Michigan Initiative for Innovation and Entrepreneurship (MIIE) is an organization of Michigan’s fifteen public universities.  The purpose of MIIE is to collaboratively enable its members to positively impact the economy of the State of Michigan.  Working with a grant from the C.S. Mott Foundation, MIIE recently completed a pilot request for proposals focusing on three areas:

• Technology Commercialization
• Industry Engagement
• Talent Retention & Entrepreneurship Education

UM-Flint received funding for two proposals submitted in the Talent Retention & Entrepreneurship Education category.  Congratulations to Yener Kandogan, Brian Blume and Michael Stouder from the School of Management who received $76,500 for their “Entrepreneurship Education in Flint” proposal and Joel Rash and Renee Zientek from University Outreach who received $45,000 for their “Launch Pad” proposal. UMF was also represented in a collaborative proposal for an entrepreneurship internship initiative with Michigan State, Saginaw Valley and Central Michigan.  In total 20 awards were granted representing 13 of Michigan’s 15 universities.