The University of Massachusetts Amherst

University of Massachusetts Amherst University of Massachusetts Amherst
Female researcher in a lab

Innovation & Impact

REVOLUTIONARY RESEARCH

At UMass Amherst, you’ll find a community of innovators proudly committed to translating cutting-edge research into real-world impact—from discoveries that advance medicine and technology to efforts to confront pressing social challenges and adapt to the effects of climate change. Here, researchers partner with government, nonprofits, and industry alike to serve the Commonwealth and the common good.

From Lab to Market

Explore some of the inventions coming out of UMass research labs, which are helping to drive our economy forward.

Three co-founders of florrent in UMass lab
Keeping the Lights on During the Energy Transition
wafer with metalenses
Blazing a Trail for Massachusetts in Advanced Metaoptics
Close up of battery sample
Detoxifying Lithium-Ion Battery Manufacturing
E coli is a gram negative bacteria, part of human intestine microbiome, escherichia coli can cause food poisoning. Credit: Getty Images
Smartphone-Based Technology to Detect Bacteria Contamination

Real-World Impact

$231M

In Research Awards (FY25)

$7.6M

In Awards from Private Industry (FY25)

~120

Industry Research Partnerships Annually

#1

Public Research University in New England
Funding Awarded by National Science Foundation

6

of the World's Most Highly Cited Researchers
(Clarivate Analytics, 2025)

4

of the Best Scientists in the World
(Research.com, 2024)

Bringing Revolutionary Breakthroughs Out Into the World

How do UMass Amherst researchers bring inventions and research discoveries to the marketplace? The university has a robust innovation and entrepreneurship ecosystem to help at every step along the way.

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Image of man wearing lab coat and gloves in lab, looking up at an object in his hand.

A Powerful Economic Engine

$2.9B

Annual Economic Impact
On Massachusetts Economy

7-1

Return on State Investment

R1

University With "Very High Research Activity"

Partnering with Industry

UMass Amherst researchers regularly collaborate with private companies large and small, such as Amazon, Apple, Embr Labs, BASF, PUMA, and Saint-Gobain. Our Charles River Campus is a hub of research-industry collaboration and student-focused experiential learning, where academic programs align with high-demand areas while internships, co-ops, and practicums offer students meaningful real-world experience and industry connections. 

Explore the UMass Innovation Institute (UMII)
Mount Ida campus

Institute for Applied Life Sciences

UMass's Institute for Applied Life Sciences (IALS) fosters the creation and advancement of new ventures and product candidates based on discoveries from faculty, students, and collaborators. By translating fundamental research into innovative products, technologies, and services, IALS is advancing human health and well-being while strengthening Massachusetts’ innovation ecosystem.  
 

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Researchers at the ADDFab Core Facility
$8M

External Grants and Investment to Startups 
Funded by Manning IALS Seed Grants 

50+

Startup Companies Supported by IALS

$6M

NSF Accelerating Research Translation Award (2024) 

A Proud History of Research Breakthroughs

Since its founding as an agricultural college in 1863, UMass Amherst has been driving progress in society through impactful research discoveries, innovations, and trailblazing programs. Explore important milestones in this interactive timeline of research breakthroughs. 

Explore the Timeline
Black and white photo of a man and woman researcher in a UMass engineering lab

Support UMass Amherst's Research Mission

Consider a Gift

Learn how your gift can help sustain UMass Amherst research to benefit society, from finding cures to devastating diseases to developing a more sustainable global food supply, safer technology, cleaner water, and more equitable access to education and social mobility.

Ways to Give

KEEP EXPLORING

Technology Transfer Office
UMass Innovation Institute
University of Massachusetts Press