GRAND RAPIDS – Grand Valley State University received $1 million in federal appropriations to expand its applied Medical Device Institute (aMDI) and provide new technologies that will better serve the medical innovation industry while expanding West Michigan’s economic footprint.
U.S. Rep. Peter Meijer, (R-Mich.), requested and received this funding, which was packaged into the 2022 Consolidated Appropriations Act signed by President Biden March 15.
GVSU President Philomena V. Mantella said Meijer’s leadership helps aMDI meet the university’s mission of serving the needs of its communities. aMDI was established in 2015 as a non-instructional unit of the Padnos College of Engineering and Computing.
“With Congressman Meijer’s leadership, aMDI will serve as a model of innovation that expands our reach into new ventures,” Mantella said. “This reflects Grand Valley’s historic role in forming public-private partnerships that serve as economic catalysts for West Michigan. Congressman Meijer has been forward-thinking in promoting education and economic development.”
Brent Nowak, executive director of aMDI, said the funds will help aMDI take on more projects from medical device developers, who might have turned elsewhere, and “allow us to make a broader impact on medical device technology in West Michigan.”
“What Peter Meijer has done for us plants a seed to grow this field of innovation and allows us to make an impact on medical device technology in West Michigan,” Nowak said.
Paul Plotkowski, dean of the Padnos College of Engineering and Computing, said Grand Valley students will also benefit.
“This funding will allow aMDI to expand both capabilities and capacity,” Plotkowski said. “This will mean supporting more companies in broader areas of product design and launch. Through this, we will be able to enrich the education of many more students through internships, cooperative education and graduate assistantships.”
aMDI: The applied Medical Device Institute at GVSU is an experiential learning environment, providing faculty and students with research opportunities and providing businesses with solutions for real-world, critical problems. Since it was established in 2015, aMDI has completed 40 projects for 26 clients.
