Henry Ford Health and Michigan State Launch $10m Innovation Hub

Henry Ford Health and Michigan State University Health Sciences jointly announced the creation of the Henry Ford + MSU Innovation Hub, a new initiative designed to accelerate the commercialization of emerging healthcare technologies. Backed by a $10 million venture fund, the collaboration aims to bridge the divide between academic research and practical clinical applications, to enhance care delivery, patient access, and healthcare experiences.

The Innovation Hub integrates the resources and expertise of Henry Ford Innovations and the MSU Research Foundation to support early-stage companies focused on advancing digital health, artificial intelligence, medical devices, diagnostics, and clinical workflow improvements. 

The founding partners have committed $10 million, with plans to invest approximately $2 million annually in promising healthcare startups over the next five years.

“This is so much more than investing in startups” said Bob Riney, president and CEO of Henry Ford Health. The Innovation Hub provided the opportunity of “transforming breakthrough ideas into real-world solutions that will shape the next era of medicine right here in our own ecosystem” he added. Similarly, Michigan State University President Kevin M. Guskiewicz emphasized the complexity of bringing innovations to market. “Our teams have long-standing track records of doing just that: turning promising innovations into market-ready solutions that improve lives and deliver real value” he said in a statement.

The initiative consists of three core components: clinical expertise offering technology assessment and access to pilot study sites; entrepreneurial support through networking and startup programming; and targeted venture investments to propel a new generation of healthcare companies.

This partnership is set against a broader effort to strengthen Michigan’s life sciences and innovation economy by fostering startup growth and encouraging market adoption of novel healthcare solutions. The Innovation Hub also aims to support clinicians and faculty in advancing their research into scalable applications.

Healthcare innovators and entrepreneurs interested in collaboration opportunities - including venture funding, clinical trials, and intellectual property co-development - are being encouraged to connect with the Innovation Hub via their website for more information.