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From Lab to Market: How Arizona’s Higher Education Institutions Are Fueling MedTech Innovation

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Arizona’s universities are more than centers of education. They are catalysts for driving breakthroughs in smart medical devices that are enabled by semiconductors, microelectronics, AI, and other emerging sensors and data tools.


From fundamental discoveries that shape the future of closed-loop medical devices to launching new ventures, they’re bridging research, training, and entrepreneurship to fuel innovation in the Greater Phoenix’s MedTech ecosystem.


Through industry partnerships, cutting-edge research and global collaborations, institutions like Arizona State University (ASU), University of Arizona (U of A), Northern Arizona University (NAU) Grand Canyon University (GCU), and Creighton University are positioning Arizona as a national leader in technology-enabled growth. 


These institutions bridge academic research and industry, driving Arizona’s economic growth and global competitiveness. University research and development has an important role in fueling innovation, as well as the local economy.


“The strength of our nation’s economy is directly tied to the strength of our educational institutions,” said economist and former U.S. Treasury Secretary Larry Summers, the keynote speaker at the LIFT AZ 2025 symposium. “Universities are the engines of innovation and an economic necessity for maintaining our global leadership.”


As catalysts, Arizona universities bring together researchers, students and industry. With cutting-edge research labs and projects, university teams produce real-world solutions that benefit communities and drive economic gains. 


Why Commercialization Matters for Arizona’s Economy


When discoveries move from the lab to products in a market launch, this commercialization process can generate high-value jobs, attract investment, and strengthen supply chains across related industries. For MedTech in particular, the path to commercialization is what transforms university research into smart, AI-enabled medical devices that improve patient outcomes and strengthen Arizona’s role as a leader in next-generation health innovation.


By leveraging our regional strengths in semiconductor with university-driven MedTech R&D, Arizona is leading development of closed-loop medical devices that define the future of health care and position Greater Phoenix as a model for how lab-to-market innovation drives economic and human impact.


There have been exciting investments in semiconductors that can further promote MedTech growth in Arizona. These include:


  • In August 2025, the federal government announced an $8.9B investment in Intel, Arizona’s largest technology manufacturer, including via the U.S. CHIPS and Science Act.

  • In March 2025, semiconductor manufacturer TSMC, which has an ongoing $65B investment in operations in Phoenix and employs more than 3,000 people in Arizona, announced its total investments in the U.S. will reach $165B.

  • In December 2024, semiconductor assembly and test company Amkor Technology Arizona was awarded up to $406 million in direct funding under the CHIPS Incentives Program’s Funding Opportunity for Commercial Fabrication Facilities. In August 2025, Apple Inc. announced plans to invest in Amkor Technology Inc., as well.

ASU Spotlight: Semiconductor & MedTech Integration


In the heart of the Valley, ASU is shaping the future of MedTech by combining strengths in health sciences, engineering and microelectronics. From new schools to specialized labs, ASU is creating opportunities for students and researchers to translate discoveries into smarter medical devices and connected health technologies. Key initiatives include:



  • ASU NanoFab, a flexible nanoscale processing and fabrication facility, and the Eyring Materials Center, which provides “open access to advanced facilities and equipment for materials characterization, surface, optical and structural analysis, elemental composition and high-resolution electron microscopy.”


The R&D and commercialization projects that have emerged from developments like these are exciting. In 2020, the National Science Foundation (NSF) supported ASU research for developing a method of metal-assisted, electrochemical nanoimprinting, also known as Mac-Imprint, to mass-produce nanoscale semiconductor devices. This innovation strengthens the foundation for next-generation medical technologies.


U of A Spotlight: Technology-Enabled Health


At U of A, MedTech and health-based technology projects have an important focus on this campus known for its biomedical sciences programs. Some noteworthy developments at the U of A include:


  • The BIO5 Institute, a bioscience research center that has inspired 70+ spinout companies, in areas like technology-enabled health (wearable sensors and flexible electronics for continuous monitoring) and closed-loop MedTech applications (responsive neuro-devices) since its founding 2021


  • Tech Launch Arizona (TLA), a startup support organization offering services, resources and support, which have helped startups including:

Another example of U of A researchers producing groundbreaking results is that of Julie G. Pilitsis, Chair, Department of Neurosurgery, who co-founded AiM Medical Robotics. This neurosurgical robotics company is currently developing a portable MRI-compatible surgical robot for use in the MRI suite and operating room. Julie is also working to commercialize a novel chronic pain management system which targets the dorsal root ganglion. 


With direct startup support from organizations like the TLA, as well as research centers and educators who are also startup founders, U of A is making noteworthy strides in the fields of bioscience and beyond.


NAU Spotlight: Increased Research Activity


Up north at NAU, the university is continuously increasing its research capabilities in areas including health science, diagnostics and manufacturing. In FY 2023, there was an increase of more than $77M in research activity, indicating 16% growth.

NAU has several emerging commercialization projects currently in development, in areas like e-mobility research. The NAU campus also includes the Metrology Research and Teaching Laboratory (MRTL), which coordinates R&D focused on semiconductor metrology. 


GCU Spotlight: Jeff La Belle’s Lab-to-Market Model


At GCU, a $2.3M Helmsley Trust Charitable Grant has enabled more MedTech R&D and testing on campus, in partnership with organizations like the Mayo Clinic, to ensure clinical relevance. Biomedical engineering professor Dr. Jeff La Belle mentors students in areas like biosensors and insulin sensor testing, wearable technology, advanced manufacturing and robot prototyping. The mentorship program has produced 120 patent filings, 28 patent awards, 13 licensed technologies and 70+ publications. 


GCU and La Belle are also collaborating with Medtronic to advance medical device innovation and launch startups in areas like metabolic and glucose monitoring. One student team worked on a TENS device embedded in a prosthetic socket, to help manage phantom limb pain. These are just a few projects to watch, powered by GCU professor and student talent.


Creighton Spotlight: School of Medicine Phoenix Campus


In 2021, Creighton University opened its new Phoenix Health Sciences campus, including a 195K square foot simulation and training facility. Creighton has clinical partnerships with several major healthcare systems, including St. Joseph’s Hospital, Valleywise Health, Banner University Medical Center and Mayo Clinic.

This new campus strengthens Arizona’s healthcare talent pipeline and MedTech ecosystem, with a projected impact of ~23K jobs, $1.4B in labor income and $3.6B in economic output over the first 10 years.


Connecting to Global Opportunities: SEMICON® West


Another exciting Arizona development is the October 2025 summit of SEMICON® West, a microelectronics conference that will showcase Arizona’s semiconductor and MedTech capabilities on a global stage. This follows the first-ever Taiwan Symposium at ASU’s Thunderbird School of Global Management, an event where partnerships with organizations like TSMC were highlighted. 


As university research aligns with international trends in connected devices and advanced packaging, expect more Arizona events like these to engage both local students and researchers, as well as global leaders in semiconductor and MedTech industries.


AZ Universities Support MedTech Innovation


Arizona’s universities are powerful engines for economic growth, innovation, and workforce development in MedTech, semiconductor and advanced manufacturing industries. The surge in research funding, such as Mayo Clinic’s investment increase to $1.9B in 2025, confirms the ecosystem’s real momentum. 


Closed-loop MedTech, connected devices and lab-to-market startups are strengthening the state’s leadership in these areas throughout the globe. MDM2 continues bridging research, industry and commercialization between Arizona universities, researchers, and businesses, to continually drive Arizona forward in these industries.

 
 
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