WPI named only Research 1 institution in Central Mass., following years of investment in research and startups
Photo I Courtesy of Worcester Polytechnic Institute
Worcester Polytechnic Institute has been recognized as a Research 1 institution from the American Council on Education and the Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching.
In recognition of both its financial investment and doctorate production, Worcester Polytechnic Institute has been named a Research 1 institution by the national American Council on Education and the Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching.
To earn partnership’s highest classification, institutions must invest at least $50 million in total research spending with a minimum of 70 research doctorates awarded annually. During fiscal 2023, the university spent $66 million on research and awarded 88 doctoral degrees, according to a Thursday press release from WPI.
The Worcester school represented the sole Central Massachusetts institution to be named among the 187 institutions recognized nationwide, including 11 in Massachusetts, according to the list.
“This recognition is a real accomplishment for our entire community, especially our talented faculty members, students, and staff, who have demonstrated their excellence and commitment to high-impact research and innovation,” WPI President Grace Wang said in the release. “WPI’s research is expanding knowledge, enabling new solutions, and enriching the education of our students. I am thrilled to see WPI recognized nationally for its research achievements.”
WPI has made concerted efforts to invest in regional research and turn those efforts into business. In the past 10 years, the university’s research has resulted in 25 startups, including those in lithium-ion battery manufacturing and recycling, carbon-negative building materials, and AI in healthcare. These companies have raised $1.7 billion in capital and employ more than 500 employees, according to the release.
In 2024, WPI awarded more than $400,000 in seed funding to more than a dozen research development products including those for research centered on laser applications and creating innovative materials and applications of AI in bioengineering and mental health.
“Researchers across WPI are using these seed grants to set the stage for continued funding for groundbreaking discoveries with the potential to make tremendous positive impact in Worcester, Massachusetts, and the world,” Bogdan Vernescu, WPI vice president and vice provost for research and innovation, said in the release. “We expect these projects to result in bigger grants, an expanded research footprint involving faculty members across the campus, and an even greater economic impact on our community.”
Worcester’s Clark University and UMass Chan Medical School were named R2 institutions, a classification for schools that spend at least $5 million on research and award a minimum of 20 research doctorates annually.
The 10 other Massachusetts schools designated as R1 institutions include:
- Boston College in Chestnut Hill
- Boston University
- Brandeis University in Waltham
- Harvard University in Cambridge
- Massachusetts Institute of Technology in Cambridge
- Northeastern University in Boston
- Tufts University in Medford
- UMass Amherst
- UMass Boston
- UMass Lowell
Mica Kanner-Mascolo is a staff writer at Worcester Business Journal, who primarily covers the healthcare and diversity, equity, and inclusion industries.
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