanced
       aimed at securing funds          sets the stage for        Neogen, a startup     Trustees          Materials
          for a new Performing          establishment of the      that aids in the      transfers 115     becomes
         Arts Center, enhanced          Cartographic Research     commercialization     acres of land to   the primary
          museum and library            and Spatial Analysis      of biotech research   the Foundation    tenant in the
      facilities, and establishing      Center. Further funding   findings from MSU,    to facilitate     new University
             endowed chairs.            supports an international   part of the Biotech   creation of a   Corporate
                                        study focused on          Corporation Plan.     research park.    Research Park.
                                        anti-cancer drugs.


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