From the President Fall 2017

Michigan State University’s thriving culture of innovation and entrepreneurship has deep roots in our land-grant mission. Our commitment to the entrepreneurial mindset can be seen in the courses we offer, the creative spaces we build, and our engagement in communities in Michigan and around the world.

We are building a dynamic ecosystem of entrepreneurship and innovation that engages with a robust and enthusiastic network of support, including faculty members, community partners, funders, investors, accelerators, and incubators. It’s an environment that supports students in any discipline who want to innovate, think, and do.

Across our colleges, MSU’s minor in entrepreneurship and innovation combines rigorous classroom learning with experiential, hands-on approaches that prepare students for success in a rapidly changing professional landscape. Most recently, we introduced even greater flexibility with the Entrepreneurship and Innovation Experiences Program, which empowers students to forge their own paths with the guidance of seasoned faculty.

Because innovation and entrepreneurship learning are not confined to the classroom, we have created spaces dedicated to student thinkers and problem solvers. Take a walk across campus and you’ll practically be able to hear the energy buzzing in the Hive, an “idea laboratory” in Wilson Hall, and crackling in the Hatch, an incubator located across from MSU on Grand River Avenue.

Each space provides around-the-clock access to resources for launching projects and growing startup companies. These spaces foster collaboration and team building, allowing for experimentation, success, and, yes, failure. At MSU, we want students to learn how to scale up ideas quickly and efficiently, equipping them to solve today’s problems while anticipating the challenges of tomorrow.

You’ll also find students representing their ideas—and MSU—at some of the top entrepreneurial competitions and conferences across the country, from South by Southwest Interactive in Austin, Texas, to Techweek in Chicago, and Detroit Startup Week.

The spirit of innovation is part of our MSU heritage. Today it remains a defining part of our culture, preparing students for the opportunities and challenges of tomorrow.

Lou Anna K. Simon, PhD

PRESIDENT, MICHIGAN STATE UNIVERSITY