Michigan is a state defined by its natural abundance and resilience. Our lakes, rivers and forests are woven into our identity, our economy and our future. Yet, this abundance also comes with responsibility. Communities across Michigan are facing mounting challenges: flooding in Detroit neighborhoods, failing dams in Midland, harmful algal blooms in Lake Erie, and pressures on our energy and transportation systems. Climate change, population shifts and economic disruption are no longer distant possibilities; they are realities shaping our present. At Research Universities for Michigan (RU4M), we believe the solutions to these challenges — and the opportunities they present — begin with collaboration.
Britany Affolter-Caine – URC Executive Director Research Universities for Michigan
RU4M brings together four of the nation’s top research institutions: Michigan State University, Michigan Technological University, the University of Michigan, and Wayne State University. Together, we represent one of the most research-intensive coalitions in the country, uniquely positioned to advance sustainability, innovation, and prosperity across our state and the Great Lakes region. For the RU4M universities, sustainability is a top priority, recognized as such by presidents, researchers, staff, and students alike. While acknowledging the significant challenges posed by current environmental and resource issues, the university community understands that the myriad technologies and talents required to build a sustainable future also represent a considerable economic opportunity for today’s innovators.
This year, RU4M launched the Livable Futures Initiative, a bold effort to catalyze cross-disciplinary research that helps Michigan communities thrive. This initiative is about more than solving problems. It’s about imagining and building futures where Michigan leads the world in sustainable solutions, leveraging our unique assets: abundant freshwater, engineering and manufacturing expertise, and a deep culture of innovation.
Investing in Seed Grants for Change
As part of this initiative, RU4M recently announced the Livable Futures – Water Collaboration Grants, a $400,000 seed funding program to support innovative, interdisciplinary research across our universities. These projects will tackle some of the most urgent questions facing our state:
- How do we protect our lakes while meeting increased demand for potable water and wastewater management in growing cities and agricultural regions?
- What strategies will help us manage coastlines and low-lying communities vulnerable to flooding?
- How can we build a resilient “blue economy” that sustains shipping, energy, and fisheries while protecting ecosystems?
By design, these grants require collaboration across at least three RU4M universities, and preference is given to projects involving all four. This ensures we are not working in silos but instead leveraging the full breadth of expertise across institutions, whether in engineering, natural sciences, public health, or policy. Equally important, we are prioritizing projects that engage communities directly. Sustainability cannot be solved in labs alone. By incorporating stakeholder input from local governments, businesses, and residents, we can ensure the research is not just innovative but also practical, inclusive and responsive to Michigan’s real-world needs.
The Power of Collaboration
The scale of today’s challenges requires more than technical fixes. It demands new models of collaboration. Michigan’s four research universities collectively generate more than $1 billion in sustainability research every five years. By connecting these efforts, aligning agendas, and creating shared pathways for impact, RU4M multiplies the effect of every dollar invested. For example, Michigan State University is piloting bioreactors to reduce agricultural runoff. Michigan Technological University is developing new tools for resource management in tandem with engineering solutions. The University of Michigan is leading on water infrastructure resilience, while Wayne State researchers are working closely with Detroit communities on flooding solutions. Together, these efforts create a research ecosystem that protects the environment while fueling economic growth and job creation.
The idea that sustainability and economic prosperity need not be considered trade-offs and can, in fact, reinforce one another is what Matt Elliott, Blue Lakes Ideas Founder and former president of Bank of America Michigan, calls “The Power of &.” We agree and see examples in our work. Clean water protects public health, attracts families and businesses, and drives industries from recreation to shipping. Climate-smart infrastructure strengthens communities while reducing costly disasters. Innovation in clean energy and mobility not only generates environmental benefits but also drives the industries of the future.
Michigan’s Global Responsibility
Michigan sits at the center of one of the world’s greatest freshwater resources. Some have called us the “freshwater capital of the world.” But that abundance comes with responsibility. If managed wisely, Michigan can set the global standard for water innovation: how to protect, manage and leverage freshwater resources for both economic and environmental resilience.
This is not just about Michigan. Climate change and demographic shifts are already prompting families and businesses from across the country to look to the Great Lakes region as a place of stability and opportunity. With moderate weather, vast water resources, and strong infrastructure, Michigan could see significant population and investment growth in the coming decades. The question is whether we are ready. The Livable Futures Initiative is about ensuring that we are — not just reacting to challenges but leading with foresight.
Preparing the Next Generation
Another central goal of RU4M’s work is preparing students—the future leaders, scientists, and entrepreneurs who will carry this mission forward. Through incubators, accelerators, and entrepreneurial programs, RU4M universities are not only training students in cutting-edge research but also encouraging them to launch ventures that tackle sustainability challenges head-on. Already, one in five RU4M alumni become entrepreneurs, with many building startups in clean technology, advanced materials, and water innovation.
Equally, we are ensuring that university curricula reflect the skills industry needs. By listening to employers and aligning training with emerging fields, we are creating a talent pipeline ready to meet Michigan’s sustainability and economic development goals.
A Call to Action
The Sustainable Urban Design Summit provides an ideal backdrop for these conversations. This gathering of researchers, practitioners, policymakers, and community leaders underscores a central truth: no single sector can build livable futures alone. We need collaboration across institutions, across industries, and across communities.
Michigan has the assets, the talent, and the drive to lead the global conversation on sustainability. But leadership requires action. It requires investing in research and innovation today to secure the future we want for our children and grandchildren.
The Livable Futures Initiative is RU4M’s commitment to that future. It is an investment not only in Michigan’s resilience, but also in its prosperity and its role as a global leader. Together with universities, policymakers, businesses, and communities working hand in hand, we can ensure that Michigan’s future is not only livable but thriving.
