The University of Michigan-Flint has secured its largest research grant ever: $3.3 million over five years from the National Science Foundation’s GRANTED initiative. This significant funding boost will enhance UM-Flint’s research capabilities, paving the way for new industry partnerships and student research opportunities. The initiative aims to develop a skilled workforce, attracting advanced manufacturing and technology companies to Flint.
GRANTED, short for Growing Research Access for Nationally Transformative Equity and Diversity, strives to remove systemic barriers in the research sector by boosting research support and service capacity. The NSF program supports the development of infrastructure for improved research and partnerships.
The NSF grant was awarded after efforts by principal investigators Ken Sylvester and Mohamed Wiem Mkaouer from the College of Innovation and Technology. They were supported by ORED’s Sara Barton and CIT professors Tim Bates and Ed Kim.
UM-Flint is recognized as an anchor institution with comprehensive offerings. The GRANTED initiative allows the university to form innovative partnerships, enhancing its value. “Our grant proposal was focused on the niche that regional public universities occupy in the American economic landscape,” said Sylvester.
GRANTED funds will enable ORED to appoint a research development officer, a research administrator, and a community engagement officer. These new roles will support faculty in research development and partnership-building.
Mkaouer stated that the grant is a chance for CIT and the university to adopt a research-focused mindset. “Our goal is to cultivate a robust research culture focused on mentorship,” he said. By connecting faculty with industry leaders, the university anticipates a rise in research activity.
With the GRANTED award, NSF supports UM-Flint’s path toward becoming a research-active university. In fiscal year 2024, the campus received 20 research awards, increasing research funding from $1.3 million to $4.6 million. In fiscal year 2025, starting in July 2024, UM-Flint received $6.2 million in research awards and $5.3 million in training grants, setting a new standard for place-based innovation.
“GRANTED is ultimately about building research capacity,” Mkaouer said. “You can’t build such capacity without first having the potential to do so, and in awarding us this historic grant, the NSF has made it clear that they recognize that potential in UM-Flint.”
For more details, visit the websites of ORED, CIT, or NSF’s GRANTED initiative.
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