Foundation donates $25 million to UW School of Engineering

Money will create new institute focused on advanced manufacturing, research

MADISON, Wis. — The University of Wisconsin-Madison’s School of Engineering received its biggest donation in history Monday.

The Grainger Foundation gave the school $25 million to create a new institute that will focus on advanced manufacturing and researching new materials that can help lower the cost of making products.

The School of Engineering will also be able to hire 25 new faculty members with the donation.

School of Engineering Dean Ian Robertson said the advances that will be made at the institute will spur economic growth in the United States.

“We will start three new research areas. We’ll hire clusters of faculty to go in those research areas, and hopefully that will position us well for the future,” Robertson said.

School of Engineering staff members said the additional programs and funding at the institute will give students and researchers a platform to explore and develop new concepts.