Division of Research & Innovation - Wayne State University

Tackling society's Grand Challenges - together

Researchers and students in the community showing their research in action

Bold, purpose-driven discovery

Wayne State’s Grand Challenges initiative unites researchers, students and partners to confront the most pressing issues facing society today — health, artificial intelligence, sustainable environments and smart mobility. Together, these teams turn bold ideas into real-world solutions, developing new therapies that improve lives, advancing ethical and powerful AI tools, designing sustainable urban neighborhoods, and creating technologies that make movement safer and smarter. From the heart of Detroit, they create solutions that shape the future of our city — and the world beyond.

Explore the Grand Challenges

Research facts

432

Wayne State has 432 patents issued (U.S. and foreign) since FY15.

$291.7 million

Wayne State reported $291.7 million in research expenditures in FY24

$94.4 million

NIH awards rose nearly 11% from FY17 to FY24

75th

Ranked 75th by NSF among public research universities for R&D expenditures in FY24

Key research areas spotlight

Big Data

Big data is the bridge to the next wave of innovation and growth. At Wayne State, researchers are using big data science and business analytics with a strong focus on solving real-life business problems in active collaboration with regional industry while leveraging core strengths and research interests. Big data management and big data analytics require a slew of advanced concepts, tools, and technologies and a close collaboration among an interdisciplinary team of subject matter experts. Wayne State researchers have extensive experience in successfully delivering and leading a variety of big data and business analytics projects and initiatives across several industries such as healthcare, manufacturing and automotive, retail and government.

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