University of Michigan’s Business Engagement Center (BEC)
The BEC, affiliated with the Office of the Vice President for Research and the Office of University Development, provides companies with a one-stop gateway to the various research, technology, education, facilities, and talent resources at U-M. Founded in 2007, the BEC maintains relationships with more than 1,000 companies, and is contacted by about 200 new companies each year. BEC-facilitated relationships can range from individual research projects to broader engagements, depending on the business need. One of the functions of the BEC is to work with schools and departments to encourage industry sponsorship of research at U-M. Another BEC initiative specifically aims to spur innovation and economic development in partnership with industry and government. For example, Boeing maintains a long-standing partnership with U-M, recruits from seven different U-M programs, provides support for 50 students, regularly sponsors student projects, and conducts research with four different departments.